The Cook County news-herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Cook County, Minn.) 1909-current, 1917-09-26

~ Saw You," Helen Whispered.
recovery. Colonel nlingworth turned
away and summoned the secretary.
Rodney and Winters came, too.
"Shurtlifr," said Meade family but
firmly, "tell them again who is re-
sponsible for the failure Of the inter-
national"
*Forgfve me, Mr.. Meade" said Shurt-
lift, '8but it was your brave old fathers
fault"
"You see," said the colonel.
1--WE knew it all the time," said Rod
ney.
'But Mr.. Shurtlifr bravely gave Us
the final proof" said Winters.
''Those papers?" said Meade.
. Shurtliff nodded.
"And your fathers own letter that
he wrote the papers before his heart
broke" said Rodney; I'll read it to
you presently
"Why did you do 1t, Shurtliff?"
ITO right great wrong, sir. I saw
that we were mistaken to try to spare
the dead at the expense Of the living.
to wreck your life and the future, and
the happiness Of Miss nlingworth. God
bless her for her kindness to a lonely
old man. And SO when you were
brought here dead I told them the
truth and gave them the papers,"
"Gentlemen," said Meade, making
last try, ut is useless to deny 1t now,
but for the sake Of my fathers fame
you won't let anyone know?"
"Old man." said Rodney, ut was on
the wires an hour afterward and the
whole United States knows it now.
Your father made the mistake; his
letter admitted it bravely. The world
honors him, it honors you"
Rodney" said Meade, II wish you
hadn't done it."
ut was for Miss nlingworth's happi-
ness and yours that I did it," said Rod
ney. "And how much that cost me-
he added, the confession being wrung
from him, mo one can ever know"
he turned and left the room. Winters
followed him full Of sympathy and
comprehension.
LET me 60 out alone, old man,"
said Rodney. 'tI'u be back presently.
This is the last fight I've got to make"
Winters watched him from the steps
Of the car as he disappeared in the
pine trees en- route to the mesa to fight
it out under the open sky alone. The
others left the room also, last of all
Shurtliff.
'You forgive me, Meade. I've been
through hell ITSELF" said the old man,
in these last six MONTHS
Freely" said Meade.
And Shurtliff went away with a
lighter heart than he had borne for
many long day.
The two lovers were alone again.
'You see," said Helen, *there's moth
ing Gan keep US apart now"
'Nothing, thank Cod" whispered tho
man.
''But am sorry that it all came out
this way. I'm sorry not only because
Of your suffering, but for other reasons
for one. He-it's too badl
It was not necessary for you to get
yourself almost killed to win me, I
mean, for wherever and whenever I
found you I was resolved to marry you,
willy-nilly."
"And is it true that poor old Rod
had grown to carer he asked, putting
by. the academic discussion.
- The woman nodded. go:
r. "'Im very sorry. I can't help it. We
were always together, talking about
you," she said.
1 .And he couldn't help it, either" said
Meade. Somehow I believe he was
the better man for: you to have taken"
But he looked at her wistfully and.
anxiously:as he spoke.
& II won argue with you,'' said the
girl, bending close to him. '.ru only
say that I know have the best man
in all the world, but IL he were the
worst, I would rejoice to have him just
the same" 49,. ..5. ~ 5.s = 4: s.s5ss go