Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-09-13
TO066666
. 4 SIRENS VICTIMS ;
- BY Frances Warner Walker x
y IT,. *
900 o o o 0 900 90 o o o o D o o o o J
By Frances Warner Walker.
CHAPTER TX. (Continued)

"Why should care?" she echoed,
with flashing eyes and heaving breast.
"Why, indeed? What matters it that
in another's ear you murmur your
false, tender words-that on another's
lips falls your passionate caress-that
her head sleeps on your heart-and IL
starve and go mad in knowing that to
another is given the food which would
help me to live? 1t shall not be, Har-
vey Barelay!-you hear me?-it shall
not bel"
"You refuse me your aid, them"
He stood with arms still folded across
his breast. A cold, cynical smile
wreathed his mouth.
Her passionate protest had Weakened
no response. A lurid light, as of an
ger, cleaned in her eyes.
She glanced up into his face, and
from her OWN The determination fled.
She clasped her hands in supplication
upon his sleeve.
"Ask me anything else. Harvey-any-
thing but this" she pleaded.
Don't be foolish Helen he said,
CURLY. "Let me begin the farce In my
own way"
"What is the sum you need? might
make another appeal to Grace for the
amount-might tell another pitiful lie"
eft would be but straw floating in
the current at which the drowning man
Rrasps.' 1 need a fortune! But"-pull-
ing out his "watch-"its time for my
appointments"
with her? Harvey, you shall not
go!"
Across his face swept a look of mer-
rilosc determine tiOn
"You are still obdurate?" he ques-
toned.
1T swear you shall not go to her from
me this night!'
Her own face, now. had hardened,
and was as ,implacable as his.
He laughed bitterly, cruelty.
"Perhaps you will ask your husband,
Harry Reynolds, to interpose his au-
thority. Do so. Take one step to pre-
vent what have made up my mind to
DO. and-does your memory date back
five years, ma chere? Well, the story
Of our first meeting would be somewhat
interesting to the gay world gathered
about us, do you not think so? Which
will make the greater sensation-your
story or mine? leave 1t for you to
decide which shall be told first"
II
than the thonged LASH he turned and
left her standing amid the green plants,
the cool shadows, the FLASHING waters;
but she dreamed she stood within the
gates of purgatory.
"Helen, Mr.. Barclay told me / should
find YOU here, and that you asked him
to send me to you" broke in her hus-
bands voice. what has happened,
Aro
She forced herself. by a powerful eff
fort, to. smile, and strove to Danish
from her eyes the look Of pain.
ct am quite WE'LL" she answered;
s'but found the rooms hot. When
when did you leave Grace?"
Barclay was about to seek her.
How attentive he, is growing to Grace,
Helen! ! tried to warn her once about
him, but she refused to listen to me
kindly. " sometimes fear she Is really
interested in him, and I cannot anthem
ticate any of the rumors to his discred-
1t. How, wronged you, darling, con-
corning him! Yet deeply regret that
I overcame nay Jealousy and allowed
him to obtain such familiar footing in
our house. was growing to like him;
but, lately, since have seen his atten-
ton to Grace, and learned that these
stories are afloat' concerning him. my
old distrust has returned. What shall
I do, Helen? Can you not help me?"
So he, too, appealed to- her for help.
She could have shrieked aloud in re-
cognition~ of the strange coincidence in
the fearful tension ! which held her
"of v:hpt rumor; Do you speak?" she
asked. at last. -
Her throat: was dry, her mouth
parched. Her voice sounded unnatural
to her own ears.
IT have not, told you of them? No;
/ remember. They say that he gam
bles for very high stakes II fear that
he may: wish to benefit himself by
Grace's 2. fortune. Dear girl! She Is
worthy Of better fate"
'eWhy. did you not save her, then, by
taking herself and her fortune when
they were yours for the. asking7"
She started at the repressed bitter
ness OF her OWN tone. It was nearer
betrayal than ANYTHING that IT,. h e ever
escaped her. ''''@''6'2Fs'- =
But she had scarcely listened to or
needed aught that he had said. Each
moment was fraught to her with abso-
Lutte torture, for was not Harvey per-
haps, at this moment, pressing his suit
with the heiress and her rival?
A wave of utter surprise, followed by
deep displeasure, swept over the young
husbands face. He could scarce be-
1ieve that he had heard Alright.
"Helen!" he exclaimed.
And the simple utterance Of her name
was at once question and demand
for explanation.
She laughed and passed her hand
over her brow.
I'll believe am not well. Take me
home, Harry. And find Grace. She
must come with US. cannot leave her
alone. You have given me new fears
concerning her." ..-.~..-''.
His displeasure vanished; he bent
over her in tender solicitude; and now
she was all impatience to be gone.
LEAVE me here she insisted. land
find Grace quickly. Tell her TT that am
i'll, and want her"
Swiftly he went through the rooms in
n Obedience to her desireS buy for'lorfg
his search was unavailing: and finally
s1,,un = s,1ceessful only through an acct