Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1900-09-20

are like ~poets-born. not made. III Is
/ the element of genius; the talent, how
! ever great, can never simulate IL. But
now. go on with your writing, or you
viii hardly be in a fit frame for a stern
business epistle. and. a sem
tence may creep in to startle its recip-
lent"
He turned back to his s
Spy the way" Harry she contin-
ued. "you never have shown me your
skill in counterfeiting my chirogra-
ply. Let me see IL you can do IT..
II never have tried" he replied.
Write your name for me, and ! will
make the effort now"
MY hand is too weak this morning.
make the attempt from memory"
Taking up a blank sheet of paper. he
initiated, as closely as he could, her
signature. which was, in some respects,
both marked and peculiar.
Very good" she said. examining 1t
critically, as he handed it to her; bnt
hardly so good. I think as your coun-
terfeit of Grace's. Write her name on
another slip. and let me compare them.
/ wonder if they would bear no trace
of the same hand, and be as thorough
ly unlike as our original specimens
would be-"
He nesitated not a moment in COM
plying with her request.
at is perfect" she declared; "but
we won't leave it as a witness against
YOU"
And then followed the sound of tear
ing paper: but, of the W slips which
he had handed her, only n was de-
stroyed. The other remained intact
the weapon which was to stab Harry
Reynolds honor to the quick by the
hand he best loved on earth.
1t was now almos. the hour APP
pointed for Harvey Barclays visit.
when Helen expressed the wish to go
down into the library.
She was tired, she said, OF her own
room, but. really, they must no longer
treat her as an invalid.
But when she rose to her feet her
head swan, and she was glad to have
her husbands arm thrown protecting
iy around her for support.
No possible chance could be afforded
her of seeing Harvey alone, h knew
full well. She must contrive some
means of getting the paper to him un-
suspected by them all, and of telling
him the terrible story of yesterday.
With a sigh of relief, she lay back in
the armchair in which Harry had
placed her, and which he had drawn
close to the fire.
AS he bent down to kiss her, Grace
entered the room, a great OF
crimson roses in her hand.
"They are to make o ashamed of
your pale cheeks. Helen" h said,
sweetly, as she offered her gift: but
her own cheeks were equally pale.
A strange and sad unrest has pos
sessed her all the Cay. Her woman's
intuition had OWNED that Helen suf-
fered, and, remembering the secret
that she already held locked in her
breast, she felt that perhaps Harry
had again been tempted. ana that his
wife's loyalty fain would spare him.
oh, IL he needed money, why did he
not come to her?
Yet, to know that Helen suffered
through his fault, caused a new and
tenderer feeling for her to spring into
life in the girls un~suspecting soul.
She knelt on the rug beside the fire,
an exquisite picture in her rich winter
costume. when the butler announced
Mr.. Barclay.
A moment later. with the privilege of
one on familiar footing with the house
hold, he entered the room.
Harry and Grace alike greeted him
With more than usual warmth, the
former because of the relief inspired by
tho knowledge hat Grace had refused
the offer of his hand: Grace, herself,
because of her belief that, un~wittingly,
she had caused him pain.
Helen's greeting was almost marked
ly cold. Indeed, after a few minutes,
she took up pencil and paper, and be-
gan writing on a book she held In her
lap.
The conversation rested It's burden
upon the other three.
At the end of half an hour their visit
or arose.
Asking for an envelope. Helen fold
ed her note. put 1T within it, sealed,
stamped and addressed it.
"will you drop this into the box for
me. Mr.. Barclay?" she asked. as she
held it toward him. 1T is to my dress
maker" she added. with a smile.
therefore, important"
II will deliver 1T in person, IL needs
be-" he answered, taking it from her
hand and slipping it into an outside
pocket of his coat
"As you please. il your way leadsi in
that direction; but the post will, i
imagine, be equally sure. Only, do not
let your memory fail; for it is most
important and contains minute direc-
tons concerning my mex new cos
tune"
IT hope when we next meet to find
you fully recovered" he said. taking
her hand in farewell. 1--WE depend up-
on you to be the married belle of Mrs.
Randolph's ball next week"
Next week." she laughed. II shall
be able to vie With the bloom of these
roses then"
The difficulty will lie with the roses
in making themselves worthy of such
comparison he answered, In half
sportive ~gallantry.
And. with a few words of adieu TO
the others, he took his leave.
Rapidly he walked through the
streets until he reached his rooms.
Then he tore open the letter con-
signed to his care. h letter concern
ing which he had received such minute
instructions.