The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1907-05-03

you to indulge me In q little RETROSPECT
ton. You are doubtless aware that az
one time I was engaged to Miss Mar.
garet Harrison?"
"Such was the rumor, sir"
1T was correct. I loved her deeply.
fondly. with my whole soul-just as I
love her still-in spite Of 1t ALL"
"Mr. Trevlyn," said Castrani. with
cold reproof in his voice. ''you have
wife,"
II am aware Of it, but the fact does
not change my feelings. I have tried
to kill all regard for Margaret Harri-
son. but It is impossible. can control
1t, but I cannot make it die. MY wife
knows 1t ALL told her freely-and
knowing 1t, she was willing to bear my
name. For some reason, unknown to
me, unexplained by Margaret, she cast
me on. I had seen her only the day
before the fatal note reached me-had
held her in my arms and felt her kiss
upon my lips" He stopped, controlling
his emotion, and went on resolutely.
"The next day I received letter from
her. brief, cold, almost scornful let
ter. She renounced me utterly-she
would never meet me again but as
stranger. She need make no explana-
ton, she said. My own conscience
would tell me why she could no longer
be anything to me. AS If had commit
ted some crime. I should have sought
her. from one end of the earth to the
other, and won from her an explana-
ton Of her rejection. had it not been
for the force Of circumstances, which
revealed to me that she left for the
North. in the early express-with you
or equivalent to that. She entered the
train at the same time, and you were
both in the same car. This fact, cou-
pied with your well-known devotion to
her, and her remuneration of me, salts
fed me that she had fled from me. to
the arms of-another lover"
VILLAIN" cried Castrani, starting
from his chair, his face scarlet with in
dignation. Gift we're not disgrace to
use violence upon guest. would
thrash you soundly! You loved Mar
garet Harrison. and yet believed that
damnable falsehood of her! Out upon
such love! She is, and was, as pure as
the angels! Yes, you say truly, l was
devoted to her. would have given my
life, yea, my souls salvation, for her
love! But she never cared for me. I
never enticed her to do evil would
not, If I could. and I could not, If I
would! Who repeated this vile SLAM
der? Show him to me, and by heaven,
his blood shall wipe out the stainw
All Trevlyn's pride and passion left
him. His face lost its rigid tenseness,
his eyes grew moist. He forgave Cas-
tranis insults, he told him Margaret
was pure. He put out his hands and
grasped those of his companion.
20. sir" he said, Il thank you'll
thank you! You have made me as
happy as it is now possible for me to
become. 1t is like going back to heaven
after long absence, to know that she
was pure--that I was not deceived in
her. o, Margie! Margie! my wronged
Margie! God forgive me for INDUCING
such thought Of you"
Cas.rani's hard face softened little,
as he witnessed the utter abandon
ment of the proud man before him.
You may we'll ask God to forgive
you,' he said. "You deserve the
depths of perdition for harboring in
your heart thought against the pur-
ity of that woman. Archer Trevlyn,
had she loved me as she did you, I
would have cut off my right hand be-
fore would have entertained sus-
picion of sin in her! It is true she
went North on the same train as did,
but / did not know it until the Jour-
ney was ended. Previous to that time
l had not seen her for more than a
fortnight, and I did not know she was
near me, until in Boston my attention
was attracted by crowd Of 'roughs'
gathered around lady and grey
hound. The lady had lost her port
monnaie, and the crowd made some
insulting remarks which I took. the
liberty Of resenting, and when I saw
the lady's face, to my amazement I
recognized Margaret Harrison"
ITO BE CoSTrNuBDI