Grand Forks herald., 1919-07-15
CHAPTER vn.-(Oontinued.,

The physician still knelt beside her,
and Gordon, with time now to think,
began to reflect on the possible cofise-
quences of his deeds. With anxious
face, he stood watching. refiecting BIT
terly that he might not claim even q
look of recognition from those sweet
eyes, and wishing with all his heart
that his marriage had been genuine
A passing memory of his morning ride
to New York in company with Miss
Bentley's conjured vision brought
wonder to his eyes. 1t all seemed so
long ago, and so strange that he ever
could have entertained for a moment
the thought of marrying Julia. She
was good girl Of course, fine and
here his eyes sought the sweet sad
face on the couch, and his heart suf-
fered in real agony for the trouble
he saw; and for the trouble he must
yet give to her when he told her who
he was. or rather who he was not;
for he must tell her and that soon.
1t would not do to go on in her COM
pany-nor to Chicago! And yet, hew
was he possibly to leave her in this
condition? .-t
But no revelations were to be given
that night.
The physician administered another
draught. and ordered the porter to
make up the berth Immediately.
Then. with skilful hands and strong
arms he laid the young girl in upon
the pillows and made her comfortable.
Gordon meanwhile standing awk-
wardly by with averted eyes and trou-
bled mien. He would have liked to
help, but he did not know how.
Shed better not be disturbed any
more than is necessary tonight" said
the doctor, as he pulled the pretty
cloth travelling gown smoothly down
about the girls ankles and patted it
with professional hands. Don't let
her yield to any nonsense about put
| ting up her hair, or taking off that
frock for fear she'll runple it. She
needs to lie perfectly quiet. It's q
case of utter exhaustion, and I should
say long strain of some &ind-
| anxiety. worry perhaps" He looked
keenly at the sheepish bridegroom
| Has she had any trouble?"
| Gordon lifted honest eyes,
! I'm afraid so,'' he answered con-
tritely, as if It must have been his
| fault some way
well, don't let her have any
more" said the elder man briskly
"She's a very fragile bit of woman.
handle her carefully or she'll blow
away. Make her happy, young man
! People can't have too much happiness
in this world. It's the best thing, aft.
er ALL to keep them we'll. Don't Be
afraid to give her plenty"
Thank you!'" said Gordon, ferver1t.
ly wishing it were in his power to dc
what the physician ordered. -,
The kindly physician, the assiduous
porter, and the brusque but good.
hearted conductor went away at last
and Gordon was left with his preciou.
| charge, who to all appearances wat
| sleeping quietly. The light was turn.
ed low and the curtains of the bertf
were little apart. He could see thu
dim outline of drapery about her, AND
one shadowy hand lying Rnap at thu
edge of the couch, in weary relaxa
ticn.
Above her, in the upper berth
which he had told tho porter not tt
make up, lay the great purple blacl
| pluned hat, and sheaf Of lilies O.
the valley from her bouquet.
seemed all SO strange Tor him to b
there in their sacred presence.
4 He locked the door, 30 that no ont
should disturb the sleeper. ana wen
slowly into the little private dressing
room. For a full minute after h
mirror-before him. looking at his owl
weary. soiled face, and wondering I
he, Cyril Gordon, heretofore honore'
and self-respecting, had really don
in the last twelve hours all the thing
which he was credittng himself will
having done And the question was
how had it happened? Had he takea
leave of his senses, or had circum
stances been too much for him? Ha'
right and wrong Gould he hav
Il helped any fof the things that ha'
come uponfhim? How could he hav
helped them? What ought he t
have done? What ought he to d
now? Was he criminal beyond re
demption? Had he spoiled the life o
the sweet woman out there In he
berth, or could he somehow max
amends for what he had done? An
was he as badly to blame for it all a
he felt himself to be?
81 After a minute he rallied, to realiz
that his face was dirty. He. washe'
the marks of the adhesive plaste
away, and then, not Satisfied with tn
result, he brought his shaving thing
from his suitcase and shaved. Some
;. how, he felt more, like himself ate
his toilet was completed, ana h
slipped back into the dArkened draw
YEARLY on the couch, which. accord
ing to his directiens, was not mad
, UP, but merely Furnished with pillow
and blanket. s,st.5t
The night settled into the nois
quiet Of an express train. and eAc
revolution of the wheels, AZ the
whir1ed their way Chicagoward. re
{ solved itself into the old refrAiI
Don't let anything hinder you
He certainly was OF taking the mo-
iAiract rn,ftA from NeSk vnrk ;ffYsV4hhf