The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1909-05-14
Through a
WOn1an'S Heart.
BY Sidney Warwick.
BY Sidney Warwick.
CHAPTER xxI.-tcontinued)

II had been the act of one who knew
not what she did-he had always re-
allied that; and possibly the law
would have been merciful-who could
say? 1t had been chiefly in his dread
pf the effect of the revelation on the
woman herself-a shock that might
turn her brain, that would in any case
make shipwreck of all her life. He
could not strike this blow at the wom-
an he loved, even when the horror of
the news of Lathom's arrest had
come. Lathom would be acquitted
or, if not. time enough to speak when
Lathom was found guilty he had ar
gued desperately. The thoughts were
in his mind now; they were always
with him. And then I.athom's escape
ked complicated matters.
1t was no longer then a question Of
his being tried and acquitted. La
cause of his silence. And yet he had
not spoken, though Hilda's white face
and sad eyes were daily torturing
reproach to him. Yet he had not
spoken-stultifying his life, traitor,
to his creed, by this tacit lie of silence
that he could not defend even to him.
self, but that was an impulse strong
er than himself. But what was to be
the outcome? He dared not ask him
self.
AS he passed out of the gate Of the
churchyard a woman was going by
with shawl over her head, woman
sobbing bitterly. He spoke to her.
"You have had no news, 1 am
afraid?" he said, and she shook her
head
This woman was one of his parish
toner's. Her husband a ne'er-do-well
wastrel, who was usually drunk and
had earned the name of Thirsty Ned
IN the village, had disappeared a day
or two before. His cap had been
found On the bank of he river
mo, the police have heard nothing.
They tell ME as they're going to drag
the river for him, my poor Ned" she
sobbed. Ned was a good-fornothing,
who drank most of what his wife
earned. with reputation for frequent
ly beating her; and most of her
neighbors were of the opinion that it
was the best thing that could happen
for Mrs. Robinson if Ned was never
to turn up again; but Ned's wife was
almost heart broken. You see, they
found his cap on the river bank: Ned
was seen near the river and he-he
wasn't himself at all. I'm afraid. If
iCfnnn1 to
about the drink! He was allus better
for little while after you'd talked to
him; he had such high opinion O.
you. parson-so just and fair dealing
to every one. no matter whether
church folk or chapel folk"
Stephen Ruthen stayed speaking to
the woman for few moments, then
walked on to the rectory.
$50 just" The words made him
vince.
At the old hall the belated guest
was shaking hands with Bonholt
Hume.
mo, didn't walk; don't know how
came to miss the car you sent to
meet me. l came down with an &C.
Qualntance-Jermyn; you know him
and l drove most of the way with
him. Sorry to have kept the dinner
waiting. Jove, Bonholt, it seems queer
to come and find you here, the mas
ter! Five-and-twenty years older than
Philip, and yet you're here and he's
gone. Why, what have you done with
his portrait?" staring at the blank
space on the wall as they entered the
dining room. When saw Philip
last I was struck by it-such a good
likeness"
Bonholt's face was turned away
oh, IL couldn't bear to see it: it
was too painful reminder" he said.
You know how fond Philip and
were of each other"
Were you?" Anthony strangways
turned to look at the older man, but
Bonholt's face was averted. There
was cynical smile on the formers
face. ''Well, that's news. Now, I
should have thought you and Philip
liked each other just about as much
40 NY SSSohu SOuSlu, hdlpn SLfan%-
ways, loves me! have heard-well,
never mind what I've heard"
Anthony strangways was a man of
forty, with dark, rather long. clean.
shaver face. He was quietly dressed,
with nothing in his appearance to sug.
gest the turf. Yet all the Stransways.
passion for horses and gambling
burned in his veins; he was known to
have gone the pace. and to have won
and lost large sums in his time on the
turf. Not bad looking man, with
An habitual touch of cynicism in his
face. and penetrating gray eyes that
did not miss much of what came with
In their radius. And the man with
all the stubborn determination of the
strangways, of which Mrs. Kirby at
the Kings Arms had spoken in Jack
Lathom's hearing.
y told you walked part of the
way. Hume-past the churchyard for
the first time since 1 came down, to
Philips funeral" remarked Strang.
ways In the course of dinner. oddly