Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1907-10-09
CHAPTER xxx.
| Open the Safe.

do not believe it," said obstinate
ly. TT Is impossible"
Can one deny a fact? Am I child
to be solaced with smooth words? /
have seen; l must believe, though God
knows the truth makes me wish hun
dred times that lay beside my poor
disgraced brother"
It is always painful to see one whom
we respect the prey of an emotion I'M
controlled. 1t was doubly painful for
me to see this strong woman, whose
dominant quality was courage and
calm, writhe under the blow that de-
prived her for the moment OF all
power to think coherently. l dared
not tell her my belief that 1 held the
combination of the safe, and that be-
fore many minutes were passed L
might have the papers in my posses
sion.
The woman who tortured us both
stood at the threshold of the little
room Helena had just left, malevo-
lent figure in her hour Of triumph.
AS looked toward her, tempted to ex-
my surmise was false, to force from
her, even by violence, if necessary,
the combination of the safe, she with
drew hastily, leaving Helena and my
self alone. 1t was then that feared
the worst She had appealed to Hell
ena. She was confident of her sue
cess.
Still held Helena's hands tightly In
mine I wished to give back to her
her poise, her calm courage.
"Mr. Haddon," she whispered pres
emily, "do you Thinks it possible
to do this thing?"
"It is possible; but it would be the
act of a mailman and a liar" I said
gently.
You say it is possible" She with
drew her hands almost roughly. Her
voice was monotonous and harsh.
Then you will save us, mother and
myself, from this deep disgrace"
There is no service that I would
not do for you, Miss Brett, that would
bring you peace and happiness"
Peace! Happiness!" she interrupt
ed with fierce remonstrance. x do
not look for peace or happiness. Hon
or itself-and the motto of the Bretts
is Honor, My Sword'-can no longer
be our proud boast. But If silence can
be purchased it must be. 1 dare not
let my brothers name be held in re-
proach 1 dare not. cannot. for his
mothers sake, let it be known that he
has been false to England"
1--WE may yet save him if"
yes" she broke in with strange
exultancy that was even more dread
full to me than her despair, land it is
you whom I have despised that is to
save us. A life for life-those were
the words I said to you at Lucerne.
Now it is to be dishonor for dishonor.
1 am asking you terrible sacrifice.
am dragging you with me to the
depths. But there is no other to help
u.s. Say that you will"
Your grief robs you of your rea-
son." 1 said gently. Escape is not to
be found in that way. 1t is the last
hope of desperate and INSCRIPTIONS
adventures, who has herself little
hope of success. 1t is her last card,
and she will lose nothing by playing
it. But we, you and 1, we risk every
thing"
"Ah, you refuse! You are afraid of
the risks. 1 might have known you
would be afraid. That woman said
that it was hopeless to ask a service
so heroic from one who was a proven
- oh, forgive me, l did not mean to
say that"
Miss Brett, think there is no dis
grace 1 would not gladly endure to
help you. 1 swore to rescue your
brothers honor If it were possible. If
l could do so now, though 1 sacrificed
myself, l tell you would More than
that, though every instinct tells me
that l should fail, will do what Won
ask even now
Heaven bless you!" She cried
brokenly
But first of all want you to realize
clearly just what you are asking. I
want you to be quite sure that YOU are
not adding dishonor to dishonor in
asking me to do this thing. No: it is
not that / am afraid l have not that
kind of fear. But think that neither
of us should be so cowardly as to weld
to this woman's demands. In the ora
tory yonder lies your brother. Ask
yourself, when you see him, if it is
merely the merciful hand of death that
has smoothed his forehead, or whether
the calm and serenity is that of man
who held the motto of his house. Hon
or, My Sword"
This appeal was perhaps not wholly
sincere. One cannot deny facts be-
cause one wishes to. 1t still seemed
to me that it must be true that Sir
Mortimer was proven guilty of taking
brides.
Nor did 1 dare tell Helena now of
my wild conjecture. 1 dared not raise
her hopes at the risk of speedy dis
illusionment. Once the papers were
in my possession. together we could
defy Madame de WARMER And if dis
anna,nfraauf ~ he