The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1907-08-29
CHAPTER TX.
Gratitude Of Miss Marjorie Poole.

SntF EN- IN.
Gratitude Of Miss Marjorie Poole.
As the man to whom she had been
engaged came into the room, Marjorie
rose to meet him.
She was not embarrassed; the
hour and occasion were too serious for
that. and she herself was too brok-
en- down for any emotions save those
that were intensely real and came
from an anguished heart.
She went up to him, all pale and
dropping, and took him by the hand.
Thank you, William" she said, in
q low voice, and that was all.
But in her words Gouldesbrough re-
allied all that she was powerless to
say. He heard, with an inward thrill
and leap of the pulses, an immense re-
spect for him, which, even in the days
OF their engagement, he had never
heard.
Always Marjorie had reverenced
his attainments; neve had she SEEM
ed to be so near to him as a man as
now.
He looked straight into her eyes, nor
did his W finch from her direct and
agonized gaze. The frightful power
of his domineering will, the horrible
strength of his desire, the intensity Of
his purpose, enabled him to face her
look without a sign Of tremor. =
He-this man with a marvellous in
tellect and a soul unutterably stained
by the most merciless perfdy--was
yet able to look back at her with a
kind, sorrowful, and touching glance.
Sir William Gouldesbrough wore nc
metal helmet which should make the
horror of his thoughts and knowledge
plain for Marjorie to zee The man
who had committed a crime rs foul
and sinister as eve crime was yet;
the man who was responsible for the
paid face of the girl he loved, the
dropping form, the fearful eyes, yet
smiled back at her with q mask Of pa
tient resignation, defiance and chiv-
airy.
II am so glad you've come, Will
iam,' Lady Poole said. And I'm
sure, distressing as all these circum-
stances are. we cannot thank you
enough for what you have done and
are doing. No n else in your posi-
ton would have done SO much. And on
Marjorie's behalf and on my own l
thank you with a full heart"
Sir William bowed.
Then Lady Poole, voluble as she
usually was, and ~unabashed In almost
every circumstance, hesitated a little.
The situation was certainly very dell
cate. almost unparalleled, indeed, and
It was certainly quite outside even her
wide experience. But her voice had a
genuine ring of thankfulness and
gratitude, and the real woman emerg-
ed from the veneer Of worldliness and
bafied ambition.
There was a pause for a moment;
no one of the three spoke a single
word. Then Lady Poole, by an intu-
ition, said and did exactly the right
thing-perhaps old Sir Frederick's
hobby of tact, had not been without
Its use after all! She sank into a
chair.
There's no need for any e~xplana-
ton. | al see that" she said, with a
sigh Of relief. with any other man It
would have been SO different, but It's
all right, William; l can see 1t In your
manner and In your presence here.
Then let me say once and for all that
both Marjorie and I feel at last we
have got some n with us who will
help us. We have been terribly alone.
We have both felt It most poignantly.
After all, women do want a man in a
crisis! You, dear William, are the
last man we should have thought Of
asking to help us, and yet you are the
first man who has come to do So"
Dear Lady Poole" Gouldesbrough
answered, in a quiet voice. Il think
perhaps ! see a little OF what you
mean. I am not sure, but I think I do.
And I regard 1t as the greatest priv.
lege and honor to come to you with an
offer of help and assistance in your
trouble"
He turned to the younger lady.
'Marjoric." he said. you must treat
me just like q brother now. You must
forget all that has passed between us
and just lean on me. rely on me. use
me. Nothing could make me more
happy than just that"
LADY Poole rose again. VINO shall
~ n the volatile brain Of the good