The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1910-06-23

smiled, you lrdVel as the guest OF
England herself. IT, then, you are
not for England, in Gods name, whose
friend are you?"
Whose friend am II" she answered
slowly 81 say to you that l do not
know. Nor do 1 know who is my
friend. A friend-what is that? I
never knew one!" a.
"Then be mine. Let me be your
friend. You know my history You
know about me and my work throw
my secret into your hands. You will
not betray me? You warned me once,
at Montreal. Will you not shield me
once again. Come, can you betray
people of whom you can say so
much?
"Ah, now you would try to tempt
me from trust which has been re-
posed in met"
mot in the least. l would not have
you break your word with Mr.. Paken-
ham; but l know you are here on the
same errand as myself You are to
learn facts and report them to Mr..
Pakenham-as I am to Mr.. Calhoun.
Meantime, you have not reported?"
"No, ] am not yet ready"
Certainly not. You are not yet
possessed of your facts. You have not
yet seen this country. You do not yet
know these men-the same savages
who once accounted for another Pa
kenham at New Orleans-hardy as
buffaloes, fierce as wolves Wait and
see them come pouring across the
mountains into Oregon. Then make
your report to this Pakenham Ask
him if England wishes to fight our
backwoodsmen once more!"
''You credit me with very much
ability" she smiled.
She dropped into. a chair near by
little table, where the light of the tall
candles, guttering in their enameled
sconces, fell full upon her face. She
looked at me fixedly, her eyes dark
and mournful in spite of their eager
ness.
"Ah, it is easy for you to speak,
easy for you who have so rich and full
a life-who have all! But my hands
are empty" She spread out her
curved fingers, looking at them,
dropping her hands, pathetically
dropping her shoulders.
"All, madam? What do you mean?
You see me almost in rags. Beyond
the rifle at my cabin, the pistol at my
tent, ! have scarce more in wealth
than what l wear, while you have
what you like"
"All but everything!" she MUIR
INJURED; "all but home!"
Nor have a home"
"All, except that my couch is empty
save for myself and my memories"
Not more than mine, nor with sad
der memories, madam"
why, what do you mean?" she
asked me suddenly. What do you
mean?" She repeated it again, as
though half in horror.
only that we are equal and alike.
That we are here on the same errand.
That our view of life should be the
same"
But tell me, were you not then mar
ried?"
mo, l am alone, madam. l never
shall be married
There may have been some slight
motion of hand which beckoned me
to seat at the opposite side of the
table. AS | sat, saw her search my
face carefully, slowly, with eyes l
could not read At last she spoke, aft
er her frequent fashion, half to her
self
1T succeeded, them" said she. Yet
l am not happy! Yet l have failed!"
Il pause, madam" said l, smiling.
Il await your pleasure"
"Ah, God! All, Cod" she sighed.
What have l done?" She staggered
to her feet and stood beating her
hands together, as was her way when
perturbed What have | done!"
"Threlka!" | heard her call, half
chokingly. The old servant came hur-
riedly.
Wine, tea, anything, Threlka!' She
dropped down again opposite me,
painting, and looking at me with wide
eyes.
Tell me, do you know what you
have said?" she began.
mo, madam. / grieye If l have
caused you any pain"
We'll, then you are noble; when
look, what pain l have caused you!
Yet not more than myself. No, not so
much. 1 hope not so much!"
Truly there is thought which passes
from mind to mind. Suddenly the
thing in her mind sped across to
mine. / looked at her suddenly, in
my eyes also, perhaps, the horror
which | felt.
1T was you!" l exclaimed. 1T was
you! All, now / begin to understand!
How could you? You parted us! You
parted me from Elizabeth"
Yes she said regretfully, 81 did
1t. 1t was my fault"
I rose and drew apart from her, I'M
able to speak. She went on.
But ! was not then as l am now.
See, l was embittered, reckless, des-
perate. l was only beginning to
think-I only wanted time l did not
really mean to do all this. ! only
thought Why, / had not yet known
you day nor her an hour. Twas all
no more than half a jest"
l. 4 IAv InI