The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1906-11-09

cred under her touch like shaken
spring. and when she raised her tear
stained face she saw that he was gray
to the lips.
cam to blame, Alexls?" she asked
again.
"No, darling" said Alexis. "You
are not to blame. know he loved
you. I know he loves you still. I be-
lieve his heart is full of you and that
no one else can ever take your place.
But you do him a great wrong if you
suppose that any feeling that l have
won where he has failed could have
cost ME his friendship. There is no
ranking jealousy can find home in
such heart as his. believe that
heaven never moulded nobler or
truer. heard your appeal to him just
now, and If had not known how
hopeless it was, and always must be,
l would have Joined you in it. tell
you Lillian, that Aloysius is a saint
hero-a martyr. Apart from his
Maker, and those holy ministers
amongst whom that great soul moves
and who console him in sore af-
Fiction, alone can judge him." His
voice was cholled and broken by his
emotion, and the tears fell fast and
unheeded down his cheeks. THAT
man, Lillian, that man." but there
his voice failed him altogether, and
he buried his face in his hands. The
tears fell like rain between his fingers.
"You love him so?" said Lillian,
scarce less moved than he.
"Love!" said Alexis, shaking with
his sobs. Il have no right to love. l
have no right but to kneel before him
in abasement."
"You?" she asked. "In abasement?
You?"
That he was curiously volatile in
emotion, that he could be easily moved
either by mirth or pathos, and that
either of them touched him to en-
tremes-all this she knew of Alexis
already, but the knowledge afforded
no clue to this extraordinary outburst,
and her mind was filled with wonder
and dismay.
''Let us speak of it no MORE" said
Alexis. Il have done him an intoler-
able wrong. He will seek for no re-
venge. He is too nagnanimous and
too proud, but he cannot forget, and
his hand will never touch mine in
friendship any more-for ever"
alexis" she answered, gently, eff
did not know you better than l think
you know yourself l should be more
distressed than am, thousand
times. But, Alexis, it is in your nature
to over-estimate everything. You may
have given your cousin cause for Of
Tense, but-'an intolerable wrong? 1t
is not in your kindly heart, dear, to
do any man an intolerable wrong. Be
frank with me, and tell me everything,
and let me be the peacemaker be-
tween YOU"
mo, dearest" said Alexis, speaking
more calmly; there can be no peace
between us. When you asked him,
only short time ago, to make peace
with me for your sake, he did not an
swer even by word. And there is moth
ing else which would not be in itself
a crime he would not do for your
sake. He would die to save you from
any sorrow, but he will not take me
by the hand again."
''But I will not believe in this in
tolerable wrong" she answered.
''That you have done something by
inadvertance or in error is possible,
but an intolerable wrong can only be
done deliberately and of intention,
and that is not you, Alexis, or any,
thing like you.'
1T serves, my DEAR" said Alexis, eff
he feels it to be so, and if 1 cannot
pustify myself in my own heart
against him."
Dear" said Lillian, moving to the
couch on which he had seated him
self and laying her hand caressingly
on his shoulder, ''dear Alexis If he
could have seen your grief, your pain,
the agony of self-reproach and accusa-
ton you have shown me since he
went away, he would bury everything,
whatever it may be. Let me go to him
Let me be you. messenger. You are
not ashamed that he should know
how deeply you regret the wrong you
think you did him.
NO." Alexis answered. II am not
ashamed that he should know it. But
/ know that there is no possible recon
Citation. No! And there could not
be if he and l changed places. l
would never forgive him or dream of
forgiveness. There should be no
reconciliation if he lay upon his death
bed"
What is this dreadful thing,
Alexis?" she cried, wringing her
hands. "Tell me, tell me, or you will
drive me mad"
Il do not wish to speak of it," he
answered, with half his face hidden
behind his handkerchief; ''but it is
simple enough, terrible as it is. You
know of the story Of my uncle's dis
appearance?"