Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1901-03-08

iS5 !O0u ASH IN az
dream, and he helped her to Il Re OF
her cloak. He felt her arm breath
on his face. He laid the cloak aside,
then drew her into his arms and kissed
her. ..''And 50 do l, dear girl. And so
do T." @>%S >Ss@c X g@.
At that strange moment Jeanne
Goddard and all her evil plans seemed
40 much removed from his life as If
she had never entered it,. 1t was as if
the old life had come back to him
the life in which his love had for it's
object a. creature so pure and unde-
fled that it lifted him up and opened
his eyes to spiritual possibilities.
II was at first afraid you would not
consent 80 soon after-after her
! DEATH" he said. ~ =
II felt that it was my right to have
you now" said Blanche, frankly.
"She told me how she had deliberately
beguiled you from me when she dis
covered that you loved me- The night
before she sailed she confessed she
had resorted to every trick and arti-
flee within her power to make you
cast me aside"
"she told you that?" the major ex-
claimed.
Eyes, and not only that, but she said
che had SOME sort Of presentimeut
that she was going to die abroad, and
said if anything did happen to her
she hoped I would marry you. Oh,
I've tried to regret her death-to feel
sorry for her at being taken away in
the midst of such sins, but cannot.
She even tod me-oh, can't tell you
what e'se she said. 1t makes me al
most hate her memory"
''Please go on" said the major.
'She confessed that she was I'M
happy with you-that she wanted to
get away from you-that she married
you simply for your money"
| II suspected that" said the ma jor,
dreamily.
! It seemed so wonderful to him that
he could now calmly contemplate
Jeanne's shallow faithlessness with
out the pangs such thoughts had al
ways caused him. Was it because he
really loved his ward and that he had
never loved Jeanne his passion
for her had been only a base infatua-
ton which had already taken wings?
He could not answer these ques-
tons; he could only wonder at the
strange exultation which was SWELL
ing in his breast-the boundless en-
thusiasm over the thought that he
was loved by the beautiful young
creature before him., He lost sight of
the wrong he had done her. She had
only short while to live-that time,
he told himself, should constitute his
life and hers; beyond that brief Pc
riod he could not reckon.
''You have suffered?' he heard him.
self murmuring.
Ever since that awful day when
you introduced me to her in the draw
ing-room. I had never dreamed that
God intended you for anyone but me.
You had been my whole life, and
! even afterwards, when I saw the hold
she had on you, could not keep from
suffering. The pain, the loss was
with me night and day. l hated her;
despised myself. planned thou
sand times to leave, but could not
tear myself away, because l saw your
soul in danger. I saw her day by day
leading you downward instead of up
ward, as I had dreamt of doing.
knew how charitable you had been be.
fore your marriage-how many poor
people you had helped, and saw her
! drawing you away from such inn
pulses by her sharp, heart.ess ridi-
| cule:''
"And now that she is no longer
no longer-here?" Goddard could not
pronounce the word which lay on his
tongue like weight.
''Now that she is out of our way I
shall pray God to hep me exercise a
better influence over you"
'You have always done that" he
said. do with me as you will. am
a very bad man, Blanche; very wick
ed man. If you knew me as am you
would despise me for my wickedness,
as you despised her for hers
! "You never had fault till she crossed
your path, dear guardian, and nothing
you have done since is going to count"
She spoke lightly, and smiled as she
laid her head on his shoulder.
The next day was Sunday, and as
Miss Dean had gone home, they drove
alone to the village, about two miles
distant, to attend church. Blanche
! had never looked so we'll. The crisp
air brought the blood into her cheeks
and blew her hair into froth of gold
about her eyes and brow.
perhaps we ought not to drive so
far" he said, solicitouslyyas they were
entering the carriage. do you think
DR.. Fleming would approve Of it?"
HE said outdoor exercise was what
I needed most" answered Blanche.
Don't worry about me; the medicine
he prescribed is making me strong
again. Did you notice the breakfast
I ate? was ashamed of my appe-
tite." >'-. J,
He was silent Z moment a. they
drove along, then he gravely said:
II want you to go to good ply.
sician tomorrow and ask his advice.