Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1900-10-04

dtClusnt mas DtlTdstu " YOU tHc iSS-
direction Of my hearts dearest wish, I
cannot relegate the phantom back to a
grave In which il refused to sleep. Is
love so far removed from friendship
that must plead for yours in vain?'
He came forward to take her hama.
but she drew back. coldly. while over
Helen's face forced looker-on to so un-
expected a scene. swept a flood of Grim
son, followed by deathly pallor. Her
eyes blazed, her lips quivered. She ap-
peared about to speak. but Grace gave
her no time.
80 the mask has fallen?" she said
slowly, "and this is what your plea OF
friendship meant. Bat Il is not of my
self woud speak. 1t is Of Oh, Hell
en!" turning toward her with gesture
OF mingled grief and outraged anger,
what does this man mean?"
For n moment the woman hesitated.
For moment she was tempted to
avow the truth, in her bitter, jealous
wrath; but not thus could she gain her
end. The pause gave her time to re-
cover herself.
ut means, Grace" she answered,
Harry owes Captain Barclay a large
amount of money lost at play. There
are other debtors less merciful than he.
I have asked him to satisfy their de-
mands. Only Harry must not know
must not suspect his agency. Oh,
Grace, be not too hard! Pity his weak
ness and my wretchedness!"
Trust me. Helen, for both. Why
have you not trusted me more fully?
But does not Mr. Barclay accompany
his willingness to act In your behalf
with threats uttered against Harry and
against me? And why. and how, so
long az dollar of ray fortune remains
to me, can he be threatened with
PRISON."
And che shuddered as she forced her
self to utter the last word.
II fear. Miss Hawthorne. that Mr..
Reynolds has made himself amenable to
the laws in ways all unsuspected by
you," interrupted the young officer.
For your sake l would save him from
the consequences of his own ,rashness.
spoke impulsively just now. I was
mad with anger against him, and rebel
lion at my own impotence to convert
ice into the flame of feeling. More
over, / had reason to suspect, on Mr..
Reynolds part. a feeling which might
lead him to undermine me in your es-
TEEN. For your sake, and the sake Of
his suffering wife, was willing to aid
him TO the full extent of my power:
and. while asking no appreciation of
my services, at least deserved that 1t
should not be met by dislike threat
ening to become active hostility. You,
who have already helped him so large
ly. Miss Hawthorne, should understand
his fatal weakness without forcing me
to put 1t into words in my own self-ex-
Gust
"Oh. Grace." burst In Helen, "do not
let Harry know what you suspect! 1t
would drive him to desperation. Be-
sides, he told me to-day that he had
found a way out of the difficulty, and
promised never again to yield to tempt
alton"
"And ne trusts me so littlel" said the
girl. sadly--"so little that he shuts me
out from his confidence, refuses to ac-
cept my aid"
"Helen!"
1t was Harry's voice that called from
the hail. With one glance toward Har-
vey Barclay--a glance half-imploring.
half f-commanding--the wife FASTENED
from the room. Grace turned to follow
her, but Mr.. Barclay made quick
movement to arrest her purpose.
Don't go!" he said. II must speak
with YOU. I told you once, II you need
ed friend, to come to me. oh, Grace,
can you not understand that II Is be-
cause I see the shadows creeping so
thickly about you, that I long to offer
you closer protection than the claim of
friendship viii permit me to assume
NV child, you do not know how sorely
you stand in need of strong arm and
loyal heart. VIII you not accept mine?
Nav I not once again sue for the most
precious gift Fortune could grant me?''
your tone is somewhat different,
Mr.. Barclay. from that which promised
not many minutes since. to bring me to
terms" answered Grace, with quiet,
cutting scorn. But whatever tone you
might assume" she continued, firmly
my answer could not fail to be the
same. l must decline the honor that
you would confer upon me-"
Even though you knew that the
honor of the Reynolds name hinged up.
on your
No whit higher was Harvey Barclay:
voice as ne put the question, no shade
paler, his already pa,e face: but an evi
light glimmered in his eyes, and about
his mouth were drawn hard, resolut'
lines.
A cold shudder passed over Grace, bu
weakness.
she did not betray the momentar,
"oh. you have thrown aside you
false colors, Mr.. Barclay" she said
with a smile of irony. You return Z
threats. But threats will not sully al
| old, untarnished name. and, thougl
Harry may have been weak, he ha
| placed no stain upon his escutcheo
which may not be wiped away or for
| gotten"
"You think so? You are wrong. But
forget. 1t Is not your name. WI
should you care what stain 1t. bears
ut Is dearer. for dearer to me tina
my own!" retorted the girl passionate
ly. There is nothing would not do
save 1t from disgrace. should disgras
threaten itr'
Nothing. Grace?" replied the ma
the old tenderness creeping back I'M
his tone. 'weil. suppose / tell you thu
disgrace threatens-not from afar. o'
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