The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1907-05-24

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All AnlO lAC AlSul
<RlI1~ Margie sat reading
M GITs the closely written
AA JI|,% sheets, penned by
kESSItEgsS the hand now
81 N$A pulseless in death.
b q y All was made clear
Archer Trevlyn was
q fully exculpated
seR y He was innocent OF
the crime which she
had been Influenced
to believe he had committed. She fell
on her knees and thanked God for that
Though lost to her it was consolation
ineffable to know that he had not taken
the life of fellow-mortal.
Her resolution was taken before
morning. She had deeply wrongeo
Archer Trevlyn, and she must go to
him with full confession, confess hel
fault, and plead for his forgiveness.
Castrani, who came in the morning
approved her decision, and Nurse Day
who was told the whole story, and lis
tened with moist eyes, agreed with
them both. So it happened that on the
ensuing morning Margie babe farewell
% the quiet home which had sheltered
Ter through her bitterest sorrow, and
accompanied by Castrani set forth fol
Jew York.
She went to her own home first. Her
.unt was in the country, but the ser
ants gave her a warm welcome. and
,fter resting for an hour, she took her
LAY to the residence of Archer Trevlyn
>nt few squares distant.
A strange silence seemed to hang
over the palatial mansion. The blinds
we're cloSed-there was no sign OF life
bout the premises. A thrill OF unex-
claimed dread ran through her frame
IS she touched the silyer-handled bell
The servant who answered her sum-
mons seemed to partake of the strange
solemn quiet pervading everything.
rs Mr.. Trevlyn in?" she asked, trem-
bling in spite of herself.
Il believe Mr.. Trevlyn has left the
country, madam"
Left the country? When did he go?''
Some days ago"
Mrs. Trevlyn-take me to her! She
was an old friend of mine"
The man looked at her curiously, hes
itated a moment, and motioning her to
enter. indicated the closed door of the
parlor.
You can go in, I presume, as you
f,;o 0f ho fo,o
4 feeling of solemnity, which was
almost awe, stole over Margie as she
turned the handle of the door and
stepped inside the parlor. 1t was
shrouded in the gloom of almost utter
darkness.
Marge stopped by the door until hel
eyes became accustomed to the gloom
and then she saw that the center of the
room was occupied by table, on which
lay some rigid object-strangely long
and still and angular-covered with a
drapery Of black velvet, Topped up by
dying water lilies.
Still controlled by that feeling OF
strange awe, Margie stole along to the
saw beneath it the pale, dead face OF
Alexandrine Trevlyn. She dropped
the pail, uttered a cry OF horror, and
sank upon chair. The door Enclosed
noiselessly. and Mrs. Lee, the mother
of the dead woman, came in.
"Oh. Margie! Margie!' she cried
pity me! My heart is broken! My
darling! My only child is taken from
me-"
1t was long before she grew com.
posed enough to give any explanation
of the tragedy-for tragedy Margie fell
sure it was.
The story can be told in a few brie
words. Alexandrine and her husband
had had some difficulty. Mrs. Lee
could not tell in relation to what, bu
she knew that Alexandrine blamed
herself for the part she had taken
Mr.. Trevlyn left her in anger to go tt
Philadelphia on business. He was ex
'ected to be absent about four days
Meanwhile his wife suffered agonies O.
remorse. and counted the hours unit
his return should give her the privilege
Of throwing herself at his feet and beg
ging his forgiveness.
But he did not return. A week, ter
days passed, and still no tidings. Alex
andrine was almost frantic. On tn,
eleventh day came Geographic dis
patch, brief and cruel, as those heart
'ess things invariably are, informing
her that Mr.. Trevlyn had closed hi
business in Philadelphia and was OF
The eve of leaving the country for al
indefinite period. His destination wa
not mentioned, and his unhappy wife
feeling that if he left Philadelphi;
without her seeing him, all trace o
him would be lost, hurried to the de
pot and set out for that city.
There had been an accident ab0u
talf way between New York and Phila
i|elphia and Alexandrine had beel
brought back to her splendid home;
corpse! That was all.
| CHAPTER XIV.