Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-09-06

Barclay leaned forward and took the
paper from Grace's hand.
1.-THE exact counterpart of your own
signature, Miss Hawthorne" he said,
wonderingly. land 1t is not hand so
readily to be counterfeited."
Its an old accomplishment of Har-
| rvs. He can copy anything that he
sees. The counterfeiters missed val
liable acquisition to their number when
he was born an honest man."
when get hard up, Pussie. I'll put
that name on the bottom of a check.
You'll honor it when it comes in, won't
you? Even If you recognize the diff
! ference, you won't give me up to the
clutches of the law"
A strange eect this idle, careless,
laughing speech made on the little
group.
Helen, If she had even heard. made
| no movement, but went on playing
with the tiny boy. A dark-red flush
overspread Harvey Barclays face. so
dark, so red, that he bent his head to
hide it. A singular, almost lurid light
srarkled in his eyes; his mouth
twitched nervously. his hand instinct
lively clenched. From Graces face the
smile died. A momentary shock showed
itself on her features and then she an
swered, half-laughingly, half-serious-
ly:
1T think, Harry" she said, "you
would only have to ask for me to sign
my own name to the Remuneration of
my entire fortune if you needed it. No.
would not give you up to the law"
Afterwards she remembered question
and answer the scene, the time, the
place, until it seemed as if that mo-
ment had forever indelibly impressed
itself upon her memory.
Reaching over, Harry took the paper
Mr.. Barclay had restored to her, and
tore it into fragments.
$50 renounce my fortune" he said,
still laughing, and then the converse
ton changed to other themes.
A few moments later, and only one
of them remembered that it had ever
taken place, and little he rocked who
so unwittingly had sown the seed, the
bitter harvest it shouly reap for him.
One Of the most brilliant parties of
the season was to take place that
night. 1t was given by the wife of the
secretary of state, and the cards had
been out more than a fortnight.
.Peerlessly, regally beautiful looked
Helen Reynolds, as she turned from the
pier glass to meet her husbands fond,
admiring glance.
She wore gown Zone of Worth's
creations) which had been Grace's gift
to her. 1t revealed the faultless per-
lection Of her form, and disdained to
conceal the snowy neck and arms.
my beautiful darling!" exclaimed
the young husband, rapturously; "you
grow more beautiful every day."
Gin your eyes, Harry" she an
swered, sweetly.
And just then a knock sounded on
the door, and to the summons to enter,
Grace advanced into the room. Har-
rvs eyes dwelt on her wonderingly.
She seemed to him the butterfly burst
from the chrysalis in an hour. Even
beside Helen's brilliant loneliness, hers
demanded equal right of recognition.
She was fairer, less brilliant type.
Her skin was colorless as a lily's-col-
orless as the dress She wore of crepe,
which gli1nmered over satin, likewise
of ivory wilderness; her eyes were blue
as the heart Of the iris; the light
glimmered on the red gold of her hair;
but there was change beyond all this,
in which there was no change-the
beautiful child he had ever thought
her had gone to-night-forever van
ished! In her stead beautiful wo-
man stood. Long months ago, through
bitter throes, her soul had wakened;
but only tonight it burst upon him
like revelation of the moment.
A little murmur ran through the al
ready crowded rooms, as Harry Rey-
nolds entered them with his wife and
fathers ward. Instantly they were
surrounded by little host of appli-
cants for coveted positions on their
cards. On Helen's, Harvey Barclay
wrote his name twice; then he took
that of Grace from her hand.
"Only one little place vacant?" he
said, reproachfully, land that not
waltz!"
st am sorry" she answered. "You
see, it is my loss missing so good
partner as Mr.. Barclay; but, really, I
have had very little to say about the
natter
He wrote his name upon the vacant
space.
cat least it will give me an onportu-
nifty Tor a lew WORDS, ne murmureo,
in a low, impressive tone; "and there
is something, Miss Hawthorne, I must
say to you tonight"
The girl glanced up with startled
eyes, and half-parted her lips to speak.
In that moment she remembered Har-
RVS warning to her, and part of the
meaning which had escaped her now
returned to. her; and her impulse died
a hasty death, as the band, from its
hidden recess, clashed forth the sum-
mons to another dance, and its FORUM
ate possessor approached to assert his
claim.
"And what is it you have to say to
Grace tonight" whisered voice in
his ear.
He turped-Helen, standing directly
behind them, had heard all. Without
answering, he slipped her hand within
his arm and led her through the bril-