The Sauk Centre herald., 1910-07-07

mean. iur me. 1 tel you, vowed
with her, that night when I Thought
you two were welded. did moro 7
vowed myself to a new and wider
world that night. Now, l have lost
1t. After all, seeing l could not now
be woman and be happy, I-mon-
s1eur-I pass on to others, after r. ie
not that torture of life, but that to--
turing principle of which we so often
spoke. Yes. I, even as / am: because
OF this-this act-this sacrifce-I can
win you for her. And l can win that
wider America which you have COW
eted; which I covet for you-wbich
covet with you!"
l could do no more than remain
silent, and allow her to explain what
was not in the least apparent to me.
After time she went on.
"Now-now, l say-Pakenham the
minister is sunk in Pakenham the
man. He does as I demand-because
he is man. He signs what | demand
because l am woman. I say. to-
night-but, see!"
She fastened now to a little desk.
and caught up a folded document
which lay there. This she handed to
me, unfolded, and I ran it over with
a hasty glance. 1t was a matter of
tremendous Importance which lay in
those few closely written lines.
England's minister offered, over the
signature of England, compromise of
the whole Oregon debate, provided
this country would accept the line of
the forty-ninth degree! That, then,
was Pakenham's price for this key
that lay here.
"This-this is all I have been able
to do with him thus far" she faltered
ut is not enough But I did it for
you!"
Madam, this is more than all Amer
lea has been able to do before! This
has not been made public?'
mo, no! 1t is not enough But
tonight I shall make him surrender
all-all north, to the very ice, for
America, for the democracy! See,
now, was born to be devoted, i'm
molated, after all, as my mother was
before me. That is fate! Nat shall
make fate pay! All, monsieur! All!
monsieur!"
She flung herself to her feet. II
can get it all for you, you and yours"
she reiterated, holding out her hands,
the little pink fingers upturned, as was
often her gesture. "You shall go to
your chief and tell him that Mr.. Polk
was right-that you yourself who
taught Helena Won Ritz what life is,
taught her that after all she was a
woman-are able, because she was a
woman, to bring in your own hands
all that country, yes, to fifty-four
forty or even farther. I do not know
what all can be done. I only know
that fool will part with everything
for the sake of his body"
l stood now looking at her, silsnt.
trying to fathom the vastness of what
she said, trying to understand at all
their worth the motives which i'm
PEELED her The largeness of her plan,
yes, that could be seen The large
ness of her heart and brain, yes, that
also. Then slowly, I saw yet more.
At last l understood What I saw
was horror to my soul.
Madam" said | to her, at last, "did
you indeed think me so cheap as that?
Come here!" l led her to the central
apartment, and motioned her to a
seat.
10
done here, as you say. 1t is all that
ever can be done You shall not see
Pakenham tonight, nor ever ag&n!"
But think what that will cost you!"
she broke out "Tffs is only part. 1t
should all be yours"
has already cost too much" l said.
1--WE do not buy states thus"
But it will cost you your future!
Polk is your enemy, now, as he is
Calhoun's. He will not strike you
now, but so soon as he dares, he will.
Now, if you could do this-if yo,r
could take this to Mr. Calhoun. to
America, it would mean for you re"
sonally all that America could give
you in honors.'
"Honors without honor, madam, !
do not covet," replied. Then ! would
have bit my tongue through when
saw the great pallor cross her face at
the cruelty of my speech.
"Aud myself" she said, spreading
out her hands again. But no! know
you would not taunt me. l know, in
spite of what you say, there must be
q sacrifice. Well, then l have made
1t. / have made my atOnement. / say
l can give you now, even thus, at least
a part of Oregon. l can perhaps give
you all of Oregon--to-morrow! The
Pakenhams have always dared much
to gain their ends. This one will dare
even treachery to his country To-
morrow-if do not kill him-if / do
not die-I can perhaps give you all Of
Oregon -bought-bought and
paid!" Her voice trailed on into q
whisper which seemed loud as a
bugle call to me.
No, you cannot give us Oregon y
l answered. 1--WE are men, not pam
ders. We fight; we do not traffic thus.
But you have given me Elizabeth"
My rival" She smiled at me in
spite of ALL "But no, not my rival.
Yes, have already given you her and
given you to her. To do that-to