The Bemidji pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Beltrami County, Minn.) 1896-1917, 1900-05-10
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4 A Romance Hannah 3. Mckenzie. II
A Romance---B Hannah 3. Mckenzie.

CHAPTER XII.

Two months later. on stormy day
In hate October, Magnus Halcro1w. ana nsd.
EEspeth Troll are standing together
within sight Of the Rowan crag. lt
\ Is probably the last time they shall 90 4.
80, for Elspeth leaves Orkney WITH
Lady Westray tomorrow. The West
ray children have been proved TIT. the
heirs Of her late husband s property,
\ and Crag Castle will be shut up ana
uninhabited during their minority
The horror Of that terrible day
comes back again to Elspeth, and she
shudders involuntarily. Then Magnl1u Y.
Gays slowly:
You SILVER, Miss Troll. Forgive ~ me
Cor abiding to that terrible time, put put
! Z must do 50 just this once. I have NC
! wish to speak against the dead, put .
4 wish to disabuse your mind OF the idea
that loved Lilith Stuart. She las
cfnated, enthralled me, as she mad Done ne
other men beforethat was all. WlnsA 9
/. r saw her as she washer beautiful
exterior merely covering for q warped
and self-engrossed soul-my neart
turned from her with repulsion
4 Hush!' says Elspeth gently Re-
! member she is dead. We must dea a
kindly with her now She Is In t '-'s1'sl'
hands
Magnus took the womanly little hand
and held 1t for a minute. He does not
tell her he does not think she knows
what he himself is sure of-tiiat LII
fth Stuart had met her death IN trying
Ito compass that of another.
TELL me the truth, Elspeth," he says
suddenly He has not called her Els
! peth for years, and the girls face be-
comes suddenly flooded with crimson On.
Do you think / loved herr
81 thought, answered Elspeth
slowly, tracing lines with an umbrella
on the damp path, that you were very
near doing so, DR.. Halcrow
sAnd IL should tell you now, Z said
Or. Halcrow, very calmly, though some
strange emotion throbs beneath the
outward calm, 'sthat / have learned
7ately what have never realized be-
3 fore that 1t is some one else who had
the innermost place in my heart during
that foolish enthralment what would
you say, Elspetfl? And If I asked you
not to 60 away tomorrow, or, II you DO,
to come back soon to the dear old
island. and to a heart and home walt
ing for you, what would you say, ELS
peth y
The hand in his gives one quick
I ef1arp CULVER He can feel its pulse
bounding wildly. s5s1
why do Won ask these questions
( DIR. Halcrow? Is it out Of pity?
s.Pity?" he repeats. Nay, Elspeth;
pity would never make me ask woman
to be my wife. 1t is because love you
dear, with all my heart. How could
ii i help It'll, who have known you go
well, SO closely SO intimately these
last months who have seen your quiet
brave heroism, your womaniy gentle;
= ness, your self-saeritice, your sweet
charity and forgiveness? It was you
who showed me what love really
means You will come. you will love
I me, dear, will you not?"
He holds out his arms, and with
ont word Elspeth, goes into them.
She has obtained the happiness she
mad never dared dream would be hers
! And SO that spot, which had BECOME tn
scene Of the darkest tragedy in the
lives OF both, becomes also to both the
dearest spot on earth.
1.-THE ENID a