The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1907-04-19

leave for the north this morning in tho
early express. marked his baggage
Tor him. He had beea hurried so in
MS preparations. he said. that he had
no time for it."
Indeed? It's bore to be hurried.
Where was he checked to?"
well. really, the name Of the place
mas escaped me. Some little town in
new Hampshire or Maine. I think. We
90 80 much Of this business that my
memory is treacherous about such
things"
Were you speaking Of Castrani?"
asked Tom Clifford, a friend Of
Archer's. removing his cigar from his
mouth. Deuced fine fellowl Wish I
had some Of his spare shillings.
Though he's generous as a prince.
Met him this morning Just as he was
coming down the steps Of the Aston.
Had to get up early to see after that
confounded store Of mine. Walkers
too lazy to open 1t mornings"
You met Mr.. Castrani?" said Archer.
referring to the point.
Yes. He told me he was going away
woman somewhere mixed up in the
case. Said he expected to find one
somewhere-well, hanged If can tell
where. There's always woman at
the bottom of everything"
"He did not mention who this one
was"
Not he. But must be going. It's
nearly lunch time. Good morning"
Trevlyn stopped few moments with
Mr.. Harris, and then went back to his
rooms. He was satisfied. Hard as It
was for him to believe it, he had no
other alternative. Margie was false,
and she had gone away from him under
the protection of Castrani. He could
nave forgiven her anything but that.
II she had ceased to love him, and had
transferred her affections, he could still
nave wished her all happiness, if she
had only been free and frank with him.
But to profess love for him all the
While she was planning to elope with
another man, was too much! His heart
hardened toward her.
II there had been, in reality. as he
had at first had supposed, any misun-
derstanding between him and her. and
she had gone alone, he would have fol-
lowed her to the ends of the earth, and
have had everything made clear. But
as 1t was now, he would not pursue her
an inch. Let her go! False and per-
fldious! Why should her flight ever
trouble him?
But though he tried to believe her
worthy OF all scorn and contempt, his
heart was still very tender Of her. He
kissed the sweet face of the picture he
had worn so long in his bosom, before
he locked it away from his sight, and
dropped some tears that were no dis
honor to his manhood, over the half
dozen elegant little trifles she had given
him, before he committed them to the
! flames.
There was nine days wonder over
Miss Harrison's sudden exodus. But
her aunt was discreet woman, and it
was generally understood that Margie
had taken advantage of the pause in
the fashionable season to visit some
( COuDlCu
her flight and the departure Of Castrani
together. it was not made the subject Of
remark. Alexandrine kept what she
knew to herself, and of course Archer
Trevlyn did not proclaim his own de-
sertion.
For a week, nearly, he managed to
keep about, and at the end of that time
he called at Mrs. Lees. He wanted to
question Alexandrine little further.
The idea possessed him that in some
way she might be cognizant of Margie's
destination. And though he had given
the girl up, he longed desperately to
know if she were happy. He had felt
strangely giddy all day, and the heat Of
Mrs. Lees parlors operated unfavorably
upon him. He was sitting on a sofa
conversing with that lady and her
! daughter, when suddenly he put his
/ hand to his forehead, and sank back,
pale and speechless.
In the widest alarm, they called a
| physician, who put him to bed, and en-
Joined the severest quiet. Mr.. Trev-
Ign, he said, had received a severe
| shock to MS nervous system, and there
was imminent danger of congestive
fever Of the brain.
| His fears were verified. Archer did
not rally, and on the second day he was
delirious. Then the womanly nature
| of Alexandrine Lee came out and
! asserted itself. She banished all at
'tendants from the sick room, and took
sole charge herself Of the sufferer. Not
even her mother would she allow to take
her place. When tempted by intense
WEAKNESS to resign her post she would
take that stained glove from her bosom,
and the sight Of it would Danish all
thought Of admitting a stranger.
NO." she said to herself, people in
delirium speak Of their most cherished
secrets, and he shall not criminate him.
self. If he did that terrible deed, only
of all the world can bring a shadow OF