The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1902-01-31
By CHARIOT N. BRAEnE.


CHAPTER XXXIX.-(Continued.)
.1 EAHsr on In tho evening" She had
81 lie words quite thoughtlessly;
setnrned to hsr afterward with
\ ~ es3s.s Sks / ~ srsckless as to
- . lII1eA: - q illasthsr her hus-
l s,ossA 10 an1,xtyI, ~ mt she was In &
41lEstssle The snly thing was that she
had resolved upon preventing her hus-
san4 and rival from TESTING about her:
eha4 sAsuld never be.
shs went round by the postern-door.
ana q the distance she caught
gifn0as of the white dress and the sill
~ vsil.
10 think that her husband did not
rsoognfss that silver veil as hers! She
lad worn 1t ever since she had been
Ct Revenamere; there was not SER
want about the place who would not
have recognized 1t in q minute; where
as her husband did not even know to
whom It belonged.
Ihat proves what little notice he
has bestowed ON me-" she thought, bit
eerH.
Eho grounds of Ravensmere were so
we'll wooded that behind the safe shell
tar az tho tall trees she could walk
quite unseen by the earl and his COM
panfon. The sweet southern wind that
acarcety stirred the leaves brought to
Scr froEl time to time chance words,
bue uore of them were Of her She
DID Eat want to listen to their con-
versxtsso: she only wished to prevent
the story of her marriage from being
told. Sometimes the low. musical
laughter Of Lady Hamilton reached
her, aad then the rich ring Of her nus
dassd's voice would sound cheerily in
fha gathering gloom; and all the time
che. his wife, was slowly threading her
way utter him like the shadow of fate.
There had not been one word of her
Yee-<oe conversation had all been
shout people they had known years be-
core; and new they stood on the bor-
sierz OF the lake, where the crimson
wa1ers, to the dazed mind Of the young
countess. looked like blood. She shud-
dered as the idea occurred to her.
Some of the crimson glow fell on the
whtte dress and on the silken veil. She
daM Lady Hamilton hold out her little
~hite hand and cry, Eleefully:
Look. Lord Caraven-my hand is
dyed redr'
They had not spoken of her. The
ssd sun was fast descending.
That Is what wish you to see,"
said tho earl. "The moment In which
the sum seems to touch the water a
red gteam passes through 1t: then the
next moment it is quite dark
They watched it in silence, while the
dark figure stood motionless and still
behind them. The sun, as It set, SEEM
cd to touch the outer edge of the lake;
~ rcd CLEAN came over it, beautiful
and curious, and then. almost at once,
lit was dark.
I'VE will go home By the coppice,"
said Lord CaTaven; and his wife re-
'snembered that the long avenue of
trees extended to the very gate. She
could therefore walk almost side by
sade with them, yet quite unseen.
They had not mentioned her name
Could she have been wrong In her
suspicion? Had she mistaken her hus-
'saand's words?
They we're standing at the edge of
the lake, a cold, dark sheet Of water
now. and she established herself be-
hfnd a great group of alder-trees. It
seemed to her that the silver veil on
che fair woman's head and shoulders
absorbed all the light there was
.k,n
group OF trees separated her from the
two vino were SO unconscious Of her
pressHee--sarge trees with swaying
branches: through them the night
wind brought every word to her. They
taFksd anzy Of the light on the water
and the sudden darkness thereof
eomeone who had known and loved
Lady Hamilton before her marriage.
She laughed coquettishly over it.
How long was that nonsense to last?
the unhappy young wife asked herself.
How loug was she to stand under the
darkentng evening skies, with the
great alder branches swayfng to and
fro, and the soughing of the wind in
her ears, the fire of love, the madness
'OL 1oA1Ouoy raging III nGT l0ArC-lOW
Tong? It was almost unbearable. She
feat inclined to cry out that It must
end. She cllnched her fingers, she bit
her lip; then suddenly she heard the
sound Of her name her maiden name
HfIdred Ransome!' What were
they saying? Was the earl telling how
he had been compelled to cucumber
hfnaself with wife he did not love?
Was he saying that, although he did
not tsvs her. and they were strangers
- eech other, she cared for him? Was
- laughing because she had owned
e14f saae was Jealous Of him? Il.
cA1not bear IT," she thought.
I1te next moment there was the
ssanA - 9 slhot something seemed to
slee1s tArsagh the alder branches
Co. s llslls = low cry. a.startled ex-
se4nsaea0n. yssss IS q * Il s5 y
- aTe poachers I'M the wood..
saAsE ld4eht;; che Will surely 60 ii
- f9,A,,1 and fham n II MI f|,.s5