The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1908-05-29
&c e thousht) Win numerous faila


tas = thought With numerous falla
Giles. Is s
The acquaintance developed rapidly,
from friendship to intimacy, from in
timacy to the inevitable. In month
the Jig was up with young Hilson
Fool-like, he. told himself, he had gone
to work and toppled head-first in love
with q girl whom he, could never hope
to make his wife. He was only an OBJ
scure lawyer, struggling for foothold
while she was already woman ia
nous in more than one continent!
There had been times when he almos,
believed she. half responded to his
FEELINGS; but at others, realizing hei
folly. had swiftly drawn back, aloot
and cold as the north star.
One day he paid a desperate visit tc
his friend. Mrs. Martin Bradbury. He
looked white and haggard when she
entered the parlor and she could moi
repress a little cry of establishment. :.
Heavens, Bobbie! Whatever has
come over ,you?"
Since 7 came here for the expires.
purpose Of taking you into my conf
dence,". he said vehemently, "I'll tell
you. First, why did you ever intro
duce her to me?" He had dropped into
the chair she indicated and was
staring gloomly at the wall.
"Her?"
Certainly. If I'd never known her
of course I shouldn't have loved her
Now I've got to get out before make
fool of myself" 80
why don't you marry her?' sug
gested Mrs. Bradbury calmly, whose
matchmaking eye had been wide oper
for the past four weeks.
Marry her! Good Lord, you don't
suppose a woman like that would
would look at me, do you?"
Mrs. Bradbury was not SO sure but
that she had seen her look at him.
MY dear boy" she was about to be
gin, when a fresh, girlish voice inter
polated from the hallway: Where are
you, Mrs. Bradbury? Shall 1 come
right in?"
Bobbie Hilson cast an appealing
glance into the other woman's face
Il can't meet her now; get me some
where, quick!" he seemed to say.
Mrs. Bradbury pushed him summar
lily into a closet piled up with books
and magazines, and he sank dowr
breathlessly on box in the dark.
Kitty laid her parasol on one chair
and threw herself dejectedly into an
other. I've come to tell you good-by
Mrs. Bradbury" she said, I'm leavins
for Seattle tonight"
Mrs. Bradbury permitted her care
fully penciled brows to express only
casual surprise.
why so suddenly" she asked.
well, you see, Mrs. Bradbury,
don't mind telling you, because know
you can respect confidence. But the
fact is l was never cut out for /.
scribbler, and I've realized it in tina
l am just an everyday simpleton WHIT
has been ridiculous enough to 20 and
lose her senses"
>>A0 w SSu 0AO 6Olu6 " NC liar
ried?" the other queried sagely.
mo; am not The mamie reall,
cares for me, believe-has been hor
ribly deceived. For some fateful rea
son he has gotten the idea that 1 an
a celebrated parsonage like himself
masquerading under a nom de plume
OF course if he knew that 1 was only
a poor little would-be he'd never ever
glance my way. That's the hard par,
of it,
who are you talking about, Kitty?'
who? Who should 1 be talking
about Robbie Hilson? In letters, Ter
rell Brakeman"
At this juncture young Hilson per
mitted his restraint to snap asunder
and the closet door creaked ominous
ly. II could not find the magazine
he apologized quickly, hopping his
wet face with handkerchief in eithe,
hand.
Kitty had risen with a little startled
cry and was hiding her blood-scorched
cheeks with her hands. Mrs. Brad
bury had vanished into thin air. Bob
bic Hilson looked at the girl suddenly
with the look that no woman ever mis-
understands, and few ever resist.
In moment, he came quite up to
her and stood looking down upon he1
with glowing eyes; then he stopped
abruptly and took her hands in his
Il never was anybody in my life,'
he said, "but just a poor, ploddine
lawyer. But I'll make up in devotion
what I lack in genius, if you will only
let mel"
Il thought all along that you were
Terrell Brakeman" she replied, tren.
ulously.
"And II thought you were-Felt
ella Belknap," he answered.
Good gracious, Bobbie Hilson! Fe
licia Belknap is hideous old maid!n
Thank Heaven for that" cried
Robbie. And he took her in his arms
-.
Came to Collect Fortune.
II Jess drifted in from Arkansas /,