The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1901-05-23

ooh, Mrs. Goddard" the elder girl
said, 81 cannot bear It'll simply can
not give her up. She was all we had
So much was Blanche concerned in
the duty before her that she did not
look up. a light broke upon the
major, but he did not have the pres
ence of mind to retreat unnoticed, as
he might easily have done. His relief.
at finding his fears ~ungrounded was.
SO great that he felt weak all over.
Suddenly the younger of the two girls
withFBlanche looked up. She pointed
at him, and touched her sister across
Blanche's lap.
''It must be the new DOCTOR" she
said.
Blanche stared at him in bewilder-
ment for an instant. A slight flush
mantled her brow.
mo, it is my husband," she said;
excuse me a moment."
She came to him at once.
"Why did you come?" she asked, a
look of embarrassment on her face.
Ell am so surprised. Ireally do not
understand how
He drew her to the side of the room
away from several persons who were
listening curiously.
II have no excuse for spying on
ryou," he said, lamely; none, except
that I was afraid you were in danger,
and I came toto protect you"
81 don't understand" she said. IT
really do not"
For a moment he was reduced to
saying:
pardon my foolishness. dear; do
pardon mel"
"sOh, don't think 7 am finding fault"
she said, quickly. II am glad you are
here now, but"
II may as well tell you that I have
enemies, darling little girl, enemies
who would entrap you-take your life,
anything to take revenge on me.
When first I saw that letter I did not
like it's appearance, and when you
would not tell me about it my fears
got the best of me"
"It was from Mary, there-the old
er of the two girls" replied Blanche.
81 knew her and her mother when
Blanche flushed a little-"when I used
to visit this quarter when I was in
school. Ever since then she and I have
been friends, and I have tried to help
her family. They are so poor. I
ought to have told you that I was en-
gagged in this sort of work, at least
after we were married; but, knowing
that your other wife was opposed to
such things, I thought you might
think I was parading my deeds, SO I
could not tell you about it."
"Oh, darling, you are an angel, and
I I'm not worthy to touch the hem of
your garments! God have mercy on
me-you don't really know the man
you have married. If you did you
would turn from me as you would
from a leper."
Her face shrank sensitively before
the force of his strong sentences.
"You r the noblest, most abused
man in the world, and / love you too
dearly to believe anything against
you,' she exclaimed, with startled ten
derness. "But you'd better leave me
now. I am perfectly safe. I have
been here often before. 1 know al
most every family in the building. I
shall be very busy all day. This death
is awfully hard on these poor girls.
You and I, who have so much to be
thankful for, ought not to stand talk
ing of imaginary troubles in the pres
of such reality as this"
"When shall you come homer" he
asked.
"On the five o'clock train, I think.
Good-by, till then"
That afternoon while making some
purchases in one of the big shops on
Sixth avenue Blanche met Lottie
Dean.
"oh, you dear thing!' cried the lat
ter, giving Blanche a little impulsiye
hug, 81 am SO glad to see you, but I
haven't a moment to spare. Papa is in
the carriage at the door, and is as
crusty and impatient as a bear. You
have been saying nice things about
me-"
ST always do that, DEAR" answered
Blanche.
"You have been talking to Mr.. Tai
ley about me; he has told me of a
number of nice things that only you
could have said"
Have you seen him lately?" Blanche
inquired.
"Have I seen him? Well, I like
that!" cried Miss Dean, with q pretty
affectation of resentment.
"He has been to see you, Lottie?"
"Twice-three times IN one week."
announced Miss Dean. "Oh, he is SO
good and charming"
"Ah, I begin to see," answered
Blanche. "He is a good man, Lottie.
Ny GUARDIAN mean my husband.
trusts him implicitly. He and a num-
Der of other business men are about
to staff a bank and they are going
to ask Mr.. Talley to be cashier"
"Oh, I am SO glad" cried Miss Dean,
excitedly. 81 introduced him to papa
the other night. I was awfully afraid
papa would not want him to continue
his visits, but he seemed to like him
very much. Blanche, I shan't forget
that I met him at your house-that is,
if-if-"
"Don't say if' when it is already
three times a week." broke in Blanche,
with a laugh, and the two girls