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

ths disease. Tho shutdown would do
eide. Dr.. Grayson said: he would 10
better, o. death would ensue.
Alexandrino heard his opinion In
stony silence. She sat by the beds head
now, calm and silent; her powers Of
self-control were infinite. Her mother
came in to watch for the change, as did
several Of Archer's friends, heretofore
excluded. She was not afraid for them
to come; there was no danger Of Mr..
Trevlyn eliminating himself now. He
had not spoken or moved for twelve
hours.
The time passed slowly. The sun
crept down the west. The ticking Of
the watch on the stand was all that
broke the silence of the room. The last
sun ray departed-the west famed with
gold and crimson, and the amber light
flushed with the hue of health the white
face on the pillow. Alexandrine
thought she saw change other than
that the sunlight brought, and bent
over him.
His eyes unclosed-he looked away
from her to the vase Of early spring
flowers on the center-table. His lips
moved. She caught the whispered
word with fierce pang at her heart:
"Margie''
The physician stepped forward, and
sought the fluttering pulse. His face
told his decision before his lips did.
"The crisis is passed. He will live"
Yes. he would live. The suspense
was over. Alexandrine's labors we're
shared now, and Archer did not know
how devotedly he had been tended
how he owed his very existence to her.
He mended slowly, but by the middle
of May he was able to get out, OF
course he was very grateful to the Lees.
and their house was almost the only
one he visited Alexandrine was fit
full and moody. Sometimes she re-
ceived him with the greatest warmth.
and then she would be cold and dis
tant. She puzzled Archer strangely.
He wanted to be friends with her. Ho
felt that he owed her an immense debt
OF gratitude, and he desired to treat her
as he would dear sister.
Perhaps it was because time hung so
heavily on his hands, that Trevlyn
went so frequently to Mrs. Lees. Ger
tainly he did not go to visit Alexan-
drine. We all know how the habit Of
visiting certain places grow upon us.
without any particular cause, until we
feel the necessity of going through with
the regular routine every day. He
was to blame for following up this ac-
quaintance so closely, but he did it
without any wrong intention. Ee
never thought it possible that any one
should dream of his being in love with
Alexandrine.
But the world talked. They said it
was very pretty romance; Mr.. Trev-
Ign had been deserted by his lady love,
had fallen i'll on account Of it, had been
nursed by one whom of course he would
marry. Indeed, they thought him in
duty bound to do so. In what other
way could he manifest his gratitude?
Vague whispers of this reached Trev-
lyn's ear, but he gave them at first little
heed. He should never marry, he said:
it was sinful to wed without love. But
as he saw Alexandrine's pale face and
strangely distraught manner day by
day. he came to feel as if he had in some
way wronged her, though how he did
not exactly understand.
One day he entered the sitting-room
Of Mrs. Lee with the freedom of priv
ileged visitor, without rapping, and
found Alexandrine in tears. He would
have retreated, but she had already
seen him, and he felt that it would be
better to remain. He spoke to her
kindly.
II trust nothing has occurred to dis
tress you?" She looked up at him al
most defiantly.
Leave me!' she said, 1mpetuously;
you, of all others, have no right to
question me"
Pardon mel" he exclaimed, alarmed
by her strange emotion, "and why not
question you?"
Because you have caused me misery
enough already"