Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-12-13

ingly, because he was not quite sure
whether he was justified in thus OBJ
tanning private information under false
pretenses, and yet he felt that he must
know just what troubled her or he
could never help her; and he was sure
that IL she knew he was an utter
stranger, even a kindly one, those gem
tie lips would never open to inform him
upon her t%orturer. AS it was she could
tell him her trouble with a perfectly
clear conscience, thinking she was tell
Ing 1t to the man who knew all about 1t.
But his hesitation about prying into
an utter strangers private affairs even
with a good motive, gave him an air OF
know his fault that puzzled the girl
more than all that had gone before.
Il cannot understand how you can
ask such a question, since it has been
the constant subject of discussion in
all our letters!" she replied, sitting up
She was on the verge of growing angry
with him for his petty. wilful misunder-
standing of words whose meaning she
felt he must know we'll.
Il do ask it," he said quietly, land,
believe me, l have a good motive in
doing So"
She looked at him in surprise. 1t
was impossible to be angry with those
kindly eyes,. even though he did persist
in a wilful stupidity.
We'll. then. since you wish It
stated once more will tell you"
into her eyes. "You first demanded
that l marry Observation-Disclosures
any p%retense whatever of caring for me
with q hidden threat in our demand
that IL did not, you would bring some
dire calamity upon me by means that
me for the same foolish little girl whom
you had delighted to tease for a
before you went abroad to live. And
when 1 refused you, you told me Ia
you could not only a away from my
mother all the property which she had
of a will made just before my uncle's
death. and unknown except to his
awyer and you; but hat you could
and would blacken my dear dead
fathers name and honor, and show that
every cent that belonged to mother
property. When I challenged you to
prove any such thing against my hon.
Ored father, you went still further and
threatened to bring out a terrible story
and prove 1t with witnesses who would
swear to anything you said. You knew
my fathers white life. you as,much as
owned your charges were false. and
yet you dared to send me q letter from
a vile. creature who pretended that h
was his first wife. and who said she
could prove that he had spent much
OF his time in her company. You knew
the whole thing was q falsehood, but
you dared to threaten 70 make this
known through the newspapers If 1 did
not marry you. o realized that I
knew that, wen though few people and
no friends would believe such a thing
OF my father. such a report in the
papers-false though it was-would
crush my mother to death. You knew
that l o give my life to save her,
and so you had me in your power, as
you have me now. You have always
you lov to torture. and now you have
me. But you cannot make me forget
what you nave done. I hav given my
life but l cannot give any more. If it
is not sufficient you will have to do
your worst"
She dropped her face into the little
wet handkerchief, and Gordon sat with
white. drawn countenance and
clenched hands. He was fairly trem-
bling with indignation toward the villain
who had thus dared impose upon this
delicate flower of womanhood. He
longed to search the world over for the
false Bridegroom: and, finding, give him
his just dues.
And what should he do or say?
Dared he tell her at once who he was
and trust to her kind heart to forgive
his terrible blunder and keep his secret
till the message was safely delivered?
Dared he? Had he any right? No, the
secret was not his to divulge either for
his W benefit or for any others. He
must keep that to himself. But he
must help her in some way.
At last he began to speak, scarcely
knowing what he was about to say:
1T is terrible, terrible. what you have
told me. To save written such things
to one like you-in fact, to any one
one earth-seems to me unforgivable.
1t is the most inhuman cruelty I have
ever heard Of. You are fully justified
In hating n ~despising the man who
wrote such words to you.'
Then. why did you. write them? ?" she
burst forth. "And how can you sit
there calmly and talk that way about
y. as Is you had nothing to do with
I never wrote those letters
ne said. looking her steadily. earnestly,
.You never wrote them!" she OK
claimed excitedly. you dare to deny
II dare to deny it." His voice VIA.
She looked 1t him. daxed, b~eWfldered,
INDIGNANT. sorrowful. "But you cannot
deny It." she said, her fragile frame
trembling with excitement. IT have
the letters all In my 6uit 4 You
cannot deny your handwriting. I
have the last awful one-the one In
which you threatened fathers good
not put lt with the rest, and I had no
opportunity to destroy It before leav-
ing home. I felt a if I must Always
Keep 4 with me, lest otherwise itol
1Wxul ooo1oe would o0Meh0W ret out.
There = +. Read g and re your own
name sagned TO the words you gay you