Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-09-05

SVu anu ONu Nusidnu perhaps forever.
And the ship wouldn't sail, Claire; the
ship wouldn't sail! When I went to the
Office, thinking I had about three days,
they told me she would be three weeks.
I walked out Of that Office swearing
I'd find some other, but all I found
was the road to the bad. Drink and
dice and cards! You asked me to tell
you all. I tell you all l can. 1 tell it
you to set you against me and make
you hate me forever. That is the kind
est thing. Claire, Claire, why don't
you strike me? Why don't you scorn
me and leave me to my fate? Oh, oh,
I could bear it better than this!"
Her warm arms were about him.
They clasped him tight. He could hear
her heart and his own.
Suddenly she stood apart from him,
with small clinched fists glittering
with rings. He held his breath.
"The man who is at the bottom Of
all this" said she, "who is he? How
was it? You speak of him in your let
ter. Tell me more"
"What is the use? The thing is done.
It's past mending, and it was my own
miserable fault. Most of my money
went in fair play and-riot! He only
relieved me of the residue. Yet I tell
you, Claire with sudden fury, "I'd
go contentedly to my account if I could
only kick HIM along in front Of me the
whole way! Yes, I'd hang for the
hound and think the satisfaction cheap
at the price,"
"What is his namey" demanded
Claire.
"Blaydes," said Tom, "B-l-a-y-d-e-s.
Captain Blaydes, forsooth, on half pay!
Blaydes Of the guards, who disgraced
themselves for all time by not
He broke off and stood looking at the
girl.
"By not what?' whispered Claire,
who had glanced involuntarily through
the gate toward the distant lighted
windows, and who was now trembling
again, with a new and dreadful agita-
ton.
"By not cashiering your friend, Cap
tain Blaydesy
"He is no friend Of mine."
"He is at your house tonight" cried
Erickson, with uncontrolled excite
ment. $50. .sa,a,. IA, CO.. -
"No-he is not" E
'"Then give me his address,"
"Tom-I cannot"
"You cannot? You who said you
would do anything in your power to
help me? And this is all 1 ask-this
Villains address! Oh, Claire, he is not
fit for you to speak to-"
Claire answered with deliberate res
ervations. Her duty vas clear as the
stars. Tom and Blaydes must be kept
apart-that night at all events. Then
many things must be done, but quietly
and with due forethought. Above all,
no fresh fuel must be added to the vim
: dictive fires now smoldering in her
lovers speaking eyes. So Claire decid-
ed to keep to herself her w opinion
Of Captain Blaydes.
She had noticed without comment
the heavy stick lying in the grass.
She turned faint at the thought Of her
fiery Tom en%countering the captain so
armed and so aggrieved, but she in
sisted on his telling her Of his wrong.
Tom promised not to seek an inter
view with Blaydes for two clear days
and not to harm him then, and on this
understanding Claire at last confessed
that the captain had taken rooms for
the summer in the village Of West
End, a bare mile from where they
stood.
They had finished with Blaydes and
were beginning to say goodby, when
Claire started and vowed she heard a
rustic at the gate. At that instant
there came a breath Of wind; the gate
shut with a clean metallic click; she
was locked out, for on this side there
was only the keyhole, and the key was
within.
He was over the wall and back ut
her side within the minute. She was
trembling terribly. All her nerve SEEM
ed gone. She must fy-she must fly
but he would come again the next
evening? And again she was looking
up divinely in his eyes, his right hand
clasped In both Of hers, and again the
burden Of past weakness bowed him
down, but this time there was a coun-
terpoise Of hope and high resolve, a
vision Of atonement and self respect
regained that gave to his voice q clear
er, manlter note and to Claire in the
thin moonlight q first and last glimpse
of the Tom Erdchsen Of Winwood up
lands and red autumn afternoons. But
1t was now her turn to be refused.
mo, Claire" he said, II am coming
back no more. You have put it In my
power not only to have my little own
again, but to redeem the past, and l
must set to work at once. If l don't
get that EDS now you may hear Of me
next in Horsemonger lane. If / do
there's an Ind1aman-the Jean-sailing
on Monday, and I sail in her IL there's
a steerage berth still going. At all
events my debts here win be paid and
done with There may even be q few
pounds over tomake me decent when I
land. and If that firm won't have me
now some other may. You shall hear