The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1907-05-17
By CLARA AUGUSTA

IL SINJW
CHAPTER XXL-OoNT1NuHD.I
She kissed an ivory cross laying on
her bosom, and proceeded with evident
difficulty.
"well, I ned with Paul Linmere. For
time I was very happy. He was kind
to me, and I loved him so! We lived
in little vine-wreathed cottage. on the
banks Of the Seine, and I had my tiny
flower-garden, my books, my birds. my
faithful dog Leo-and Paul! Every
pleasant night he used to take me out
on the river in the little boat which
bore my name on its side. lived in .
sort of blissful waking trance, that left
me nothing to desire. nothing to ask
for. Fool that I was! thought it
was to last always. After while
Paul wearied Of me. Perhaps was too
lavish Of my caresses and words Of love;
it might tire him to be loved so in
tensely. But such was my nature. He
grew cold and distant; at times posi-
lively ill-natured. Once he struck me:
but l forgave him the blow, because he
had taken too much wine. He laughed
me to scorn, and called me by foul
name that cannot repeat. That night
he asked me to go out boating with
him. I prepared myself with alacrity,
for l thought he was getting pleased
with me and perhaps would comply
with my request. Are you weary OF
my story. Louise"
mo, no. Go on. I am listening to
you, Arahel."
ct was a lovely night. The stars
cleaning like drops of molten gold, and
the moon looked down, pure and serene
and holy. Paul was unusually silent,
and l was quiet, waiting for him to
speak. Suddenly, when we reached the
middle of the river, he dropped the oars,
and we drifted with the current. He
sprang up, his motion nearly capsizing
the frail boat, and taking step toward
me, fastened a rough hand upon my
shoulders. 'Arabel,' he said, hoarsely,
your power over me is among the
things Of the past. Once thought l
loved you, but it was merely a passion
which soon burned itself out. After
that, grew to hate you; but, because l
had taken you away from home and
friends, I tried to treat you ctvilly.
Your caresses disguised me. would
gladly have cast you of long ago, II I
had had but the shadow of pretext.
am to be married to beautiful wom-
an in America before many months
shall elapse-a woman with a name and
a fortune which will help me to pay
those cursed debts that are dragging
me down like a milestone. For you I
have no further use. There Is no dis
grace in the grave-and consign you
to it's dreamless sleep! The next mo-
ment the boat was capsized, and was
floating in the water. cried aloud in
his name, beseeching him to save me,
and got only his hooking laugh in re-
turn, as he struck out for the shore.
l could not swim, and felt myself
sinking downtown to unfathomable
depths. l felt cold as ice; there was a
deafening roar in my ears, and knew
no more"
my poor Arabel, 1 could curse the
villain who did this cowardly thing,
but he is dead. and in the hands of
God"
When l woke to consciousness. I
was lying in a rude cottage, and two
persons, unknown to me-a man and a
woman-were bending over me, apply
| ing hot f1annels to my numbed limbs
and restoratives to my lips. l had
some articles of jewelry on my person,
of some considerable value, and with
these bribed the persons who had
taken me from the river to cause Mr..
Linmere to believe that had died.
They were rough people. but they were
kind-hearted, and l owe them large
debt of gratitude for their thoughtful
care of me. But for it should have
| lied in reality. AS soon as was able
20 bear the journey left France. Lin
mere had already closed the cottage
and gone away-none knew whittier,
but was satisfied he had departed for
the United States. I left France with
no feeling of regret, save for Leo, my
faithful hound. have shed many Bit
ter tears when bordering over the
probable fate Of my poor dog"
'Be easy on that subject, Arabel.
saw the hound but few weeks ago
He is the property of lady who loves
him-the woman Paul Linmere was to
have married, If he had lived"
81 am glad. You may laugh at me
Louis, but the uncertain fate of Lee
has given me great unhappiness. But
to continue-1 engaged myself as nurse.
maid with an English family, who had
been travelling on the continent anl
were about returning home. I re-
manned with them until had accumu
lated sufficient funds to defray my ex
penses across the Atlantic, and then
set out on my journey. came to New
York, for that had been Mr.. Linmere'
home before we went to France. soo1
got upon the track Of him, and learned
that he was about to be married to
Miss Margaret Harrison, young lad,