The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-05-12

said. steadily. But Archie, It does not
matter"
''Matter? The old curmudgeon! What
a shameLwhat a wicked shame:
DON'T with a warning cry.
q can't help it, said Archie furiousuly.
81 never liked him; I'd too good reason.
But l didn't think ne was such a vindic-
tive wretch. TIC chain you to his grave
like that! I hope he's gone to a hot place
that's all!'
He stopped confounded
Bess faced him. white at first with
angry eyes; but as she listened her face
grew as red as fire.
dead, and he can't defend himself-oh,
you coward! / tell you 1 loved and wor-
shipped him hin; ne was my hero when I
ted him I'd rather be his nurse than
be the queen; and / was proud of him 10
the last. He was right--he was right.
God only knows what he saved mer'
She flung cut her hands as If to ward
off a danger and turned and left him.
Archie stood there dumb He saw her
crush past the blank horror of Mrs. Cox
IN the room beyond, all too near for dig
nifty, and SO disappear. There was
crash of glass door shut furiously; sh.,
could not trust herself in the house any
longer.
Archie sighed and whistled. utterly
crcstfallen. Another house of cards had
fallen in the dust.
Bess did rot know where she was run
cared for was to feel the wind beating
IL her face and to get away from Archie.
At lest she grew GREATNESS: She sat
down at the grass and laughed and cried
with her cheeks again white with an
ger.
AS luck would have it, John Cord OF
D&learreS, was taking solitary walk
round the farm he was going to sell and
which lay so near the lands of his neigh
tor. Walking along thoughtfully, with a
gun under his arm he presently saw A
hhif He al W. oh lra,
with a little white dash of smoke.
Chr She lifted her head with a
cry and saw hini-Saw his look of horror
as he sprang forward, and was with her
in three strides.
Mrs. Courage" he was saying, 81
might have shot you! What are you doing
here?"
He was uncivil in his alarm. as if adj
dressing a trespasser or a tramp. Doubt
less she made strange spectacle sitting
there.
II you must know" she said reckless
ly. - was crying
His voice was still unsteady, but very
kind. She felt a sudden. bitter impati-
ence at his manner, like that of Queens
adviser, always faithful. a little distant
Sss aus l am poor.a she said 49,,
effect with her scornful words. 1t was
worse than Archie.
Poor he cried
He looked involuntarily at the great
house behind. at the land stretching be-
tween it and this furthest strip CT his
The richest woman in the country was
making a strange excuse for her tears.
I'm the poorest woman in Scotland. I
think said Bess. She looked at him
with defiant smile on her lips. l have
mt a single friend. I'm onls a thing with
money for a little while in it's han y,
and my dearest friends like me- with
caution. knowing that any day they may
ind my hands empty I'm nothing with
cut that glitter"
Tell me what you mean" said Dali
cares. His tone was queer.
ooh" said Bess impatiently. does not
all the world know that the general left
me everything till-I-ma-ried?'
God bless the general cried Dali
cares.
There was no mistaking his look at last.
'You-did-not-know?" she said
No, said Dalcarres. "1f L had
"And Archie did not know The law
yers must have been strangely merciful;
they seemed to think it was a kind OF
a slur. Yeti thought-ohi / thought
the whole world knew the thing and
Stunned me-"
Listen" said Dalcarres. IL beg
your pardon Mrs Courage oh, my dear
est 1t was odd to see his old distant
manner giving way to the new eaGerness
in mis- face, Others may have known;
I did not. And I've never dared to tell
you l loved YOU because of that black
trouble of money that hid you so. Don't
be angry. | used to hear people say.
There's Dalcarres; he must marry mon.
ey, .Wdlcn MN WIN the WIDOW! linen
had to turn my back. Each time your
little hand touched mine, heavy with
rings could not give you. 1t was a fight;
but the Gcrdons were always poor and
proud. ~. l 6-a ..ea
The strong arm was not around her
yet. She locked at him with little
SILVER. This was net the quiet John
Gordon that she knew. it was Il strange,
eager, impatiert-loVer.
Il was Ill last year she said. and /
used to hear night after night q horse in
the distance Nobody heard it but /. as
they waited for me to die. But ] asked
the doctor. and he said it was Mr.. Cor
don. ! asked him again. and he said It
was Mr.. Gordon; then ! did not ask any
longer. although night after night
heard it still alone. 1 only wanted to
lie and listen; it was so far-so far. And
] said L will not die-perhaps She
broke OFF. putting out her hands with a
were always proud she reTieated We're
they always hafd-and urkind?'
His arm was round her then; it held her
, safe and hal py-and poor-at last
ALLOW me to congratulate you-Mrs.
Gordon.
The lawyer spoke as cheerfullly as if
he had not come down from town ex-
i Fressly to deprive this Mrs. Gordon Of
all her wealth. His manner was far too
! chirpy for such melancholy occasion.
In the distance the generals surviving
relatives were sitting side by side. The
lady was Mrs. Cox 40 longer, having
clinchcd the bargain irrevocanly with
the rival party. Within the next minute
one or The other would be male rich ana
they had cuIn'ingly put themselves past
the danger of treachery or fear of 4
breach Of promise. Now they were able
to look forward with an air Of assured
expectation. The general had directed
solemn opening of his last Instructions
as soon as the fatal marriage had taken
place, and their young aunt by marriage
was forgiven by them at lest.
tIarn al so on aYo
barras sed-but inquisitive, all the same.
There was no reading the countenance
of that little gray man with the sheets
of blue paper and the envelope scaled
with black. He was impaSSVe, profess
sional, down to his very cough 1t was
cough that for the last thirty years
had made heirs-expectant jump. Ills
curt. dry voice went mutterfng on, re-
peating the last clauses of the generals
his wife, and its one harsh condition;
THE said Elizabeth Black. or Courage.
having forfeited the above, / will now
brt ak the seal of this envelope. obey
ing the above directions, and will dis
close the name of the individual inherit
ing in her default "
Archie, looking on entirely as spec
tator, fancied he caught twinkle in the
formal mask of the speaker as he paus-
ed with fate in his hands. Was he ig-
norant. also. or could he give a guess?
An institution after all, by George
said he.
The generals niece and nephew. for
getting in their excitement that their In
| terests were identical. giareo like a cat
and dog at each other. But Boss. strip
| Dalcarres.
Whereas the seal was broken.
! They heard the geYerals commands.
/ stilted and formal but firm as on the