Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1900-11-08

A N%~
on.
Fastening down the stairs and
through the hall. she softly closed be-
hind her the street door. and once
again directed her steps toward Har-
yey Barclays rooms.
Within half a block Of them she met
him. sauntering forth in quest of
breakfast, though it wanted but an
hour OF rooE.
She laid her hand upon his arm, and
though she wore a thick ven over her
| face. he could descry beneath it her
unwonted pallor.
Take me to your rooms" she said,
in a low, husky voice. The crisis has
come. Harvey, and you must help met
Mechanically he turned pack with
her, though dun rage was seething in
his heart.
Was his woman always 10 interfere
with his most cherished plans2 Once
Grace Hawthorne's husband. he could
defy her: but he dared not yet.
Still the ]sullenness was apparent in
his manner as, having returned in ST
lence to his apartments, he now sullen-
iy accosted her:
What's up now Helen? Don't you
know that you are not only ~compromis-
ing yourself. but compromising my po-
sition with Grace, by coming here like
this?"
Don't dare talk to me OF Grace"
she answered. Don't breathe her
name!"
Then the defiance vanished. and with
a low cry of anguish she threw herself
on Harvey Barclays breast.
Harvey, Harvey" she sobbed. you
haven't ceased to love me? You still
care for me? Oh, tell me that you do;
tell me that you will keep every prom
Use that you nave made me; for, to-
day you must redeem them-to-day
you and l must begin our new life to-
gether!"
Helen, are you mad?"
She drew herself away from him and
looked into his eyes.
"Am 1 mad? 1 think not, though 1
nave had enough of misery to turn a
stronger brain han mine. Have we
never talked of a new life, Harvey, and
one we could share together. or has my
so-caIled madness conjured up the Wis
ion? Did the madness wear your shape
and take your voice? Your engagement
is but an empty form by which o
wished to profit. l can help you, with
out IL, to attain the same ends. Harry
knows all. We lar not hope that he
will keep silent. All our plans. it seems
to me, have fatally miscarried. You
promised to redeem the note before II
fell due. You promised. II engaged to
Grace, to get from her fresh supplies TO
avert disaster. All has failed. 1t is
easy to word the averting of disaster.
but when the storm strikes, quail
beneath its fury and you are helpless.
/ am not blaming you, only / put in you
all my trust, and you failed me. You
have brought me to the very edge of the
precipice. One step further, and / will
be hurled to the jagged rocks below.
Why have I ventured so near, knowing
we'll the frightful nature Of the chasm?
Shall I tell you? Because / loved you
loved you-loved you-because, If you
stood beside me. hand clasped in hand,
I would rather take with you h a fatal
leap than live on a bed of roses without
you. Listen, Harvey-I have not told
YOU all that threatens me. Last night
Tom Window forced an entrance to my
IOoIl. III otNilo VI lllNiiN q lOhStu
to life in him. He swore I should re-
turn to him. He wished to rob the
house; but / persuaded him that ii was
impossible, and On my promise that to-
night / would give him the money, the
jewels and the plate, and-and that /
would go with him, he left me. Harvey,
there is but one way hat I can escape
him-only one way. A steamer sails
from New York tomorrow at dawn. /
will take khe train to-day at A.. There
is another at 6 on which o may fol-
low. We can meet on the steamer. I
will collect, enough Of value to let us
begin life anew in a new land. Tell me.
Harvey, will o do It? Or shall I, with
nothing more to lose, confess the truth
yes, all the truth, even to telling Tom
Window who IL was who tempted me to
leave my home? You know what he
has sworn. You know hat he makes
no idle threats. But what am I saying?
You love me, and we are to begin to-
gether the life we have so often pict-
ured. Tell me, Harvey, that you will
enter it without regret?"
Harvey Barclays face was livid. Ev-
cry word she had uttered he had
weighed.
What was to be done? Drive her to
desperation, ard he well knew that h
might foil his every scheme.
AS she had said. she had nothing
more to lose. Why should she not drag
him down with her in her fall?
Moreover, he had heard Tom Wind
om's threat of vengeance.
Already he shivered as, in magma
ton, he heard the whistle OF the assas-
sins bullet, or felt the sharp steel of the
assassin's knife. From hin he might
expect no mercy.
Give me time to think, Helen, he
murmured, at last. II must have time
to think"
There is no time!" she answered; "I
must have your decision now-at once,
1t Is already oon and / have much to
do. o, Harvey, what alternative is left
u.s."
He turned away, and stood with his
back toward her, his eyes ben on the
ground.
For full five minutes neither spoke.