Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1906-12-06
ZXII.-(Continued.)

pause followed. lnen the iesiueh' S"4"
I'm sorry for all this. Martin-sorry
You and | came to blows.
You played me false about the money,
] sad bitterly.
Yes, yes" he answered gently; Il
don't blame you. You were bound to me
by no ties. OF course you saw my plan
Il supposed your excellency meant to
keep the money and throw Me over.
Not altogether" he said. "Of course
l was bound to have the money. But 1t
was the other thing, you know. AS far
as the money went, | would nave taken
care you came to no harm.
What was il, them
Il thought you understood all along
he said with some surprise. Il saw you
were my rival with Christina. and my
game was to drive you out of the country
by making the place too hot for you.
She told me you didn't suspect about
me and her till quite the end.
Did she:" he answered with smile !:
81 must be getting clever to deceive Two
such wide-awaHe young people. of course
saw il all along. But you had more
erir than | thought. I've never been so
nearly done by any man as by you. I'm
sorry. Martin: | liked you, you know. but
likings mustn't interfere with duty' ne
went on. smiling. What claim nave you
q my hands:'
"Decent burial. l suppose" l answered
He got up and paced the room TOR
moment or two. | waited with some ahA-
ietv. for life is worth something to
yonnc man. even when things look black
est, and | never was hero.
Il make you this offer he sad at las''
"Your boat lies there ready. Get INTO ner
and 90: Otherwise
Il see" said |. And you will marry
her?''
Yes" he said.
Against her will?' =,
He looked at me with something IKE
pity. an in
who can tell what a woman's Will Will
he in a week? In less than that she VIII
marry me cheerfully. l hope you may
grieve as short time as she Will.
In nv jnmost heart | knew it was true.
I had staked everything, not for wom-
en's love. but for the whim of girl. For
q momant il was too hard for me, and l
bowed my head on the table by me ana
hid nv face. Then he came and put his
hand on mine, and said:
Yes. Martin; young and old, we are all
alike. They're not worth QUAR- 'iihs Ior'
But natures too strong.
May see her before go?' l asked.
res" he said.
"Alone!"
"Yes," he said once more. Go now
If she can see you"
went up and cautiously opened the
door. The Signorna was lying on the
he'd. with a shawl over her. She seemed
to be asleep. l bent over her and kissed
her. She opened her eyes, and said IN
weary voice:
rs it you, jack"
"Yes, my darling" said l. II am going
7 must 90 or die: and whether | go or
die. must be alone.
She was strangely quiet, even apathet-
ic. As | knelt down by her she raised
herself. and took my face between her
hands and kissed me, not passionately, |
but tenderly.
NY poor Jack . she said; "it was no
usa. dear. 1t is no use to fight against
him."
You love me:" l cried in my pain.
Yes" she said, but | am very tired;
ard he will be good to me"
Without another word | went from her,
with the bitter knowledge that my great
grief found but pale reflection in her
heart.
Il am ready to 60" | said to the Presi- |
dent.
Come them he replied. Here take
these. YOU may want them" and he thrust |
q bundle of notes into my hand tsome OF
my own from the bank l afterward dis
Arrived at the boat. I got in mechan-
ically, and made all preparations for the |
start. Then the President took my hand. |
"Good-by, Jack Martin, and good luck
Some day we may meet again. just now |
there's no room for US both here. You |
bear no malice?'
No. SIR" said 1. "A fair fight, and
you've Won"
As was pushing off he added:
When you arrive, send me word
7 turned the boats head out to sea |
and went forth on my lonely way into the
night.
CHAPTER XXIV.
As far as / am concerned, this story |
has now reached an end. With my depart
ure from Aureataland / re-entered the |
world of humdrum life. and since that |
night nothing has befallen me
worthy of a polite readers attention. | |
have endured the drudgery incident to
earning a living; | have enjoyed the re-
laxations every wise man makes for him |
self. But | should be guilty Of unpar-
donable egotism If | supposed that |. my |
self. was the only, or the most, interest |
ing subject presented in the foregoing |
pa ges, and | feel | shall merely be doing |
nv duty in briefly recording the facts in |
my possession concerning the other per |
sons who have figured in this record and |
the country where its scene was laid.
| did not. Of course, return to Eng |
land. on leaving Aureataland. / had no
desire to explain in person to the direc
tors all the facts with which they will |
now be in a position to acquaint them |
selves. ] was conscious that, at the last |
nj all events. | had rather subordnated |
their interests TO my own necessities. and |
] knew well that my conduct would not |
meet with the indulgent judgment that 1t |
perhaps requires. After all, men who |
have lost three hundred thousand dollars |
can hardly be expected to be impartial. |
and | saw no reason for submitting my |
elf TO a biased tribunal. / preferred |