The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-11-16

A half truth then. A suppression OF
something. A something done or per-
mitted by Aexis-a something not to
be recalled. What Is done Is done.
No prayers or tears or agonies can
wipe 1t out" Had Alexis used the
words she would have made an easy
discount of them She had told him
that morning that he overestimated
everything. His whole nature was
exaggerative. His joys and griefs
were not like the joys and griefs OF
other people. But Aloysius was a
man who weighed his words, and the
more she pondered on them, and on
the way in which they had been spok'
en-, the more serious they seemed.
Alexis had laid a burden on him
self. What burden? 1t was his taking
that burden on himself which had
given his cousin a bitter grief which
he must carry to the grave. She dared
not think OF what the whole trend OF
that brief interview had seemed to
hint. At last she could bear her own
thoughts no longer, and betaking her
self to her escritoire she wrote in
flying haste letter OF appeal to
Alexis:
"You must come to me at once. l
cannot endure myself until l have
seen you, and have freed myself from
a dreadful fear which has fallen on
me. have seen Aloysius, and his ac-
count of the reason for the miserable
division which has come between you
is so absolutely different from your
own that I am filled with dread and
wonder. You have done something or
allowed something to be done which
has caused him a grief which he says
he must carry to the grave. 1t mas
nothing to do with any suspicious you
may have permitted yourself to nurse
with regard to him. 1t is nothing in
the nature OF an injury to himself. 1t
is something which can never be un-
done, something which creates a bur-
den you. have laid upon yourself. |
use his words, 1T is not l who am
implacable.' Not God himself can
call back yesterday Alexis, you
must not leave me to my thoughts.
They will drive me mad. Indeed,
am half-distracted as write. | can
dream Of nothing which will explain
it all. There is something you regret
so much that it seems to break your
heart. But it is not the thing you
made it seem to me. Come to me,
Alexis. Come and tell me all. l am
your promised wife and have right
to you'd complete confidence, your full
and undivided trust. For PHYS sake,
Alexis, come to me. Do not delay an
hour"
Again she signed and sealed, and
again she summoned the man who had
done her errand to Aloysius earlier
in the day. He was too well trained
to betray surprise, but her manner and
this hurried correspondence seemed to
bespeak something out of the common.
Take this to Mr.. Brangwyn's cham
bers instantly" she said. wait for
an answer, and send wire to me tell
ing mo what it is as soon as you re-
ceive it,
Eyes, Miss Lilian," he answered, and
only a minute later she saw him ca
reening down the avenue upon his bi-
cycle on his way to the railway sta
ton. A little later yet she heard the
whistle of the approaching train.
The indoor air seemed to choke her
and she walked into the pleasance
striving to escape from her thoughts.
They dogged her in her shodow, and
she scarcely dared to give them house
room. Sne feared-she feared-and
that was all she knew. But a great
threatening cloud hung over her, with
hints Of thunder in it. 1t could not
burst and reveal the terror it held un
til her messengers return. Only one
thing she knew for certain. Alexis
had deceived her and he had some
good and sufficient cause for his du
plicity-something with which he had
not dared to trust her.
Ito Be continued.)