The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1903-08-13
CHAPTER XIII.

and serenity for Irving Warde. His
footsteps were n longer logged by
reckless rutfians. Old Tom and his
companion, as well as the man in the
red flannel shirt, had disappeared,
and his dreams were not disturbed
by visions of deeply dyed villains and
resurrected pirates of the Spanish
Main. Fenton had been Industrious
ly, but quietly, at work, and his re-
ports had been of a highly satisfac-
tory description.
Irving had not forgotten Herbert
Wright's wife and her destitute con-
dition. He and Miriam had visited
her together, and a part of the
money obtained from Franklin had
been placed in bank to her credit.
For the first time during the year
everything had been comfortable in
her home; and it was wonderful to
see how pretty she became under
the brighter skies that spanned her
life; for Irving had assured her posi-
lively that her husband would be &C.
quilted; and Herbert had been very
cheerful about it, too.
But how do you know he will be
acquitted" persisted the little wo-
man.
"That I cannot tell you now" said
Irving, "but 1 know that your hus-
band had no more to do with the kill
ing of Mr.. Wright than 1 did, and the
jury will SO declare. And I have more
good news for you. Your days of
trouble are over. In a year from
now your husband will be one of
the wealthiest men in the state"
So Warde felt relieved on this score
also. He knew that Mrs. Wright was
amply provided for and contented,
and he devoted himself with a free
conscience to Miriam, who every day
became dearer to him. They were
together a great deal, for love had
kindled his spirit flame in Irving's
heart, and to make Miriam happy be-
came the guiding motive of his life.
A week after the events narrated in
the preceding chapter Irving went
out to the Wright homestead and
found Miriam in tears.
"What is the, matter??" he asked,
as he gently took her hand.
"We must give up this place, and
it is very hard. 1t is true we have
not been happy here, but we were
attached to the place, for it was not
to blame"
"How has this come about?"
"Col. Franklin has just notified, US
that this property had been decided
to a real estate company, and that
as a representative of the company
he desires possession on the 1st of
February"
$50 Col. Franklin imagines that he
is still alive, does he? Well, he can
go and hang HIMSELF"
Eyes, he could, but he will not.
And that would not help us any,"
Miss Miriam, don't you worry
about the c%olonel's notification" said
Irving; "he will never get possession
of this place, I promise you that"
at is very kind of you to try to
console us, but I am afraid there can
be no help for it,"
But there is help for it. I did not
expect to tell you this yet, and you
must promise to let no one know of
it but your mother, and you must
pledge her also to secrecy"
"Well, then, we both swear" said
Miriam.
ut is a bit of nan in it's way,
illustrating, however, the triumph of
the good and the just over the evil
and the unjust"
Please do go on with your story.
My appetite is sufficiently whetted."
Then Warde told her about the old
agreement and it's recovery. He gave
her the entire story, including Mr..
Everett's adventure with Franklin.
Miriam was alternately shocked and
thrilled; and when he had concluded,
she said: "Then Col. Franklin is"
"a pirate of purest ray SERENE" in
t%errupted Irving. "For the present we
have quoted him by letting him sup
pose that he has us cornered. The
possession of the agreement is known
to you, Mr.: Everett and myself. And
when your mother is told, it will be
confined. 70 us four"
"How can we ever show our graf
itude to you for what you have
done?"
1T wa a mere accident that helped
me to get that agreement, SO you
must thank fate this time"
"But you have been devoted to our
interests all the time. You have
never let an opportunity slip to do
a favor for some member of our fam
lily, and you have worked as indus
triously for us as some men work
for themselves. I do not care to~be
wealthy, but my mother has had a
great deal Of care and unhappiness.
and it has been my earnest hope that
she would be able to spend the re-
mainder of her life here entirely in
dependent. And now I feel that
through you this hope will be real
ized."
eff I have done anything to bring
about the object of your desire, I am
perfectly satisfied"
II think that you must be the good
angel of the family"
Then she few away 20 tell her
mother the news that Warde had
brought, leaving him in a trance half