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

me! Strangers we must be henceforth!
What does 1t all mean? Am indeed
awake. or is 1t only painful dream?
He read the few lines Of the missive
third time. Something Of the old
dominant spirit Of Archer Trevlyn came
back to him.
There is some misunderstanding.
Margie has been told some dire false
hood!' he exclaimed, starting up. II
will know everything. She shall ex-
plain fully"
He seized his hat and hurried to her
residence. The family were at break
fast, the servant said, who opened the
door. He asked to see Miss Harrison.
miss Harrison left this morning, sir,
IN the early express" said the man, eye
Ing Trevlyn with curious interest.
Went in the early train! Can you
tell me where she has gomez"
Il cannot. Perhaps her aunt, Miss
Farnsworth, or Miss Lee can do So"
Every well::" he made desperate eff
fort to seem calm, for the servants OBJ
servant eye warned him that he was
not acting himself. "Will you please
ask Miss Lee to favor me with few
minutes of her time?"
Miss Lee came into the parlor where
Archer waited, a little afterward.
Archer, himself, was not more changed
than she. Her countenance was pale,
even to ghastliness, with the exception
of bright red spot on either cheek,
and her eyes shone with such an I'M
natural light, that even Archer, alb
sorbed as he was in his own troubles,
noticed it. She welcomed him quietly,
in somewhat constrained voice, and
relapsed into silence. Archer plunged
at once upon what he came to ascer-
tain.
The servant tells me that Miss Har-
rison left New York this morning.
am very anxious to communicate with
her. Can you tell me whittier she has
gomez"
II cannot. She left before any of the
family were up, and though she left
notes for both her aunt and her bust
ness agent, Mr.. Farley, she did not in
either of them mention her destina-
ton"
"And did she not speak to you about
IT,"
"She did not spent part of last
evening with her, just before you came,
but she said nothing to me of her In
tention. She was not quite we'll, and
desired me to ask you to excuse her
from going TO the onera -
"And did you not see her this morn
ing?"
mo. I have not seen her since left
her room to come down to you last
night When returned from my inter-
view with you, I tapped at her door
in fact. tapped at it several times dur
Ing the evening, for feared she might
be worse-but got no reply, and sup
posed she had retired. No one saw her
this morning, except Florine, her maid,
and Peter, the coachman. who drove
her to the depot"
and she went entirely alone?"
"She did from the house. Peter took
her in the carriage"
from the house! But after that"
he asked, eagerly.
IN. Trevlyn," she said, co1dly, lex
cuse me-"
II must KNOW he cried; passionately
grasping her arm; "tell me, did she set
out upon this mysterious journey
alone?"
II must decline to answer you"
But l will not accept any denial!
Miss Lee, you know what Margie was to
me. There has arisen a fearful mis-
understanding between us. I must
have it explained. Why will you trif1e
with me? You must tell me what you
know"
II do not wish to arouse suspicion,
Mr.. Trevlyn. which may have no founda-
ton to rest on. Only for your peace Of
mind do withhold any information I
may possess on the subject"
"It is a cruel kindness. Tell NE
everything at once, beg of your
Then, if it distresses you, do not
blame me; Peter saw Mr.. Louis Cas-
trani at the depot, and is confident he
vent in the same train, in the same car
with Miss Harrison"
"Castrani! Great Heaven" he stag
gered into a chair. lis it possible?
.Margic, my Margie, that I thought so
good and pure and truthful, false to me!
1t cannot, cannot be! will not believe
itw
II do not ask you to- said Alexan-
drine, proudly. 81 insinuated nothing.
only replied to your question"
"Pardcn me, Miss Lee. am not
quite myself this morning. I will 60
now. thank you for what you have
told me, and trust it will all be ex-
planned"
II trust So answered Miss Lee, turn
ing to leave the room.
"Stay moment! To what depot did
Peter drive herr"
The Northern, I think he said"
again thank you, and good morn
ing"
He hurried away, got into the first
coach he came across, and was driven
to the Northern depot.
He was somewhat acquainted with
the ticket agent and assuming as nom