Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-07-25

wOu1u Oo 0OUo spot Wnofo tnoy COuIu
talk for q few minutes. But he was
IN n first car. He arranged every
thing for her comfort as far rs pos
sible, disposed Of her hat and fixed her
suitcase 50 that she could open 1t,
out even while he was doing 1t there
were people crowding by, and no
private conversation could be had.
He stepped back when all vas arrang-
cd ana held the curtain aside hat she
might sit on the edge Of her berth.
Inen STOPPING over he whispered
Try to u me until morning. I'll
explain 1t all to you then, SO that you
Will understand how I have had .poth-
Ing to do with those letters. Forget
1t, and try to rest. Will you?"
His tone was wistful. He had never
wanted to do anything 90 much in all
his life as to stoop and kiss those
sweet lips, and the lovely eyes that
looked up at him out of the dusky
shadows Of the berth, filled with fear
Ind longing. They looked more than
ever like the blue tired Mowers that
drooped from her gown YEARLY. But
Me held himself with a firm hand.
She was not his to kiss. When she
knew how he had deceived her, she
would probably eve give him the
right to kiss her.
Il will try" she murmured in
answer to his question, and then add
ed: But where will you be? Is your
berth 10 by?"
Mot far away-that is, I had to
take q place in another car, they are
SO crowded."
"Oh!" she said a little anxiously.
Are you sure you have a good COM
Portable place Il,
'"Oh, yes, I shall be all right" he
answered joyously. 1t al SO wonder
full to have her care whether he was
comfortable or not
The porter was making up the op-
posite berth, and there was nj room
to stand longer. 80 he babe her good
night. she putting out her hand for a
farewell. For an instant he held 1t
close, with gentle pressure, as If to
reassure her, then he went away to
the day-coach, and settled down into
a hard corner at the very back Of the
car, drawing his travelling cap owe
his eyes, and letting his heart beat out
wild joy over that little touch Of her
dear hand. Wave after wave Of sweet
ness went over him. thrilling his very
soul with a joy he had never known
before.
And this was love! And what kind
of a wretch was he, presuming to love
like this a woman who was the prom
1sed bride of another man! All. but
such a man! A villain! A brute. who
had used his power over her to make
u e tortures! Had a man like
that a right to claim her? His whole
being answered mo"
Then the memory Of the look in
her eyes, the turn Of her head, the
soft touch of her fingers as they lay
for that instant in his, the infection Of
h AZ VyrfA4 vry~,,15 e%Nl <I- rro ~ ~
sweetness over his senses, his heart
would thrill anew, and he would for
get the wretch who stood between
him and this lovely girl whom he
knew now he loved as he had eve
dreamed a man could love.
Gradually his mind steadied itself
under the sweet i~ntoxication, and he
began to wonder just what he should
say to her in the morning. 1t was a
good thing he had not had further op-
portunity to talk with her that night,
thing; and now If all went we'll they
would be in Washington in the morn
ing, and he might make some excuse
till after he had delivered his message.
Then he would be free to tell the
whole story, and lay his case before
her for decision. His heart throbbed
with ecstasy as he thought Of the pos
sibility Of her forgiving him, and yet
it seemed most unlikely. Sometimes
he would let his wild longings fancy
for just an instant what Joy it would
be if she could be induced to let the
marriage stand. But he told himself
at the same time that that could
never be. 1t was very likely that
there was someone else in New York
to whom her heart would turn If she
were free from the scoundrel who
had threatened her into a compulsory
marriage. He would promise to help
her, protect her, defend her from the
man who was evidently using black
mail to get her into his power for
some purpose; most likely for the
sake of having control Of her proper
ty. At least it would be some COM
fort to be able to help her out Of her
trouble. And yet. would she ever trust
a man who had ven unwittingly al
lowed her to be bound by the sacred
tie of marriage to an utter stranger?
And thus. amid hope and fear, the
night whirled itself away. Forward
in the sleeper the girl lay wide awake
for a long time. In the middle Of the
night a thought suddenly evolved it.
self out of the blackness of curtained
couch. She sat upright alertly and
stared into the darkness. as II it were
a thing that she could catch and han
die and examine. The thought was
born out OF a dreamy vision Of the
crisp brown waves, almost curls il
they had not been so short and thick,
that covered the head Of the man who
had lain sleeping outside her curtains
in the early morning. 1t came to her
with sudden force that not so had
been the hair Of the boy George
Hayne, who used to trouble her girl
ish days. His was thin and black
n oily. collecting naturally nto lit
tie isolated strings with the least
warmth. and giving him the appear
ance of a kitten who had been out in
the rain. One lock. how well she re-