The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1906-06-01

mind he would tell her that they must
part. He called for her at the theater
to take her home and, while she was
40 aftectionate as ever, 1t didn't take
long for her to see that something
was the matter, so he blurted 1t out,
cruelty perhaps, for he was excited,
and as rapidly as he could. First she
stormed and raved; then she pleaded,
and finally she threatened. He felt
80 free, so glad, that it was all over
between them that he gave little heed
to her threats and not until she spoke
OF going to see the woman he was
about to marry and tell her the whole
story did he awaken to the folly Of
his ways. She stood and laughed at
his distress, and even Knocked him,
and then to him the lights seemed to
go out and there was nothing before
him but her hooking face. In his
madness he rushed upon her and felt
his fingers about her white, slender
throat, and he choked the words in
their birth"
Morel's words were bitter and came
through his clenched teeth, while his
fingers worked convulsively as he
struggled to overcome his emotion.
Norton moved little uneasily in his
chair and Rowe tossed his half burned
cigar into the fire. Danvers moistened
his lips and half arose, as though to
speak, only to sit down again in ST.
lence. The big clock at the other end
of the room could be heard ticking its
accompaniment to the pattering of the
rain that was steadily falling outside,
and the rumble of the thunder that a
moment ago seemed overhead was
growing fainter and fainter as the
storm passed dow the valley.
For a time they sat in silence, watt
ing for Morel to continue. There were
still traces of emotion in his voice as
he slowly picked up the thread of his
story and went on toward the finish.
''He didn't think, after what had
happened, she would ever dare to try
to do as she said, but one night, as he
was calling on his fiancee the bell
rang and the servant admitted some
one to the hall, who loudly demanded
to see the woman that had stolen her
lover away. She forced her way into
the parlor where they were sitting
and, before he could stop her, she had
told enough Of the story to make this
pure, innocent girl shrink with nor
ror. He tried to interfere, but tho
girl that he had hoped to some day
call his wife babe him be silent and
his former. friend Of the chorus went
on and told the rest of the story with
all its sickening details. When she
had finished speaking, she stood watt
ing for a response, but the bride-to-
be simply stepped into the hallway
and opened the door and, as tho
chorus lady was about to pass out,
said, low and clear: What you told
me may have been true, but all I
have to say is that and she looked
the other over with scorn, I gave him
credit for better taste. Goodnight.
when she returned, he was stand
ing in the parlor looking out the win
dow, ashamed to face her. and.
Morel stopped suddenly and listened.
but it was only Rowe striking q
match to light another cigar-''she
didn't say anything for little while,
just stood and looked at him; then
she crossed over to where he was
standing and putting her hands on his
shoulders, turned him around so she
could look into his eyes.
"Is-is this true?' she asked.
HE didn't answer-he couldn't. His
head just dropped forward with its
weight of shame, at the look Of re-
proach in her eyes, and his lips framed
the word Yes
"She gave one little half-stified CRY
of pain and shrank away from him as
though his very presence was con-
tamination. There was nothing he
could plead in extenuation, and he
stood there silent until she laid her
hand upon his arm and softly said:.
Bid me good-by and co."
Morel's voice broke with sob and
he buried his face in his hands. The
big clock at the end of the room was
still ticking away merrily and the
last few rain drops were dropping on
the porch outside. There was a low
murmur of voices from the parlor
across the way and the slam of q door
in the hallway as some one went out
into the night. Danvers had slid into
the chair and sat looking across the
table at Morel, fascinated.
There isn't much more to tell"
Morel resumed, choking with re-
pressed feeling. "She went away and
he never saw her again-she Just
pinned away and-and died.
"And the chorus girl?" asked DAN
vers.
Was Loie Sherard!"
Danvers uttered smothered curse
and his fingers sank deep into the
leather cover of his chair. Morel sat
looking at the floor, his face stern,
his lips contracted to thin, straight
line. .
Il new" Danvers was about to
say something when he was interrupt
ed by the club doorman.