Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-04-24


words. Then, although she could not
possibly have known that knew of her,
OF had the slightest intention of con-
suttlng her, she gave me clear, true
outline of my past life"
very strange, indeed said Blanche.
1T was, to be sure" went on Mrs.
Goddard. And what she told me of
the past made me dread more than ever
her first statement. I presently found
courage to ask her what she meant bv
that allusion.
You are about to take a vova ee.'
said she, after a moments reflection.
and, while you may come back safely.
am afraid you will die away from your
native land
"'Would you advise me to stav at
home" I asked her.
No, you need not try to escape
your fate she answered. In fact, your
impulse to go away from America is
a step in the right direction, and if YOU
have to die it would be better to die
while trying to atone for that which
you regret so sincerely"
How very awful" exclaimed
Blanche The recital had really ex-
cited her beyond description.
Her warning has brought all the
good there IS in me to the surface.' de-
cla-ed Mrs. Goddard. It want to stop
right now and try to beat a retreat
and disentangle myself from the tolls
my sin has wound around me- The
speakers voice dwindIed away into ST
lence- Then she seemed to make a re-
solve to be more candid than ever.
Blanche" she sighed, II have not
told you the worst yet. Ihave wronged
you more than I did him-more than I
ever did anybody in my life. because
you were so young at the time. and I
struck you from the dark
'Wronged me2' The girl drew her
self up with sudden intuition of VIVA t
was coming.
Yes, YOU my poor. innocent child
When the major first began to come to
see me it was simply that he might
pour his love for you into sympa thetic
ear. he was madly in love with you.
He could talk of nothing but his beapti-
ful ward. T had heard of his riches.
and 1 at once set about to dethrone
you. laid the NEST adroit plans to Sc
cure his attentions. used all the wiles
IN my power. It was an awful strug-
gle. but the prize was big one in my
sight. 1 was heartily tired of the sor-
did life was leading and was fred
with the ambition to be social leader
Ito use the arts felt I was born with.
When he fell it was very sudden. Then
1 pretended that I was trying to re-
treat because he was rich and I was
poor, but that only inf1amed him all
the more, as I knew it would. You
know the rest. Now, you may hate me.
for If it had not been for NE he would
have gone on loving you, and-and you
would have made him happier than I
can for-oh, Blanche, know your Sc
cret, and that has been part of my pun
1shment! I have ruined both your life
and his"
why do you tell me all thls??'' asked
Blanche, bitterly, and, unwilling to dis
claim the accusat ton just uttered. she
put her hands to her face and began to
tremble from head to foot.
why do I tell you about it?'' said
Mrs. Goddard, cold, snaky CLEAN in
her eyes, because if anything were
to happen to me I wan you to remem-
Der that now say that God selected
you for his bride and Satan and !
thwarted the PLAN Therefore, remem-
Der that-if I should die abroad (vou
see, cannot forget that woman's IN
canny prediction)-I want you to con.
sole him at once by marrying him as
soon as he asks YOU
''Oh. this is simply dreadful Blanche
uncovered her white face and stared
fxedly at the woman
Il know it, was the answer. ''but see
that you keep what have told YOU te
yourself Blanche, you cannot deny
that you have loved him long time.''
L don't intend to-" said the con
quered girl He is the best man thai
ever Hved-the nobIest, the truest. the
most abused. Ifyou had only made hin
happy-but you have not; he is beside
himself with grief over your depar
ture.'
THAT is true, but it can t be helped
Now leave me. I feel very unhappy to-
nigght-unhappy because I have made
you so. Z am not all bad
Blanche rose She was like a boat
bufeted by conflicting currents. She
believed Jeanne to be remorsefuI be
cause her confessed deeds appeared sc
horrible to her unsulied mind.
I am so sorry for you,' she wa:
enabled to say sincerely.
VIII you kiss me, Blanche? @
Yes, for am sorry for you, in spite
Of
T know broke in Mrs Goddard. ane
she kissed the girl on the lips. 1t wa:
just such kiss as she bestowed or
her husband thousand times, and f
had never failed to deceive him. 4
made our heroine shiver.
Il have another trouble, Blanche
and Mrs Goddard pressed her haue
upon her white brow. MY father wa.
insane when he died. That's the othe1
secret He had strange fancies. Otter
have them, too. Awful decisions.
fight them away, but they come AGAR
and again. Don't tell the major. He ha:
enough trouble already, besides b.
would be afraid to send NE away"
But perhaps you ought to tell hin
and get medical advice" demonstrated
Blanche. ~4.~@ 1922. 49,.
'sNo, the voyage will put ME straight
The sea air always does I shall come
back feeling better in every way
That, then, is your chief reason, fol-
deciding to go so suddenly = remarked
the girl. Il wondered how
Yes broke in Mrs. Goddard. as i
her recital had gained plausibiHty IL
hainuriaued from RIanche ,s standnoinf