Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-10-18
IS 8 d.6 5555O
!: ASIR(ElN'S VICTIMS 3
I, sBy Frances Warner Walker.
10 PSI .Q-Q-Q 20 . ~ = 90 QQQQQ

! think can straighten matters, and, II
II the worst comes to. the worst, I'll have
to go to. Grace myself. But keep my
secret, Barclay You've got your, mons
ey. Leave the rest to me- '- E
sI-ean't leave it to:you,' I answered,
'fori3Em .in: love with the woman, you
are robbfng.'
..wsr1, Grace, I won't humiliate you
h9 telling you all the. story Of his plead
!! ing; but when we parted, he had sworn
to :nie that he would never touch anotl,
/ er card. I could see no good. in expos
ing him TO you, and So I, promised to
keep':.hiS miserable secret Grace, I
promisedsfor your sake !; for your sake
l. will still help shield him from the
consequences of his act; but can work
no. longer without some reward. Again
ask you, will you be my wife,"
:s"1h, spars. mel" cried the girl. Spare
me; as,you spared hinse Ny need Of
generous pity Is even greater. Ask me
anything but this, and will acknow-
ledge the justice of your claim. I will
:snnake:yoaS riclI and in1pover1sh myself;
but I cannot marry you'll"
'Yotl' make me .Shylock, Grace,
when I would be a Romeo. You force
me to demand my pound of'-flesh when
I'would Sue for the fragrance of a pass
ing breath. Yet though I would be ten
der as Romeo, yet am unrelenting as
.shylock. Promise to be my wife, and
will promise to be a.truer better man..
Grace, I have had no chance in life.
Give me this chance. Surround me by
your love, and let my own for you es-
cape its prison. i.
"It is impossible!" she answered,
shuddering. II do not cannot love you!
I cannot marry your
".And of your refusal you accept the.
consequences"
you will enforce them?"
LIT is your own act. Send me from
you, with no promise for the future, and
will go to the man who accepted Har-
ry Reynolds note, and denounce it as
forgerY-denounce him as forger.,
You say. there is not money in the bank
to-. meet it. I will make, the whole
transaction public. Then save him from.
the law: If you can. You will find the
law stronger than, all your feeble will.
But grant my prayer, and I will have
the note renewed. Give me your check
for the amount already in the bank, and
your own note for the balance, payable
in sixty days, and all shall be made
smooth, the forged note in your own.
hands by nightfall, and Harry Rey-
nolds' guilt unproven by this living
witness against him. You have now the
two I: Alternatives Grace. Which will,
you cheose?-, I give you five minutes to
decide.", 80
And he pulled his watch from his
pocket, and stood holding 1T in his
hand. .n.,Tra O.. -.
;. .Your sdecision?" he said. quietly,
when the appointed time had expired.
/, IT will give you the. check and note"
she answered, in a tone as cold and life
less as though the dead were speaking.
bring me the-the note now in exist
ence, and Twill marry your -
Z A flash 'of triumph darted into the
dark eyes,; a lurtd fire as of volcano
suddenly emitting sulpherous flame,
long t1a e z5m1aldering in the very bowels Of
He took, one Step forward and invol-
Unfairly stretched out his arms. .. :,
Grace my, !darling!!''' he murmtured,
in ecstatic tenderness. n. .
But, recoiling, she held up her own
hands in: aversion and abhorrence.<-.-
Not thaf!'' she cried. !. ""spare me
4: at*A s not. .insptiened in the