Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1901-03-29
'lanche, in a pleading tone.

L
II am afraid even your presence
would rouse him; it is often so when
there is close affinity. Perhaps you
had better remain here till the priest
comes. You know him. believer"
"Yes," answered Blanche; "he is our
best friend"
A little after ten Father Surtees ar.
rived The doctor met him in the
e.; hall, and as the major had just walked
the priest was allowed to go in to him.
II am awfully sorry, my dear
FRIEND" he said to Goddard
Jeanne did it. concealed in the
wood below the garden answered
the major. "She was shooting at
Blanche, and I covered her.
think I saved her life, and thank
God for it. 1t would be better for me
to die. and it looks like benign dis
pensat ion-to be able to die for her.
If only I did not have to leave her
with the other stain, on her name.
was starting to tell her all when the
first shot was fred"
''Try to be calm.' cautioned the
priest, softly.
II want you to break it to her." con-
tinued the major. "She's in the next
room. You tell her the whole story
I am not strong enough. She will
want to leave when she knows
J The major began to cough, and tho
doctor hastily came into the room.
You'd better stop now," he said.
nj II
where Blanche sat.
go to her." he repeated, in low
tone.
AS Father Surtees went into the
next room Blanche did not rise She
seemed completely stupefed.
Rowland is anxious for me to make
certain disclosure to you," the priest
said, taking her hand. Il must first
beg you to be lenient, if you can,
with man who loves you with all his
soul. Of that there is no doubt
"He has lost my fortune?'' cried
| Blanche, sharply. ''What do you sup
pose care for money when-when he
is dying?"
1T is not that. my dear Mrs. God
dard," said the priest. averting his
solemn gray eyes. II am afraid it is
even more serious than that
What is it? What is wrong, then -
questioned the young wife, laying a
trembling hand on the arm of the priest.
"Can you bear blow from most
unexpected source?" asked Father
Surtees, "a revelation which will
shake your faith even in the man you
love?"
"Hush!" Blanche cried, firing imme.
diately. DO you dare to speak against
him when he is dying? Oh, my God! -
Father Surtees shrank from her an
instant, and look of pain spread over
his fine face. He allowed her indig-
nant eyes to rest on him for mo-
ment, then he said:
He has begged me to make a con-
fession to you of the greatest inn
portance. My poor child, you will
have to have great fortitude to listen
calmly to what am going to tell
you
what do you mean?" Blanche ques-
toned, the fire still kindlingin her eyes.
would you not be shocked if were
to tell you." Father Surtees began to
look about the room as if searching
for the gentlest means of conveying
his meaning, IF l were to tell you
that there was "a mistake about
Mrs. Goddard's death?"
Blanche's eyes grew large.
"You mean that-that she is alive p
she asked. slowly.
Eyes, she is alive"
Blanche fixed his eyes with steady
stare of incredibly.
mot dead-not dead?"
The priest nodded
And there is something else," he
went on, "and to do Maj. Goddard full
justice you must make up your mind
to believe that he did not love you as
he does now till-till after he mar
ried you. He has told me his full
story, and my heart bleeds for him.
He says he was trying to confess to
Iyou when the accident cut him Short
HE was trying to tell me what %
asked Blanche, her brows wrnkled in
perplexity.
He was trying to confess that he
knew that his wife was alive when he
married you"
"O-oh!" That exclamation was az
sudden and sharp as if it had been
caused by crushing blow
The priest took her hands and held
them tenderly.
but there were many, many exten.
uating circumstances" he continued,
pleadingly. He was the tool of de-
signing woman; he was out of his
mind. I had noticed his downfall
from the moment he met her and
came under her baneful influence. She
convinced him beyond doubt that YOU
had fatal malady which would carry
you off in few months She wanted
your money; he was temporarily in-
sane: For Gods sake pity him. T
know men as botanist knows his
plants, and could swear that he has
been man changed for the better
since you became hls VIII. If YOU
could only bslieve tAis il would, I
know. be . orunb q comfort In your
| great calamitY."'