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

What is wrong, Pussie?" asked
Harry Reynolds, entering the library.
whose sole occupant was the girl whom
he had thus addressed.
She was sitting, half-lost. in the
depths of great armchair. wholly
lost in the reverie from which his voice
aroused her.
She glanced up. her face flushing
scarlet, as though fearful he might
read her thoughts.
His eyes met hers, frankly and fear
lessly. In vain she sought to find any
trace Of the burden which must so re-
Gently have oppressed him: in vain
she tried to read In his face a single
line of the pitiful story to which she
had listened the previous evening, and
which had since rung In her ears with
pitiless insistence. banishing sleep and
rest alike from heart and brain.
The money was nothing. All that
she had she would gladly have laid at
his feet, could he but have stopped to
reclaim IL without dishonor. Not an
hour since had she put the required
sum into Helen's hands.
She had herself drawn :. from the
bank, not allowing her check, as usual
to pass through her guardians hands.
She wondered how Helen would ac-
count 70 her husband for the posses-
sion OF such a sum: but she was too
crushed to put her wonderment into
| words. -
Poor Helen! How she must suffer!''
thought the girl: and her heart hard
ened toward the smiling cause OF all
this heavy trouble. W
what is wrong, Pussie?'' ne re-
peated, as row. having reached her
chair. he bent over her and gently
stroked the hair back from her low,
white brow. aa
1t was an old habit OF his, this ten
der. mute caress: but to-day she
\ shrank from his touch as II 1t hurt her
1 He withdrew his hand, and a much
| surprised look swept over his face.
She felt the hot tears well up to her
eyes. The mad impulse seized her to
rise. and. compelling his glance fully
and frankly to meet hers ask him 10
! tell her OF his tenptation-beg him TO
paint II TO her In colors so strong. so
vivid. that Il would make atonement
for his fault. and once more she could
feel her faith and her respect restored.
But her promise to his wife kept her
silent
"Have I offended you. Grace?'
Low and very sweet was the earnest
voice In which he put the question.
"No. not" she said at last. answer
ing him. "The world Is out of gear to-
day. One OF my illusions has been dis
PEELED. II reminds me that am grow
ing old"
He laughed. A careless. almost boy
ish laugh II was. In Its freedom from
all trace Of care.
you are growing old. Gracer Ths
world. indeed. must be out OF gear II
age can dim our sunbeams. for you are
the sunbeam Of the old house. dear.
think you scarcely can fail 20 recog.
nize II. How we shall hate the mar
who steals. you from us!"
"Don't!' she cried. springing 20 heI
feet and walking hastily toward tn
window, where she stood looking out
as she continued speaking. II shall new
er marry. II that II what you mean
There IL no man. not one. whom
woulc trust"
His face was very grave now. and al
the brightness had Ned from Il. az. fol
lowing her. he laid his hand upon he
shoulder.
"Grace, something very serious ha
occurred TO make you talk like this
} Perhaps you win say I have not tn
right TO say that there are men worth
/ | OF trust; and yet think we have bot
: forgotten that there ever was an cpl
) sode In our lives which might lead yo
4 TO distrust me. At least. dear, 20
. never have doubted my love for 20,
+ though II was the pure, unselfish lov
' lI would have given . sister. had Heas
: Ten vouchsafed me such blessing.
!. have never known my loss OF one sine
i vow came 70 w. Sometimes. Grace,
4 think my sfselins for you Il the tfael
: and pursst oe my NE. Doa's sivs =