Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-12-07
CHAPTER NXXVI.
"ionor. Nv Sword -

ms over me.
"What is it?" I murmured. yes.
I remember-the fight on the sair-
case"
4 struggled TO my feet but sank
back dizziiy. my hands TO my aching
forehead.
Thank God you are alive. and 10 is
all Overt" cried Helen. brokenly.
And Ferdinand is safe?"
quite safe and unhurt Already
he has left the chateau. Capt. Forbes
viii tell YOU everything presently.
Il have been unconscious so long?
Am ! wounded I feel no pain. only
this headache and dizziness"
"A bullet grazcd your temple-an
eighth OF an inch more" She shud-
oered. 1T wounded you only slight
ly. but YOU have been unconscious
nearly an hour"
Ny usual luck" ! cried. bitterly.
1T was 20 have been my chance. 7
hoped 20 retrieve myself. and I am
winged the first shot Fate is deter
mined, IL seems. that I shall stick to
my role OF coward"
Don't don't ever say that hor-
rible word again" cried Helen. pas
siouately 1T was your shot that
killed Starva. 10 is you who have
saver Ferdinand: 70 is you who have
saved FOR me the honor OF my noor
brother so Tar as the world can know.
Bow can ever be grateful enough p"
Helena cried. passionately.
you remember at Lucerne on the
terrace. when 7 told you OF WiUourh-
by's death. how he had died calling
me coward. 70 was you that pointed
out 20 me way OF oscape-you told
me how I could regain the seif-re-
spect I thought I had lost forever
II was 90 be a life for a life. Won
said. When 7 had saved a life for
the life that was lost through my
cowardice. 7 was 90 stand once more
upright among men. Tell me. you de-
spise me no longer?"
"Despise you" she murmured. If
you knew how I honored yout"
All. IL is worth while 90 hear YOU
say that But you must say more. inf.
nitely more than that now. dear. TO
satisfy me. Helena. I thought only
week ago that II could win your re-
spect I should be happy But now
want your love"
"Don't," she cried In pain How
can you speak OF love az such an
hour"
Forgive me What a selfish brute
l am But by the by-whon time has
softened your bitter pain-ln happier
days may I come 20 you?"
Happier days" She clasped her
hands In quick despair. looking be
yond me as II into a future that must
be always dark for her
Yes" I said psssionateIy. there
shall yet be happier days for you and
Tor me Do you remember on the ter
race the little beacon light IN the far
on mountains? That was my star
1t comforted me then: IL bids me
hope now; Il tells me, Helena YOU
love me"
Never" She withdrew the hand
had held almost hercely.
Her vehemence brought me rudely
70 my senses. had been mad TO
hope. / turned slowly from her.
cropping my way toward the door.
for my head was still throbbing furi-
ously.
She stopped me with a CRY OF dis
tress. She chung TO me in her eager
ness.
You don't understand" she plead
cd. You have saved my brothers
honor as far as the world can know.
But this shame that curshes me this
disgrace. can forget it?"
! would help you bear IT,"
Mr.. Haddon. We Bretts have been
a proud race. Oar happiness we share
with others. But disgrace we bear
alone"
Don't say that; you are bitter now.
but"
IF you had known me better" said
Helena. quietly. you would under
stand that do not give tomorrow
what I must deny to-day"
When ] told her OF Willoughbv's
tragic death. ! had thought II pathet-
&c that woman should be so strong.
It was her calm courage that had
nrst awakened my love for her. I
must not complain now II she was
not TO be moved by my entreaties.
But this question / did ask:
If l could have proved that your
brother had not, after all, shown him
sell false 10 the motto OF your house,
Honor, my Sword. would you still
have refused TO listen to me?"
All, II. MT Haddonl"
For almost the first time since had
known her she smiled; and that faint
smile opened the gates Of paradise
70 me- She would not be moved to
declare her love for me, but she did
love me; / was sure OF H.
And then suddenly thought OF the
words OF the Countess Sarahoff when
i made my escape by the ladder OF
stones: GO. and swear by the cause
/ hold sacred, that. IL you can save
Ferdinand, the honor OF Sir Mortimer
shall be saved" That promise might
mean little. II might mean that she
would show her gratitude by refusing
TO make public Sir Mortimer's dis
grace. Or had her words a deeper
signihcance?"
But" 1 cried eagerly. nothing is
quite impossible. / repeat now what
] said TO you when in your grief