The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-08-19
CHAPTER XIII lContinued,)

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Said Helen: He hates poor Ar.
thur, his benefactor. Then to Pen
fold: IF you are that James Sea-
ton, you received q letter from
me-" :. !. - '.:,.9s.- - . ~
! Il did, said Penf0ld, and, put
ting his hand in his bosom, he drew
out letter and showed It to her.
Let me see IT,. said Helen.
20, no! don't take this from me,
too" said he, pieously.
General Rolleston continued.
THE day you sailed he disap-
peared; and l am afraid not with
out some wild idea of being in the
same ship with you. This was very
reprehensible. Do you hear, young
man? You get shipwrecked to-
gether, and the young mailman
takes such care of you that l find
you well and hearty, and calling
him your guardian angel. And
another thing to his credible has
set his wits to work to restore you
to the world. These ducks, one of
which brings me here! OF course
1t was he who contrived that, not
you. Young man, you must learn
to look things in the face; this
young lady is not of your sphere, to
begin; and, In the next place, she
is engaged to Arthur Wardlaw; and
l am out in his steamboat to take
her to him. And as for you, Helen,
take my advice; think what most
convicts are, compared to this one,
Shut your eyes entirely to his folly,
as l shall; and let you and l think
only of his good deeds and so make
him all the return we can. You
and l will 90 on. board the steam
boat directly; and, when we are
there, we can tell Moreland thefe
Is somebody else on the island
He then turned to Penfold, AM
said: my daughter and l will keep
in the after part of the vessel, and
anybody that likes can leave the
ship at Valparaiso. Helen. know
1t is wrong; but what can l dol
am SO happy You are alive aid
we'll; how can l punish or afflict a
human creature today? and, above
all, how can crush this unhappy
young man, without whom should
never have seen you again in this
world? My daughter! my dear lost
child" And he held her at arms
length and gazed at her, and then
drew her to his bosom; and for him
Robert Penfold ceased to exist, ex-
cept as man that had saved his
daughter.
Papa" said Helen, after. a long
pause, Just make him tell why he
could not trust me. Why he passed
himself off to me for a clergyman.
Il am a clergyman, said Robert
Penfold...
Obi" said Helen, shocked to
find him so hardened, as she
thought. She lifted her. hands to
heaven and the tears streamed
from her eyes. well, SIR" said
she, family, II see I can not reach
your conscience. One question
more and then l have done with
you forever. Why in all these
months that we have been alone,
and that you have shown me the
nature. don't say of an honest
man, but of an angel--yes. papa, Of
an angel--why could you not show
me one humble virtue. sincerity? It
belongs to man. Why could you
not say. 4 have committed one
crime in my life, but repented for
ever; Judge by this confession, and
by what you have seen of me.
whether l shall ever commit an
other. Take me as l am, and es-
TEEN me as penitent and more
worthy man; but I will not deceive
you and pass for paragon Why
could you not say as much as this
to me? If you loved me. why de-
ceive me so cruelly?"
These words, uttered no longer
harshly, but in a mournful, faint
despairing voice. produced an eff
feet the speaker little expected.
Robert Penfold made two attempts
to speak, but though he opened his
mouth and his lips Quivered he
could get no word out. He began
to choke with emotion, and, though
he shed no tears, the CONFUSION
that goes with weeping in weaker
natures overpowered him in a
way that was almost terrible.
"Confound it," said General
Rolleston, "this is monstrous Of
you, Helen; It is barbarous. You
are not like your poor mother"
She was pale and trembling. and
the tears flowing, but she showed
her native obstinacy. She said
hoarsely. Papa. you are blind. He
must answer me. He knows he
must"
II must" said Robert Penfold,
gasping still. Then he manned
himself by mighty effort and re-
peated with dignity. Il will" There
was a pause while the young man
still struggled for composure and
self command.