Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1908-08-13
CHAPTER xI.
Transformation,

Before December had run It's course
Clement had made the discovery that
the one overmastering desire Of his
life was to win the love OF Marion
West and make her his wife. He, had
faced the issue calmly and steadily
through a dozen sleepless nights, and
he had reached point when doubt
was no longer possible
TO resist was useless. The Fates
were against him. He had fought and
struggled till he had no energy left.
He had argued and debated and tenn
porized till brain and will alike seem
ed worn out. Little by little-like an
incoming itide-the conviction had
y crept over him and submerged him.
He accepted the inevitable at last
with q curious thrill of gladness
mingled with pain. He knew what he
wanted there was satisfaction in that
but beyond that the outlook was as
dark and depressing as 1t could well;
be.
He took no one into his confidence.
From every point of view his passion
seemed hopeless There was nothing
for him to do but to lock the secret
In his own heart and endure doggedly
and silently to the bitter end.
= III " - Is
What had become Of Marion West
he did not know, and he had no means
OF finding out. She had disappeared
In the4great city and all trace of her
was lost.
But even If he knew he would be no
better of. She would not listen to
4 MIN The knowledge Of what her
father had done had raised an in
superable barrier between them. In.
her way she was prouder than he She
would rather starve than be his wife.
And eVen@if she were willing to OBJ
literate the past as he was willing, he
was still in an utter state of helpless
ness. The finances ofqMawgan Chase
We're not equal to the maintenance of
III another person. They had already re-
8 dnced economy to fine art. If mar
riage did not mean an additional in
come, then it were folly to dream of
marrying. When he became engaged
to Edith Tremayne this view of the
case was not lost sight OF for a mo-
ment. Edith was not only of good
family, but she was an heiress In her
u own right. OF course her money was
not the only thing, not even. perhaps,
Il the principal thing He had been
taught by his mother to look only
4 where money existed, and he had been
obedient to her teachings. or all the.
eligible young ladies Of his acquaint-
4 ance he liked Edith best. He honest
ly believed that he loved her. She
was pretts and sprightly and quick
witted, and he got to be exceedingly
III foftGso of her. She made much OF him
met all his advances with a delightful
naivete, and took his advice in nearly
/ everything.
Well, that was an old story, now. He
st hoped she was happy with the man
she had married. She had treated
him badly, there was no doubt; had
proved herself to be heartless and
! deceitful firt, and for the time being
y had destroyed his faith in woman
d kind. But he knew now that he had
q never loved her. The coming Of Mari
Z on had been "a revelation to him
There were depths in his nature that
Edith Tremayne had never touched
and never could touch. He had en-
couraged himself to love her, and.
4 dwelt IN her good qualities, and had
reasoned himself into the belief that
Il she was meant for him,
But In the case Of Marion West love
needed no encourag cement, 1t sprang
up and fourished In spite Of every
S thing. He had tried his hardest to
check its IS s ffs,wtf, had Iabored to pull
Il up by the roots, and the more he
had 1abored the more 1t had grown.
He tcould fefgiye Edith now for mar
rying the other man. His eyes had
Eeen opened to distinguish between
the genuine and the counterfeit.
And vet, apart from the Joy of low
ing, his experience brought him no
satisfaction. Even II he could find
Marion. win her love, and persuade
s her to Ignore the past, he was still in
4 durance from the very fact that he
was not in q position to marry pen
niless bride, and was Incapable Of
earning q maintenance for himself
~ and her
This fact awoke in him a feeling Of
bitterness. ounting almost to con.
temp It led him to look as his past
81 more calmly and s. iisnassinn
IN, n m, Il, u q x.,,,,, 49,