Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-10-11
CHAPTER XIX. (Continued)

0er SCneme, out naQ deemed the plan
wise. he said, though he should miss
her every hour.
Don't worry about the note," he add
ed. II think can arrange that Hell
en-; but If the worst comes to the
worst, and the exposure must fall on
your husband or me, you will not hesi-
tate. my girl. which way to direct the
blow? I may trust you?"
YES" she answered.
But her lips Were white, and involun-
tarily she felt that in all her past no
page was so black as yet might be in
serted in the unbound volume of her
future.
She had given the reins Of her pas
sior into this mas hands, and though
she knew them black, INSCRIPTIONS
and relentle 49, sh. would not have TAX
en- them into her ow 4 guidance though
she could.
On this last day he came to add his
good wishes with the rest. One mo-
ment only could she see him alone.
Tomorrow" she whispered.
II could not renew the note," he an.
swered. THE blow must fall. But, !"
he added, with a smile, II scarcely
think, Helen, that we shall be the VIC
tins. Desperate diseases require des-
disease is very virulent. We won't hes
1tate at the means Of cure?"
Before she could reply to him Grace
had entered the room.
She greeted him coldly but as he
left, he took her unwilling hand and
held it a moment in his warm grasp, as
he said, in tone so low that only he1
ear could catch the words:
You may stand in need of the friend
ship, fear, Miss Hawthorne, that 1
have rudely forfeited. If time should
prove me right shall count upon your
remembrance of me as the highest
pledge of forgiveness for fault new
Or can forgive myself"
Before she had realized that his SEN
fences was concluded, he bowed and
was gone.
But the memory of his words re-
manned and left heaviness and de-
preston, a sense of uneasiness, and a
dim presentiment Of coming evil, which
had weighed upon her all the day.
AS Helen left the room she rose from
where she had been sitting, and, cross
ing to the fire, stood for moment
looking into it's fame-pictures; then.
Resting her folded arms upon the man
tel, she bowed her head upon them with
q weary sob.
She did not hear the step upon the
soft carpet behind her, though it's tread
was manly and firm, until an arm en-
eircled her waist, and voice which
made every pulse in her leap into life,
spoke her own name in tender question:
Eng.
Grace, dear" said Harry, what is
troubling you? I have seen it's signs,
pussie, though I dare not speak. You
have shut me out Of late from your
confidence, dear-aln1ost, have some
times fancied, from your heart-so fal
out in the cold and darkness that l
have had to look back on the light Of
the past to guide me through the pres
ent darkness. Won't you believe me
when I say that have never willingly
ainned against YOU? and that never in
all your child-life, dear, were you so
dear to me as when to-day before I
leave you, must risk still further your
anger and enlargement by asking you
to give me one promise-that you will
In no way pledge yourself to Harvey
Barclay before my return?"
Before his utterance Of this name his
words, his caress had been to her like
the sweet echo Of a strain of music
from the long ago.
~ SS1Ao oAAS 4le11 ~ 4 Oh ely lC( cSCdp0
their source had fallen thick and fast;
but now she dashed them back, and,
hitting her head, looked full into his
eyes.
Why do you ask me that?" she said.
SHow has Harvey Barclay sinned
against you?"
He Is not worthy of you, Grace" he
answered, earnestly. 1t is your for
tune, not yourself, he Graves. He is a
gambler, my child; and, believe me, I
Inn not speaking without proof and
knowledge. The former. on my return,
will put in your own hands. I am to
be away but a little while. Surely, he
has not grown so dear to you that you
fannot brook this delay before pledg-
ing yourself for life?"
A shrill laugh, as much unlike her
merry laughter as the cry of the night
hawk to the thanksgiving Of the lark
Tor the dawn, burst from the girls lips,
white and drawn with pain.
$50 he is gambler" she said, scorn-
fully. "And this makes him unfit to
aspire to the hand of an honest woman?
Of his guilt? Perhaps you saw him
play. Once before. you remember, you
limited at this. But do not take adj
vice kindly, Harry. See to it that the
4 gaming tables abroad hold no attrac-
3 zion for you. See to it that the fault
you SO pitilessly condemn in others may
not wreck a woman's happiness"
Grace? ''-his voice, In its note Of in
curry, rang out clear and stern-'tl1as
any one been maligning me to you? Is
ti1is the weapon which this man holds?"
Mr.. Barclay never mentions your
name. she answered. "And now" she
added, YEARLY, let us drop his
md you refuse me the promise j
have asked? Grace, can you look into
ms eyes and swear to me that you have
not learned loves lesson?"
He could have put to her no more
cruel question. All. was the past so ut
ferly forgotten BY him that he could
have no intuition Of the pail 1t might
3 yet be to her? He who had taught her
love's lesson from its earliest alphabet,
I IGNORED his claims or passed It to an
y 0ther? ssi
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