The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1901-04-13

Their was NJ will; there was no proof
Of any marriage which had taken place
between the parents.
Randolph Chester is a good and
generous man." said the old lawyer,
kindly, in taking his leave. He loves
you, and, as your husband, will pro-
tect you against the world and its
knowledge of this terrible wrong. I'm
less you marry him, + see no way to
avert the terrible disclosure. as he is
your fathers legal heir, Inc must, in
law, inherit the estate"
And my marriage to him is the one
price for his silence?"
my dear, you must not put it so.
He loves you, 1t is the. only way pos
sible. except by r%elinquishing every
thing, which by right, belongs to him.
But If I give up all to him-if I
make no counter claim-if 1 go away
where he can never hear of me again
surely then the world need never
know"
"How can he accept the property ex-t
| cept by proving his right to-. it?' If you
| were dead, my child, he inherits then.
as the next heir; but, living, your
claim holds good. unless proven other
wise"
If I were dead, all would be well!"
she murmured to herself. Can 1t be
that I have not the courage left to
| die?"
And with the thought, a sense of
peace and gratitude stole into her
heart.
To die! Thus. she might solve the
problem.
She had not seen her cousin during
these three days.
Toward nighfall he sent a message.
asking to be admitted; but a terrible
fear smote him as his yes rested on
the pale beauty of her face.
Were his plans, after all, over
thrown? Had she discovered a paper
which had escaped his vigilance? Or
how else might he ACCOUNT for this
contented calm which 16oked out from
the lovely yes which rested their
quiet gaze upon him?
Beatrice, you are better?" he said,
tenderly. Il dared not approach o
earlier, dear. I knew you must have
time for thought. and would prefer
solitude. but it a been very hard not
to try in some poor way to bring you
comfort"
ITO bring me comfort?" she echoed.
YEARLY. 1T scarcely wonder that at
such a task your courage failed. T
have seen Mr.. Arnold to-day. He con-
firms your story. Perhaps it is all
true. I have not strength longer to
disbelieve. Doubtless, the other day, I
was very harsh and; very bitter
against you. lift this Is true, I had
no right to say what I did. I hope
| NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. it,"
Like mann to the furnishing, her
words fell on Randolph Chester's soul.
Could it be that, at last, the prize
was his-that, without further strug-
gle, it had fallen into his eager, covet-
Gus grasp?
At that moment something better,
nearer nobility than he had ever felt,
stirred within him. It was a sense Of
| his own unworthiness
Beatrice" he said, "the knowledge
| of the pain my words inflicted caused
me keener suffering than any retort ct
yours born Of your agony. Let that
| all pass, dear. Let it be my task to.
wipe out the memory Of all This mis-
| cry as wholly as T have wiped from
! my remembrance your monetary In
justice toward me. My darling! You
will grant my prayer? You will be-
come my wife?"
"Your wife!" Involuntari1y h shud-
dered as she repeated after him the
words. mo, no! Another way will be
found out Of the 'difficulty-a way
which Mr.. Arnold has suggested to me.
! You-you will understand tomorrow.
The property, the money, will be yours,
Just the same. And, having that. you
! will not let the world know the truth
| about-my mother? Promise me this?
Swear it to me?"
Beatrice, you are wrong, dear. IN
| supposing that any o but one can
lead us safely out from this tangled
web, and that road we must pursue to-
gether, dear, to life's journeys end.
| Why do you hesitate? Can I v
teach you, child, loves lesson?"
The wonderful, subtle fascination OF
! manner had never been more fully re-
| vealed than when thus Randolph Ches-
ter pleaded his cause; but he spoke to
deaf ears.
The girl seemed scarcely to hear him.
She looked far beyond him, perhaps
.adown that other path out of the
maze. which she was to dig with her
OWE hands. EH -.
"To-morrow you will understand"
she whispered, dreamily.
A new fear smote him. Could she
have seen her old lover? Was she to
take his name, with all the stain OF
disgrace now covering It? Impossi-
BILE! He was still in prison. awaiting
a new trial. granted on application OF
his counsel. He had had direct news
Of him only yesterday. What then?
Did she hope for his acquittal? and
/ did she still cling to him, spite OF the
damaging evidence Of his guilt?
His dread mastered his prudence.
Beatrice" he said, ''you cannot be
thinking still Of one unworthy n
thousht-of Bertram Talbot, q con-
yicted theft"
AS he spoke the name, 2 TRANCE
neht passed over her face. For three
days she had not even remembered the
man she loved. One thought alone had
40 pressed it's stainful impress upon
her weary brain and heart that all
| else had been obliterated. Now, AL
was recalled to her.
"Bertie!' she whispered. 40 Il the
very. uttearance might bring some heal.
ing. .No: / was not thinking at that
moment Of him.; but-he is not what
YOU say. He is true, az ] am true.
| VIII you one day tell him that I trust
ed and believed In him always? But
-. @-ISt-.r ao.~ ~o< 1oovo such a