The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1908-11-27
Through a
Woman's Heart.
By Sidney Warwick.

IAC SAIA tuiH cu DIS IL W walk away. nc
seized her arm.
''Hilda, is it true?" His tones were
harsh, unlike his usual pleasant voice.
Are you going to marry Philip
Hume?"
''What right have you to ask?" she
flashed out.
Because know the kind of man
Hume is-that he is utterly unworthy
of you. Are you going to marry
him?"
Perhaps" There was a shade of
defiance in her voice. Gle is very
rich, you know. What woman would
not jump at the CHANGER"
"Hilda! I won't, believe that of you
that you are capable Of mercenary
consideration" he erie, but there was
look OF pain in his eyes. "That isn't
an answer, and I want your answer"
Eyes, them" she cried, quickly.
NOW let me co.
For moment he WINGED as IL under
a blow. Then he cried:
mot till you've heard the truth
about this man. You sha'n't marry
him without at least knowing his real
character!"
''My brother has never heard a
word against his character; he likes
Mr.. Hume"
Eyes; but your brother isn't a man
of the world; he doesn't mix with
the men who know what Philip Hume
u.s." cried young Lathom. II do, and
I can't bear to think of you-you. Hill
da, marrying a man of his record, who
is not fit to touch your hand, or that
of any good woman!"
"Jack!" There was a startled note
in her voice. "Is this-this that you
hint-true?"
$50 true that I can't bear to think
of you, Hilda-you Of all women-car-
ing for this man. marrying him. oh,
don't want to be ungenerous to my
rival! l believe I'm man enough. to
have stifled my feelings and wished
you both good luck if he were an or
dinarily decent sort. But he's not,
Hilda." he cried, passonately. Its
horrible to think of your marrying
such a mani"
She gave him sudden swift glance
from widened eyes. A look had come
into her face that he had never seen
there before. And her tones were
changed when she spoke. Her eyes
were turned away, and her voice was
very low:
"What do you mean by-by rival
Jack?"
He stared at her; then gave short,
unmirthful laugh.
"What should l mean? Only that
he's won what / would have given the
world to win. and haven't won: it's
simple enough, isn't it?" tapping his
boot impatiently with his stick. You
know II have cared for you since
you were in short frocks-I've always
dreamed of some day making you my
wife. You know I've never had a
thought for any other woman; there
has only been one woman for me
that little girl who was my chum as
a boy, grown into the sweetest woman
on Gods earth. And this mans come
and spoiled my dream!" he said,
slowly.
She was not looking at him as he
spoke; she was staring straight be-
fore her. down into the valley beyond
the rectory. where, far away, great
tongues of clouded fame, the glare
from the blast furnaces on the out
skirts of Fellsgarth, painted the dark
ness like red sunset.
Put, Jack, did you ever tell that
that little girl who was your chum
that YOU loved herr" Her voice was
so low he could scarcely hear.
''Why should I? She knew"
But if you never told herr" Some
thing like a sob seemed to catch in
her voice.
'Hi1da!"
He laid his hands with swift ab-
ruptness on her shoulders and turned
her slight figure to where gray trail
of moonlight fell through the trees
uron the winsome face. His tones
were eager with a wild, half-incredu-
lous JOY.
"Hilda, have I been a blind fool? I
thought you didn't care. Do you
carer"
Only her eyes spoke--big, gray eyes,
soft as velvet. moist now and very
bright. Her eyes told him though her
lips were silent.
"Hilda, do you care!" he cried
He put out his arms and caught her
10 him. out there in the wind and the
darkness.
81 give you up to no man on earth"
A masterful triumph laughed in his
voice. Il know now you care"
She had surrendered herself to his
arms. flushed and beautiful, her eyes
shining. her words coming in little
trills of laughing JOY like broken mu.
sic.
"You stupid boy, only to have just
found that out! You thought didn't
care, Jack! All, but you didn't give
me the chance Of telling you how
much l have always cared" she whis.
pered, with sweet, proud Ashyness.
Il have felt
"Tell me, DEAR"
"Oh, but shall make you vain II l
fell Won all have felt"