The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1900-08-10

N&MR. !, Withers has return
ed?" fretted the
HVN4Y q convalescent. ct is
: ~ after six o'clock.
and I am faint fer
~ II want Of nourish-
ment."
Tho duteous dependent obeyed, then
clipped from the room to push inves-
6gafio0s upon plan of her own. In
= quarter Of an hour she reappeared
With an agitated. yet important counte-
0AAce. that arrested her cousins re-
cards.
What is It.? Where is she?" he de-
handed. impatiently. you have heard
0ometAing. Tell me at once what it
~.
Harriet collapsed as graceful as her
.oaHliant sinews and stays would allow
into q kneeitng heap upon the floor at
III feet- "My beloved cousin! My dear,
Deceived angel! I have heard nothing
that surprised me. dared not speak
Il It to you before now, agonizing as
Was my solicitude. You would have
driven me from you in anger had
whispered word of what has been the
'toWn gossip for months. to which you
.0aly were blinded by your noble, your
.Gaaerous. your superhuman confidence
IN your betrayers. I see that you are
Dartially prepared for the blow" as he
AxsW pale and tried without success
e interrupt her. brace yourself for
what you must know, my poor, i'll used
darling! Your brother and your wife
have eloped to Europe in company"
For one second the husband stagger-
- under the shock. His eyes closed
suddenly. as at a fash Of lightning,
aAA his features were distorted, as in
. wrench Of mortal pain. Then all that
Was true and dignifled in the man rail-
1led to reDel the insult to the two he
bad trusted and loved. II do not be-
-1eve It," he said distinctly and with
deliberate emphasis. "You are the dupe
- some mischievous slanderer, my good
woman. Edward Withers is the soul
II Integrity, and my wife's virtue is
1noorruptible. Who told you this alb
'surd tale?"
Mrs Withers stated to you that she
Was going to drive alone this after
noon, did she not?" Harriet forget the
Dafheic in the malicious triumph as
shs proceeded to prove her rivals guilt.
You heard her say it," laconically.
and still on the defensive.
yet John says she called by the Of
'Hoe 10 take up Mr.. Edward Withers,
ind that they drove in company to
the wharf, where lay an ocean steam
q. He saw them go on board, arm in
arm, and, although he waited on the
pder as long as the vessel was in sight,
they did not return"
! -T will see the man myself"
Crossing the room with firmer step
than had been his since his illness. Mr..
Wlthers rang the bell and summoned
the coachman. Ills evidence Tailed ex-
-aet1y with Harriet's report, and she fiat
tered herself that the inquisitors man.
mex was shade less confident when the
witness was dismissed.
You have said that this disappear
unce was no matter Of surprise to you,
and added something about vulgar gos-
dp. wish a full explanation" he said,
still magisterially.
Thus hidden, Harriet told her tale.
before their return to the city in the
autumn, she had seasons of anxiety
celative to the intimacy between Mr..
Edward Withers and his beautiful sis
Aecdn-law. Not, the unsuspecting viz
xi1 was careful to affirm, that she
doubted then the good faith and right
Intentions of either, but she feared lest
1lrs. Withers' Partially for the younger
brother might render her negligent Of
Aer husbands happiness and comfort.
Tie winter festivities had brought the
two into a peculiarly unfortunate po-
Afe6on for the growth Of domestic vir-
tues, and eminently conducive to the
progress Of the fatal attachment which
was now beyond the possibility of q
doubt. Although one of the family,
and known to be welded to their in
terests, she had not been able to deter
busy-bodies from sly and overt mention
Of the scandal in her hearing. She had
On such occasions, taken the liberty of
rebuking the offender, and maintain
ing, in her humble way, the honor of
her benefactors' name. But she could
cot silence CITY 1ull Ol tUuSueS, anu
they had wagged fast and loudly Of
the husbands indiscreet confidence in
the guilty parties, and their shameless
tEeachery.
He checked her. when she would have
dilated upon this division of her sub
feet. II will have no hearsay evidence.
What have you SEEM"
Harriet demurred, blushingly, not, as
It presently appeared, because she had
seen so little but SO much. Duets,
vocal and instrumental, had been the
vehicles Of living intercourse-hand-
squeezing, meaning signs and whispers.
Her blood had often boiled furiously
Il beholding the outrageous maneuy-
80 practiced in the very sight of their
'Exusting victim. Her eyes, in passing
1fem their smiles of evil import, their
anngufshings and caresses to the serene
.Anee bent over the chess-board, or
Nrapt in innocent slumber; had alter
1ateIy oyerfowed with tears and glow
~ with indignation.