The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1909-08-27
D3398e8 :
Thro u8h a Wo11lan's y
Heart. ~
Hear.
BY Sidney Warwick.


in the face of his first point-blank re-
fusal, that Miss Vanstone's address
should be given to him. Strangways
thought of that occasion when he had
seen the rector before; that scene
( that he had involuntarily witnessed in
the churchyard on his way to. Bon
holt Hume's house had left vivid
impression on his mind-like a drama
played in dumb-show, since he had
been too far off to catch the words
that might have given him clue to
it's meaning-the woman almost, pros
trate on a new grave, the sight Of
whose face had startled him, suddenly
revealed in the moonlight as that of
woman he had once known and had
! believed dead, and this man whose
hand she had flung off with strange,
passionate gesture as she pointed
down at the grave at their feet. What
secret link existed between these two
the woman who by her own will,
when accepting his offer Of help in a
stage career, had left the rectory
like thief in the night, and this man?
Stephen Ruthen had called unex-
pectedly to see him at his club the
previous afternoon.
Il got your telegram refusing to
give me Miss Vanstone's address,"
Stephen had said, abruptly. Il have
come to London today, Mr.. Strang-
ways for that address-to convince
you that you will not be wise in Miss
Vanstone's interests to withhold it,
Strangways had shrugged his
shoulders.
CAS- far as 1 am concerned, should
have no objection; only am in Miss
Vanstone's hands in the matter. I
told her of your written request, and
she wished me not to give it. So you
will see how powerless am" he had
replied, as if dismissing the subject.
Then something Stephen Ruthen had
said made him change his mind.
Il think you will be wise to give
it. For if return home without hav-
ing seen Miss Vanstone, the police
will force you to tell them where she
u.s." the rector had said, in low, in
tense voice that betrayed, in spite of
his enforced self-repression, some of
the bitterness he felt. This woman
he had loved-what had he done to
deserve that she should treat him So
treat him as she might have treated
an enemy? And how deeply he had
loved her-deeply enough to sin for
her! Il am not overstating the case.
l am acting in her interest; but if you
persist in refusing, or she persists, the
police will, am afraid, show her less
consideration than I wish to show
her. Now will you reconsider your
decision?"
The words had been too obviously
in earnest not to have their effect on
Strangways.
Let us understand each other, Mr..
Ruthen. l have no personal end to
serve in keeping you apart. It was
this young lady's wish, not mine, that
she left your house as she did. My
interest in Miss Vanstone is purely
that of one who, for certain reasons
connected with her past life, takes a
friendly interest in her; nothing more.
Only in leaving Wildfell she wished
to break utterly with the past, with
a very terrible memory. / happen to
have a financial interest in a West
end theatre where new play is
shortly to be produced. Miss Van
stones mother was an actress; con-
WINGED that Miss Vanstone herself pos
sesses unusual talent for the stage, I
have offered her a part in the new
production. i will take you to the
theater tomorrow, when: you shall see
her." Strangways had said.
Now he and Ruthen stood watching
the progress of the morning rehearsal.
The gas-jets, Pickering in the draughts
that cut the STAGE. scarcely pierced
the cavernous gloom in the audito-
rum, which was swathed in holland
wrappers. From some dim, remote
point at the back, of the. gallery a
dusty roof-window admitted d beam of
light that fell slantingly through the
theater and across the bare, cherries
stage, falling between this man and
the woman whom he had once pas
/ sionately loved and who hid so i'll
requited his love, like a symbol Of the
barrier that must always lie between
them. @
Strangways looked at Olive Van
stone She seemed in a moment tc
have lost the fire and aaiination she
had shown; she was rehearsing badly
and strangways knew the reason. He
i felt apl irritation against this man who
had come here: to disturb his protegee
with the. memories of grief she wat
trying to forget nd be wanted Miss
i Va y. 81 be. q. snccesssfoE hel
Town sake, for the sake 81 the piece;
= though she was not playing lead, shel
\ Dart was one pf iInnsense Importance
And If she showed in it the force ant
passion she had revealed in that uhre
!, fhearsed scene in the churchyard iha
fasH Defyin6 the Ancient Gag. !.
| "Nnn'f r make MYSELF ,,loJn os colt.