The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1902-02-07
cHAprER xL.-(continued.)

oEoudly. Whose Is the sin? Is it
0ins, because I, your wife, have to
tsaf you this and you feel surprised? I
loy1syeu; and now that have to leave
you tell you that woman never loved
mEn. wife never loved husband, more
dearly, moro deeply, more devotedly,
than love you: would have devoted
you; every beat Of my heart, every
Thought OF my mind. every action was
tor you. love you as Elaine loved
80 Knight of old when she said:
have gone mad love you-let me
der
She drew nearer to him.
Il love you as no one else ever will
as no woman has ever loved YOU
partdy because could not help loving
you, and partly because I have helped
to awaken the better nature within you.
You may live many years, happy, fiat
'eered. but no loXe like mine will ever
reach you; the wife you are sending
from you is the dearest and truest
friend you have"
He looked terribly distressed.
"Why did you not tell me this be-
fore, Hihred?" he asked.
Il tell you? How little you know
mel Was it my place to go to the hus-
bard who neglected me and plead for
his caresses, for his love? l could
lave died 8 thousand deaths first. How
Little you know me! I should not tell
yau all this now, but that I know that
IA this world perhaps we shall never
inset again. I am speaking to you
~csass grave. I stretch out my hand
60 you over a grave-the grave where
my love lies-slain!
AS she said the words she fell upon
her knees, weeping, sobbing with bit
ter cries, as though grave lay there,
mnd she had fallen upon it.
He was touched. He could not toll
crate what he believed to be her crime,
but she was young, beautiful, loving.
Her crime had been committed
through love Of him. He raised her
from the ground.
Il am very sorry, Hildred," he said;
1T is very sad for both of u.s. Now
We must talk of something else. You
must go at once"
She raised her weeping eyes to him.
Must you send me away?" she ask
ed, gently. cit was wrong. I was mad
with Jealous anger, but did not think
l was. Could you not overlook it,"
<'You speak lightly" he replied,
Htcrniy. mo, you can never re-enter
any house. 1 have arranged it all.
did SO when took poor Lady Hamilton
back to the castle. I told our guests
chat you had been suddenly sent for
by your father, that 1 had driven you
TO the station-and it is to your
Gathers house you must CO."
Very WE'LL" she said, drearily.
: you do not seem to understand"
he remarked, sharply; "do you know
the danger. the peril that hangs over
your"
She did not, but Of what use was it
to say so?
TRY to collect yourself and under
stand" he continued; "time presses. l
cannot keep them away much longer.
You must depart at once without being
geen. No one must know at what hour
you went. You must go to your
Fathers house and wait there If it
should be needful to send you abroad
I will arrange it,
Have 1 done so very wrong?" she
rnurmured. The earl cried out passion
stely:
Heaven give me patience. You
aaust be mad to ask me such a cues
ton. One would think you did not
know what wrong meant"
HiIdred stood quite still, looking al
naoat helplessly at him.
you do not seem to realize or to
know what you have done,' he said,
hastily.
II do do" she moaned; "and there
will be no pardon. wish that might
ning myself into that lake. I would.
hut that there is life to come"
"Hildred," said the earl sternly.
listen to me. I have told YOU that
you must never re-enter my doors: but
&VN DScA NY udLAS, duu my name s
sake will shield you. The Countess
.Sf Caraven may have done wrong. but
fhe world must not know it. I must
save you from the consequences of your
mad folly. See-I went quietly to your
rooms and have brought you these ("
He gave her cloak and bonnet with
. thick veil. Il found them in your
wardrobe. Have you any money!"
No" she replied, vacantly: "none. I"
He took out his purse and gave It TO
1Aer.
T would accompany you" he said
but that 1t would draw suAicion on
you. must be here to ward it off.
Wnp yourself in this cloak. Hide all
0kat amber satin
wsth cold. trembling hands she obey
-. Suddenly she remembered the ru-
~. She unclasped the necklace and
& 1EAestets.
IAa1e these" she said; and the earl
Aesk tl,emit was better. he thought
.Seio sk1nanr her.
~ ~.