The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1908-01-31

convict and to break the oath he had
given to his father. s
When the brothers parted Sir Mark
held out his hand. Harold declined to
take it. .>
you forget what you are" he said.
~ would to heaven that could forget
1t, tool" @ I'M
!, s ~.
Sir Mark rockingham, in view Of
his approaching marriage, had taken
q charming little residence standing
in its own grounds in the Inner Circle
Of Regents Park.
The Nest. was not only delightful
little town house, but it had extensive
grounds and gardens and outhouses,
and all the charms of country resi-
dence.
Claire had gone to see the house
with him. and both had fallen in love
with it. Directly it had been secured
Sir Mark set about decorating and
furnishing It. He found the money
and Claire found the taste. He left
the details to her, and she revelled in
her new occupation.
Day by day she visited The Nest
and proudly superintendent the altera-
tions that were being carried out and
the arrangement of the draperies, the
fittings, and the furniture.
A month before the day fixed for the
marriage The Nest was so near COM
pletion that Claire was able to invite
her friends from the theater to come
and see it.
Servants had already been installed,
and Claire, with the pride of posses
sion, would give her afternoon tea
parties in the pretty, tree-surrounded
grounds.
She had written to May Wilson. tell
ing her of her engagement, and had
called at the Regent street establish
ment to see her.
May had received the news of her
friends good fortune with smile, and
had congratulated her.
Claire had noticed that she was in
mourning, and had asked her the
natural question. May had replied
that it was relative. and the subject
had dropped. But May had made her
mourning an excuse for not accepting
Claires invitation to visit her and to
meet her future husband.
May had sincere regard for Claire,
and when the latter, speaking of her
approaching marriage, turned to her
friend and said: Don't you ever mean
to marry, dear?' May had taken the
future Lady Brettingham into her con-
fidenee and confessed that when the
days of her mourning were over she
might say Yes, to young man who.
was her devoted admirer.
E"0h. am so glad. May" exclaimed
Claire. rs he young-is he good look.
ing-is he rich?''
He's young and he's good looking
at least, think so," said May with a
smile: But he isn't rich. He is: a.
novelist. you know"
"Oh, but they make heaps of money
at least, the newspapers. say thew
do"
Mr.. Allister isn't famous novelist
yet" replied May, "but he. is very
clever, and-and-I-"
do you love him?"' exclaimed
Claire. looking earnestly into Mays
face.
May blushed' little and. bent her
head.
Yes, 7 do love him.
Happy little GIRL said Claire, with
va sigh, and there was something in
the sigh that caused May to look at
her keenly.
claire, DEAR" she, whispered, don't
you love the man you are. going to
marry?"
Claire shook her head gently and a
sad little look came, into her pretty
face.
II like him-he's awfully nice-but
l don't think love hfm-I don't sun.
pose should ever really love anybody.
I'm only butterfly, May"
But, Claire, if you don't love. him
ITO Re Con<inuadN