Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1911-04-15

/ stood now looking at her, silent,
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 I understood. What I saw
was a horror to my soul.
Madam" said 1 to her, at last, did
you indeed think me so cheap as that?
Come herei" / led her to the central
apartment, and motioned her to a
seat.
Now, then, madam, much has been
done here, as you say. 1t is all that
ever can be done. You shall not see
Pakenham tonight, nor ever again."
But think what that will cost youi"
she broke out ''This is only part. 1t
should all be yours
flung the document from me- "This
has already cost too much I said.
I'VE 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 you
could take this to Mr.. Calhoun, to
America, it would mean for you per
sona1ly all that America could give
you in honors.''
"Honors without honor, madam,
do not covet," I replied. Then 1 would
have bit my tongue through when 1
saw the great pallor cross her face at
the cruelty of my speech.
"And myself" she said, spreading
out her hands again. But no! know
you would not taunt me. I know, in
spite of what you say, there must be
sacrifice. Well, then 1 have made
it. l have made my atonement. l say
can give you now, even thus, at least
a part of Oregon. 1 can perhaps give
you all of Oregon-to-morrowi The
Pakenhams have always dared much
to gain their ends. This one will dare
even treachery to his country. To-
morrow-if I do not kill him-if 1 do
not die-I can perhaps give you all of
Oregon bought-bought and /.
paid!" Her voice trailed on into a
whisper which seemed loud as a
bugle call to me-
I answered. 1--WE are men, not pan
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, I have already given you her and
| given you to her. To do that-to
atone, as 1 said, for my attempt to
part you-well, 1 will give Mr.. Paken-
| ham the key that Sir Richard Paken-
| ham of England lately held. I told
you a woman pays, body and soul! In
what coin fate gave me, / will pay it.
| You think my morals mixed. No, I
| tell you 1 am cleani 1 have only
| bought my own peace with my own
| conscience! Now, at last, Helena Won
Ritz knows why she was born, to what
| end! 1 have a work to do, and, yes,
1 see It now-my journey to America
| after all was part of the plan of fate.
I have learned much-through you,
| monsieur"
| Hurriedly she turned and left me,
passing through the heavy draperies
| which cut off the room where stood
| the great satin couch. 1 saw her cast
| herself there, her arms outfiung. Slow,
| deep and silent sobs shook all her
| body.
| "Madami Madam I cried to her.
| DO not. Do mott What you have
done here is worth a hundred millions
of dollars, hundred thousand of lives,
perhaps. Yes, that is true. 1t means
| most of Oregon, with honor, and with
! out war That is true, and it is much.
| But the price paid-it is more than all
this continent is worth, if it cost SO
| much as that. Nor shall it,
Black, with a million pin-points of
red, the world swan around me. Mil
lions of dead souls or souls unborn
seemed to gaze at me and my I'M
hesitating rage. I caught up the scroll
which bore England's signature, and
| with one clutch cast it in two pieces
on the floor. AS it lay, we gazed at
it in silence. Slowly, 1 saw a great,
soft radiance come upon her face. The
red pin-points cleared away FROM my
own vision.
CTO BE CONTINUED)