Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1900-09-06
CHAPTER VIZ. 9continued.) )

4 WWuo ~ tttt sAhs w drSbit yOp VI
this7 But, don't forget. Harvey. that
you hefseu TO deceive me as TO the Tor
tune Of my husband II was you who
told: me that he had q fortune In his
own. right. Did you not know that II
was false? The sum you want Is near
ly alI OF his entire fortune"
'.But his father is Iich?"
"That Is the worlds error It is
Grace Hawtherne's money which kecps
up this louse--Grace Hawthorne's
money which wards off ruin from Ed
gar Reynolds I'll cannot explain 1t
now. Il is too long a story. Oh, Har-
vey. sometimes / think all I have
gained does rot repay me for what I
have losti'
"Never mind the past. Helen. We
must deal now with the future-w!th
the present II IN cold and stern, and
dark enough, God knows! Can you not
get this money from Miss Hawthornel
There can be no mistake about her for
tuner"
mo! She is rich-so richsthat had
we--you and I, Harvey-but the ffti-
eth part OF her money, we might have
been happy to-day. ~
An exuitant glesm slissenss In Har.
vey Barclays. eyes.. but Helen detected
II not. She was lost in her own
thought.
you shall have this money Hnr-
vey" she said. at last "come to-mor-
row at this hour and will have II
ready for you. No don't thank me!
Or. stay, Harvey-you may thank me
in one way. Promise me that you Will
never again take such desperate risks.
Another time might be poweriess to
serve you,
II promise. Helen" he answered.
lifting her hands to HIS lips
And, as IL overwhelmed by a sudden
afterthousiit:
You 60 not wholly despiss me. Hell
"Despise you!- she echoed, now lift
Ing her eyes to his face, with such a
look I'm their depths as Harry Reynolds
had never seen there-a look which
would have been revelation. to him
concerning the woman who for six
months had been his wife. "Despise
you? have read Of women, Harvey.
who. beaten to death by LrutaI hus-
bands. had dragged themselves, dying
to the murderer's feet 70 kiss the hand
which had wrought the injury. Do
you know. I can fancy myself just
such woman2.' rs
god bless. you. fIeien!', he mur-
fnprep. ferventiy, and one instant he
held her strained to his heart. s
But. once outside the door, the look
OF tenderness fed. His features grew
hard and stern.
II must strike sooni''s he muttered.
'sThis morey will stave on the fneyif-
absp ruin staring me in the face but
little while. And how Helen Will act
when she learns my purpose? All! l
have not so much to fear from her. A
ghost or two resurrscted from the past
win keep her silent. AMI size loves
me, But the girl Alrsady the moths
futter around the fiame! must strike
soon!" he repeated And once my
wife, Grace Hawthorne, I think we can
put your money to better usss than In
supporting a household not your own"
Midnight had struck. when at Grace
Hawthorne's door sounded a gent.e
knock.
The girl. who had gone to her room
but half an hour before. rose and
opened it. To her surprise, Harry's
wife stood upon the threshold. The
beautiful face looked pale. and a veil
OF trouble seemed 10 have darkened
the goldcn-brown eyes.
"MayI come int" she ssxed, and her
voice held the Tisiful pleading Of lit
tie child, sss
A Atcuch of fpfty smote Grace. In that
minute she thought rerhars she had
been cold 10 the young wife. had not
tried to love her. or she could not have
failed In the att smpt.
She stretched out her hand with
smile. and laid II on the little fingers.
whose touch fell cold. and which she
felt trembie IN her clasp
Indeed, you may come In she an
swered rs Harry asleep. that you
thus play truanty''
Yes. he is asleep. But III could
not sleep. oh, Grace, it's for Harry's
sake am here" and. instead OF TAX
ing the chair toward which Grace mo-
TONED her. she fell upon her knees be-
side her. and buried her face In the
folds OF her dress.
Helen. what has happened?" ques-
toned Grace. with trembling voice.
For little while she could gain no
reply. but at last the young wife lifted
her head.
II have q sad story TO tell you. Grace
"a story I think you have never sus-
pscted--T-have had to bear my burden
quite alone. I do not know why come
10 You tonight. except that am des-
perate. Grace. did you ever know-did
you ever suspect that Harry gam
bled 20
"Gambiedf Harry"
The two words were all the giri
could force her white lips to utter.
Helen bowed her head asssntingly.
Before go further" she said.
speaking with evident effort. and 40
though each word brought physical
pain, "I must extort from you pledge
0f silence. You must promise--you
must swear.--never to eetray my con-
ndence-never. under any circumstanc-
-. VIII you promise me, Gracef"
.'Yes. promise, !" she replied.
But her lips were dry. and her voice
held sound OF harshness.
I'll think continued Helen. that
the beginning OF this trouble with Har-
" was the realization Of the loss of his
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