Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1900-10-11
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
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= syfa s BY Frances Warner Walker. <
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BY Frances Warner Walker.
CHAPTER XIX. tcentlnu.s.,

once. re nau Hlauc no OppOsitlOn "
her scheme, but had deemed the plan
wise. he said, though he should miss
her every hour. so
Don't worry about the note" he add
ed. II think / can arrange that. Hell
en- but II the worst comes, to the
worst, and the exposure must fall on
your husband or me. you win not hesi-
tate my girl. which way to direct the
blow2 may tru IT your
Yes" she answered 2,-eEA r tat
But her lips were white. and involun-
tarily she felt that in oil 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
sionsfnto this mans har.is, and though
she knew them black. unscrupulous
and relentlt ~. shs would not have taxi
en- them into her owl guidance though
she could.
On this last day he came TO add his
good wishes with the rest. One mo-
ment only could she ste him alone.
''To-morrow?" she whispered.
II could mot renew the note" he an.
swered, Tine blow must fall. But.
he added,, with q ,smile,.....I scarcely
think. Helen, that we shall be the VIC
tins, Desperate diseases require des-
perate renedies.' ma chere. and this
disease Is very ,virulert. We won't hes
itate at the means or cure?"
Before she could reply to him Grace
had entered the room.
She greeted him colby ; but as he
left, he took her unwilling hand and
held 1t moment In his warm grasp. as
he said, In tone so low that only her
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" s.
Before she had realized that his SEN
tsnces was concluded, he bowed and
was gone.
But the memory Of his words re-
Manned and left a heaviness and de.
preston. a sense Of uneasiness. and
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 its fame-pictures: then.
resting her folded arms upon the man
I'll. she bowed her head upon them with
. weary sob. gsi 9..sg 2
gbe did not hear the step upon the
6oft carpet behind her. though it's tread,
was manly and Arm, until an arm en-
circled her waist. and q voice which
made every pulse IN her leap into life,
spoke her own name In tender question:
ing. n~ sssA
Grace. dear" said Harry "what IL
troubling you? I have seen its signs.
Pussie. though dare not speak. You
have shut me out OF late from your
confidence. dear--almost, have some
times fancied. from your heart-so fai
out In the cold and darkness that
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 say that / have never willingly
sinned against yous and that never. In
all your child-life, dear. were yoa SO
dear to me as when to-day, before I
leave you. must risk still further your
anger and estrangement by asking you
to give me one promise--that you will
in no way pledge yourself to Harvey
Before. Ills utterance of this name his
words. his caress, had been to her like
the sweet echo OF strain of music
from the long ago.
The tears she had SO rarely let escape
their source had fallen thick and fast:
but now she dashed them back, and,
lifting her head, looked full into his
eyes.
hxyA 40 cly ,I,n
How has Harsey Barclay sinned
against your"
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; ard, believe me, I
am not sreaking without proof and
knowledge. The former, on my return,
will put in your own hands. I am TO
be away but l.ttle while. Surely, he
has not grown so dear to you that you
cannot brook this delay before pledg-
ing yourself for life?"
A shrfll laugh, as much unlike her
merry laughter as the cry OF the night
hawk to the Thanksgiving Of the lark
for the dawn, burst from the girls lips,
white and drawn with pain.
80 he Is gambler" she said. scorn-
aspire to the hand OF an honest woman?
And you have proof-conclusive proof
of his guilt? Perhaps you saw him
play. Once before, you remember. you
limited at this But I do not take ad-
vice kindly. Harry. See to 1t that the
gaming tables abroad hold no attrac-
tion for you. See to II that the fault
you so pitilessly condemn in others may
+ not wreck woman's happiness!"
"Grace?"--his voice. in its note of in
quiry, rang out clear and stern--'has
any one been maligning me to you? Is
this the weapon which this man hoids?'
AIR. Barclay never mentions your
name" she answered. "And now" she
added, wearily, '.let us drop his
And you refuse me the promise /
have asked? Grace. can you look into
my 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.
terly forgotten by him tlat he coult
have no intuition of The pail II might
yet be to herr He who had taught hel
loves lesson from its earliest alphabet