The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1907-04-12


In moment Of terrible temptation,
Arch Trevlyn had stained his hand with
blood! And for her sakel
There was a violent warfare in her
heart. Her love for Archer Trevlyn
bad not sprung up In a day: its growth
had been slow. and It had taken deep
root. Oh. how hard It was to give up
the blfssfal dream! She thought of his
early life-how It had been full OF
temptatton-how his noble nature had
been warped and perverted By the evil
influences that had surrounded him.
and for . while the temptation was
strong upon her soul to forgive him
everything-to ignore all the past. an
take him into her life as. though taa
fearful story she had Just listened to
had been untold. Marry a murderer!
"Oh. God!" she cried in horror. as the
whole extent of the truth burst upon
her: "oh. my God. pity and aid me!'
She sank down on her knees. and
though her lips uttered no sound. har
heart prayed as ouly hearts can pray
when wrnng with mortal suffering.
Archer Trevlyn must be given up: from
that there could be no appeal. Hence
forth he mus: be to her as though he
had never been. She must put him en-
ttrely out OF her life-out of her
thoughts-out of her sleeping ard wax
ing dreams.
But she could give him no explana-
ton of her change of mind She had
passed her word-nay. she had sworn
never to reveal aught that Miss Ice
had told her. and promise was hind
ing. But he would not need any ex-
PLANTATION. His own guilty conscience
would tell him why he was renounced.
She took off the rose-colored dress Ia
which she had arrayed herself to meet
him, and folded 1t away In a drawer
Of her wardrobe. together with every
other adornment that she had worn
that night. They would always be her
painful reminders Of that terrible sea-
son Of anguish and despair, When all
were in. she shut them. away from her
sight, turned the key upon them, and
flung it far out of the window.
Then she opened her writing desk,
and took out Az the little notes he had
written to hcs. read them all over. and
holding them one by one to the blaze
Of the lamp. watched them with sort
OF stony calmness until they shrivelled
and fell in ashes. black az her hopes,
to the floor. Then his gifts; a few sim
pie things. Those she did not look at {;
she put them hastily in a box, sealel
them up, and wrote his address on the
cover
The last task was the hardest. She
must write him a note, telling him that
all was over between them. The gray
light of clonded morning found her
making the effort. But for long time
her pen refused to move; her hand
seemed powerless. She felt weak and
helpless as a very infant. But 1t was
done at last. and she read it over, won
dering that she was alive to read It:
'Mr. Archer Trevlyn. Sir: Yesterday
afternoon. when last saw you, l did
not think that before twenty-four hours
had elapsed I should be under the
necessity Of inditing to you this letter.
Henceforth. you and must be as
strangers. Not all the wealth and in
duence Of the universe could tempt me
to become your wife. now that my eyes
are opened. I renounce you utterly
and entirely. and no word or argument
of yours can change me. Therefore, 10
not attempt to see me. for with my own
consent will never look upon your
face again. deem no explanation
necessary; your own conscience will tell
you why l have been forced to make
this decision. return to you with this
note everything that can serve to re-
mind me OF you. and ask you to do me
the favor to burn all that you may
have in your possession which once
was mine. Farewell. now and forever.
MARGARET HARRISON"
There remained still something more
to be done. Margie knew that Archer
Trevlyn would seek her out. and de-
mand an explanation from her own
lips. and this must never be. 4aShe could
not bee him now: she was not certain
that she could ever see him again. She
dared not risk the influence his, per-
sonal presence might have upon eer.
She must leave New York. But where
should she go7 She had scarcely asked
the question before thought answered
her.
Far away In the northern part of New
Hampshire, resided old Nellie Day. the
woman who had uursed her. and whom
she had not seen for twelve years.
Nellie was very quiet, discreet person.
and had been very warmly attached to
the Harrison family. She had married
late in life worthy farmer. and giving
up her situation in New York, had gone
with him to the little out-of-the-way
village of Lightfeld Margie had KEEP:
up sort Of desultory correspondence
with her. and in every letter that the
old lady wrote she had urged Margle
to visit her in her country home. II
had never been convenient to do so, bnt
now this place was suggested to her at
once, and to >Lghtfeld she decided TO
90.
She consulted her watch. 1t was 5