The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1908-07-31

| the managing director Of the works. Q
Nine. Anatovitch, an elderly unmar.
ried lady, who keeps house for her
brother. / met him at Sir Johns
when I first went there. Miss Sister
son has been to Sulja before and she
enjoyed 1t. She needs change badly.
as her he&ssa is very poor"
"Christabel," asked Norman, in =
tone that compelled her to look at
him, "is 1t necessary that you should
do this? Why should you continue to
go out as nurse? Why should you
go to Russia with Miss sisterson?"
1T is necessary for me to go away"
she said, meeting his eyes bravely, but
she was all Of a tremble.
"Why is It? You know that wish
you to stay. Won't you tell me why;
Christabel?" And there was a world
Of pleading in the simple words as he
spoke them.
Il can't Norman" she answered,
with hopeless sigh.
And yet you told me that you Low.
ed mel" he exclaimed in puzzled
tone. Darling, why is it? Do tell me
why" And he tried to take her hand.
do not touch me, Norman" she
said. entreatingly, holding her hands
away. although her heart was crying
out for him.
Norman gazed at her In great per-
plexity.
II have tried to understand IT," he
said, with an air of detection, "and 1t
Is beyond me. cannot make 1t out
You love me and love you, and yet
you tell me that you cannot be my
wife. 1t is very strange. have no
right-unless my love for you gives
me that right-to press for an ex-
PLANTATION, but, Christabel, is 1t not in
your power to clear up this mystery?"
mo; it is impossible. Norman" said
Christabel. And then she cried, ooh,
should not have come! should not
have seen you again!
And she started to her feet as IL to
"Christabel," he said, dearest, one
minute! Can you not give me some
idea of what it is that keeps us apart?
know very we'll that it cannot be
something wrong; never for mo-
ment have had such notion, but
need not tell you that"
mo, you need not tell me that" she
said. proudly. "You think no wrong
of me, even as l think no wrong of
you. but it makes no difference. 1 do
love you, but l cannot marry you!"
Il cannot understand it," repeated
Norman, passing his hand over his
forehead. Christabel saw the move.
ment and again noticed the lines on
his brow; her heart grew very tender
toward him, and she hated herself
for causing him this pain and doubt.
But while her heart was tender there
lay behind it's tenderness a soft in
vincibility of purpose, iron beneath
velvet, that kept her strong.
II have wondered and wondered
what it could be" he went on, holding
her with his eyes, as if he would pen
citrate into the recesses Of her mind.
Before this came to pass l thought
of you, dear, in a thousand happy
ways; thought of myself as your
happy and fortunate lover always
always your lover to the end of my
days and beyond them. You were to
be mine and was to be yours forever
and ever. And now I try to think,
but always in vain, why it is that all
these fond dreams cannot be realized,
why it is that you cannot marry me;
when you love me. My life would be
altogether dark If you had not told
me that you love me. thank and
bless you for telling me that Oh, it
is good deal, but want you-you
yourself, Christabel"
"And I want you. too, Norman" said
Christatel, with the red blood in her
face; "but it must not, it cannot be-"
Tell me again that you love me,
Christabel! Let me hear you say it,"
he asked eagerly.
Il love you, Norman" she said, very
low, putting her hands before her
eyes.
Ito Be continued.)