Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1900-10-25

The words that Helen, In cruelsst
mockery, had uttered. REQUIRED 10 him
That pale-faced girl, who loves you
yeti
And this love he had thrown from
him. TO accept the cheat and mockery
his wife had brought him in its stead.
His wife. Oh. empty. barren title!
As the word shaped itself. even IN
his thought. IT broke down the barrier
OF his restraint. and his misery es-
capped its bonds.
To the horror Of the girl who knelt
beside him. great sobs rent his frame
pitiful TO hear at all times, but most
pitiful when they burst from a strong
mans breast. Then, indeed, must he
acknowledge himself but born Of wo-
mani
Tor a time she would let the storm
have its way; but when h sobs had
died away, and only the bent head and
a euivering OF the body showed the
force OF the hurricane. she slipped into
his hand a little piece Of paper. One
end was burnt
Forgive me. Harry" she whispered.
You have trusted me so little, dear,
that / feared you might think / held
this still, and / wanted you TO destroy
IL yourself. You Ser, / put II in the
fame and snatchsd IL out again.
Don't think / blame you, Harry. Only
] wish-I wish that you had asked me,
dear, TO sign IL. Tell me, do you need
more money? Can / help you?"
He raised his head then and looked
down at her with wondering eyes.
what are you talking Off" be said.
Has all the world gone mad to-day?
And What is this? p" and he read the pa
per that he held.
II was Grace E~amthorne's note, and
signed by Grace H~awthorne's name,
Endorsed by Harvey Barclay, and a
name new and altogether strange TO
him.
What have / TO do with this?" he
said, bitterly. This concerns you and
your lover."
Harry. Harry" she pleaded. Don't
fear 20 acknowledge the truth to me!
/ would rather die than betray you.
Are-are there others of these to which
You have signed my name? Is it this
that troubles your"
A new and terrible light burst upon
Harry Reynolds bewildered brain.
ANY others TO which I signed your
name?" he repeated, slowly. Amy
others to which"
And then, closely and narrowly, he
examined the signature on the paper
in his hand.
His face became more CHASTITY as he
looked, and in his yes there crept an
expression which never had been har,
bored there before-a man who knew
that deadly wrong and double treach-
cry had been done him, and who rose
up at last prepared TO meet his foes
and deal with them as they deserved;
for the signature was one he recog-
niZed at last.
1t was his own counterfeit Of Grace
Hawthorne's name. 1t was MS note
which had caused his fathers illness.
Perhaps he suspected and believed him
guilty. 1t was for his sake, not Har-
vey Barclays, the brave girl had
shielded him.
The weakness which a moment ago
overmastered him was gone His
strength returned. Words Of irdig-
nant denial Of his share in the wretch
ed deed sprang to his lips, but he
forced them back.
If, at such cost, Grace, an alien to
the name, had saved his honor, should
he not a v it stin?
He rose to his feet and put her.
! gently, from him; but, frightened at
something she read in his face, she
clasped her hands tightly about his
arm.
Harry" she cried, "what are you
going to do? Did / do wrong to give
you this? 1t was a very sudden i'm
pulse. dear. but I wanted you to be
sure-quite sure-it was destroyed"
Thank God you brought it to me.
Grace!" he said, in a deep, hollow
voice, which Jared against her a in
it's strange, unnatural sound. 81 have
forfeited your trust for a little while,
child; but perhaps, n day, 1 may re-
store It."
He stopped and kissed her forehead,
and as she felt his kiss, a little bird,
long silent, sang out a tiny Sung within
her heart.