Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1900-11-01
CHAPTER xxx.

In her own room, Grace had heard
the closing Of the front door behind
Helen. as she started on her errand,
and, glancing from the window, saw
her walking rapidly down the avenue.
WAS Harry left alone?'' she Won
dered. Poor Harry! Did he guess
the secret Helen had betrayed % her
last night-guess that his wife's love
never had been his? Was this an add
ed cause for his distrust of Harvey
BarcIay?"
Harvey Barclay! She ~shuddered as
memory conjured UP before her mental
vision this image which might eve
more be banished from her life.
she had pledged herself to marry
him, to save the name and honor of
the man che loved; and to keep back
at n cost-even at the cost she paid
the truth which. reaching Edgar
Reynolds, would prove his death. blow.
Truly, there was sufficient at stake
to warrant the sacrifice; and yet, poor
child, small as that sacrifice might ap-
pear in itself, it was her all!
Her very soul recoiled from it. Her
lips whitened and her blood chilled as
she painted her lovsless, desolate flu
ture.
And he, whose hand had kindled the
fire, destructive to her youth, and
hope, and happiness, must never know
1t burned.
Only a great pity was In her heart
for him. as she watched the wife's
form disappear in the distance.
Forgetful for the instant of her own
pain, she remembered only the wealth
OF love he had lavished upon the wo-
man whose heart was ice to him.
Did he know? Did ne suspect? Was
this the reason for his sudden illness?
And she had left him alonei Was he
still unconscious? She must go to him
at once!
She turned from the window at the
thought, and walked rapidly toward
the door.
There she paused, with her hand on
the knob, and, turning back. she fell
upon her knees beside a chair.
God give me strength was the
voiceless prayer which waited it's way
upward to the great white throne.
A minute later she stood by Harry
Reynolds side.
At sight Of him, the strength for
which she had pleaded came to ner.
She forgot herself and her own needs
as h looked down on that white face
upon fits pillows, marked with so inde.-
ible an impress OF pain.
h brown yes were wide open, but
they gazed UP unrecognizedly into
hers. The short-cropped head moved
restlessly from side to side, as though
tortured by suffering.
A little moment the girl stood there
with bursting heart.
Then she sank down on her knees
beside the couch. and, STOPPING her
head, her lips rested an instant on the
low, broad brow. 1t was at once a
kiss of forgiveness and renunciation.
At the touch, light as though a fra
grant flower petal had been borne by
the summer wind across his fevered
temples. Harry moved, and a mo-
mentary CLEAN Of intelligence came
into his eyes.
"Helenl" he murmured-"Helent"
The name cut like a knife as she list
ened. For one monochrome short
moment only. yet long enough to hold
a little part OF h~eaven-she had seemed
to stand to MIN in Helen's place.
Already h Yves awakened from her
dream.
An hour passed, and still she knelt
beside him, bathing his forehead and
moistening HIS parched lips with ice.
Now and then low, incoherent words
escaped him. Once or twice he ap-
peared to be st1rggling with conscious
ness. or Nylce she fancied that
love and gratitpit were in the glance
he turned tow yer.