Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1900-11-01
CHAPTER xxx.

In her. own room, Grace had heard
the closing of the front door behind
Helen. as she started on her errand.
and. giancing from the window, saw
her walking rapidly down the avenue.
WAS Harry left aione?" she won
dered. Poor Harry! Did he guess
the secret Helen had betrayed to her
last night-guess that his wife's love
never had been his? Was this an add
ed cause for his distrust OF Harvey
Barclay?" H
Harvey Barclay! She shuddered as
memory conjured up before her mental
vision this image which might never
more be banished from her life.
She had pledged herself to marry
him, to save the name and honor Of
the man CHE loved; and to keep back
atany cost-even at the cost she paid
tho truth which, reaching Edgar
Reynolds would prove HIS death-blow.
Truly, there was sufficient at stake
to warrant the sacrifice; and yet, poor
child. small as that sacrifice might APP
pear In itself. 1t was her all!
Her very soul recoiled from II. Her
lips whitened and her blood chilled as
she painted her loveless, desolate flu
ture.
And he. whose hand had kindled the
| ffe, destructive to her youth, and
hope. and happiness. must never know
1t burned.
Only a great pity was In her heart
for him, as she watched the wife's
form disappear In the distance.
Forgetful for the instant of her own
pain, she remembered only the wealth
OF love he had lavished upon the wo-
| man whose heart was ice to him.
Did he knowf Did ne suspect? Was
! this the reason for his sudden illness?
And she had left him alonel Was he
still unconscious? She must go to him
at once!
She turned from the window at the
| thought. and walked rapidly toward
| the door.
There she paused. with her hand on
the knob. and. turning back, she fell
upon her knees beside a chair.
"0od give me strength" was the
voiceless prayer which waited its way
upward to the great white throne.
A minute later she stood by Harry
Reynolds side.
At sight Of him. the strength for
which she had pleaded came to her.
She forgot herself and her own needs
as she looked down on that white face
upon its pillows. marked with SO inde..
ible an impress Of pain.
The brown eyes were wide open, but
they gazed up unrecognizedly into
hers. The short-cropped head moved
restlessiy from side to side. as though
tortured by suffering.
A little moment the girl stood there
with bursting heart.
Then she sank down on her knee!
beside the couch, and, STOPPING hel
head, her lips rested an instant on thu
low, broad brow. 1t was at once Z
kiss OF forgiveness and renunciation
i At the touch. light as though fra
grant flower petal had been borne b.
the summer wind across his feveret
temples. Harry moved. and a mo
mentary CLEAN OF intelligence cams
into his eyes.
"Helcn." he murmured--"Helen!H
The name cut like a knife as she list
ened.s For one monochrome shor
moment only, yet long enough 70 hol,
I a little part of heaven-she had SCENE,
to stand to him in Helen's place.
III Already she was awakened from he
dream.
An hour passed. and still she knel
/ beside him, sathing his forehead an
moistening his parched lips with ice
i Nne and then low, incoherent word
/ escaped him. Once or twice he ap
peared to be struggling with conscious
Mesa Once or twice she fansied tina
!. liove and gratitude were in the gianc
i ne turned toward her.