The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1916-09-15

E4A1, anu us C1CdI LlldC L Call L, 1
shall move on myself and wander"
His chin was firmly set "A a mo-
ment. He knew what he was giving
up--assured position won by earnest
work, the certainty of fortune, lux
urics that Ec loved. But he did not
doubt that he would-no, must-let
these 60. There was no rest for
him if this prize were not his.
"The edge Of fate" he muttercd
again, when suddenly lie became
aware that the man against whom
be had warned Helen Wardlaw was
in his pocket, intending to turn it
over to the proper authorities. A
slip Of paper fell out, and with it a
ten dollar bill. Opening tho paper
to see if it contained any clew to
the mans identity Boo read these
words:
# you will cease trying to modest me I
will give YOU this amount every month.
This is positively all l can do for you.
The handwriting was that Of Hell
en- Wardlaw!
SO agitatcd that he trembled, he
determined at once to discover the
truth about the relations between
the disso]utc, poverty stricken crea-
ture and Helen Wardlaw.
There was small chance for his
surviving his injuries, as Alexander
learned at the hospital.
Suspecting that tho man might
say something before he died, Alex
ander remained and thus was at
his bedside when the man reused, a
few moments before the end. He
| opened his eyes and looked at him
and whispered: "Tcll my wife-tell
Helen-that she will forgive mo
now that-I-am-dying.'
The whisper ceased, there was a
brief struggle, and all was over.
Alexander made arrangements
for a decent burial before leaving
the hospital, for there was no doubt
IN his mind that the man had been
Holens husband,
He longed to hear from her own
lips the story of her life. which
must have had much sadness and
misery in it, and lis hear. was full
If exultatlon at the thought that
.he was now free from her bonds,
whatever they might have been.
When the girl came into the Of
ice next morning he approached
ter gently.
There was an accident last
night he said as calmly as he could
peak. "a man was run over on the
avenue, and l went to the hospital
and remained with him until he
died. He dropped this paper, and I
saved it. He reused before he died
and begged me to tell his wife to
forgive him" He handed her the
note, which she took with a trem-
bling hand.
"Ah, you know" she cried bro
kenly, and, covering her face with
her hands, she burst into passionate
weeping.
He longcd to take her in his
arms, to kiss the lovely lips which
he knew were dropping pathetically
like the lips Of a hurt child. but
ho restrained his longing and turn
ell away.
Presently she ceased sobbins and
turned away.
$50 Beverly is dead" she sala
solemnly. "Poor Beverly! We
were children together on neighbour
ing plantations, and | married him
bcfore-before | learned what love
was. He was cruel. l think | cam
not speak Of that. l was forced to
run away from him and came here,
where my mother joined nc. | liv-
ed in constant dread of his finding
rs, but last night was the first time
he was able to accost me. He had
sunk so low he threatened mo. But
h. is dead now, poor Bever)y.'
Then i'll a Whisper: am free, Free
at last'
The desire to tell her of his love
was irresistible, but Robert Alex
ander compelled himself to bide his
time. Her words '.before | learned
what love was thrilled his heart
with glad hope and gave him cour-
age to wait with patience the day,
which came soon, when she was
willing to confess to him that it was
he who had taught her the true.
beautiful meaning of the word.