Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-08-20

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he could get control he wheeled his
horse and frantically waved his arm.
"Come over! Quick!!' he shouted,
Lord Tremonts of. He's hurt"
1t was this that Aline heard, break
ing in on her thoughtful silence. She
stood up, white. and looked where ev-
eryone pointed. From her vantage
Alec's still body and the moaning,
restless mass of his fallen horse.
He's killed, Sir Godfrey" she said
simply, looking. up into his lace with
eyes that told him for the first time
the whole true secret Of her heart.
MY Afec's dead" Il
A tremor Of utter collapse passed
through her strained figure, and she
fell fandng to the ground.
It often occurred to Sir Godfrey,
In after years, that at this crucial mo-
ment lit vas not Of EAltne nor Of Alec
tfhat he thought first. Instantly he
turned and called for Claire Wilton.
But she was there already, and had
lifted the girls unconscious head into
her lap.
And claire.s eye. were not upon
straight up into his, with such depth
of pity as made them seem to him like
wells of strength and, comfort.
Tive wanted so much to help you,"
h said as h loosened Aline's collar;
but I couldn't say a word. I was
put under seal Of secrecy"
ALEC told you-of If engage
ment?" he asked.
yes. All, Sir Geoffrey, it was SO
splendid of you-but a forlorn hope!
And you, didn't know it," she asked,
as she chafed Aline's cold hands.
Mot till this moment. I must have
been blind. I saw he was tormenting
her; torturipg her; and I never
thought she cared for him. I wanted
simply to protect her. Her father
left them to meas a kind of unofti-
ctal guardian, you know"
1T was not protection she needed;
1t was courage-enough for him and
for herself. She vas freer than he,
weak as he was-and inhuman!"
Aline stirred, signing, but relapsed
into Inconsistencies again.
Fetch me some water, please, Sir
! Godfrey Claire asked. He ran TO
the pals that Rufus had filled. and
Claire saw the others, far below them,
car.
They will want you now" she said
to him when he returned. IF ne
should live, please, please won't you
let me help you?" she pleaded. Its
not toe late to set things right We
must, we must find a way" 4.
he at an. ne ,igss'w ..Tsa God God t he does a:xs
been-the double fool,"-and Ids eyes
dweit upon Claire as If he were ex-
periencing q miracle. III
II would rather" she said looking
up at him, with her warm smile, s""be
such a fool, than the wisest man on
earth. You will let me help 2" she
urged hurr1edly.
"God knows | shall need You. I
shall never trust myself again."
left her, Aline's head resting in her
Almost Immediately then. conscious
ness returned, and with a quick, pale
self-possaesion that cut Claire to the
heart. Aline insisted on rising, and
walked shakily but with the forced
calnness of discrimination to Sir
Geofrey's car. into which Alec's inert
body was being lifted.
Sir Geofrey's place was nearer to
Lone Tree Hill than -Breeme House,
and 1t was advisable, too, not to
alarm the earl; SO Alec was taken
there in Sir Geoffrey's new machine,
with his head on James lap. hts
young face turned up blankly and
rigidly to the sky-for on being lifted
into the car he tainted again. It
was typical Of Sir Georrey's consid-,
Grafton that he saw to it u~nobtrusiya-
" that Aline went with them, III, the
car. Her duty clearly lay. however,
In q prompt return to Breeme House,
and after Alec had been put to bed
there was nothing for It but that she
should go. She stood alone In one OF
Sir Geofrey's great bare, ugly. downs
stairs rooms that thanked the n
~trance-hal, putting OF the moment
tof her departure, hoping against hope
that the doctor, ridden for at once 81
Rufus fremont, might come before
she left.
! "A servant came to her presently
with message. THE carts ready
for you, miss Sir Geofrey has CIV
en- orders for one Of the men. to drive
you home"
She got numbiy into the hat and
Jacket she had thrown aside, TIE
room was almost dark.
Sir Ge0fErey came IN.
"You here, Aiine I"
6he started towards him.
gave orders for lights and 4
fire said he, standing grayely5 bende
her, with his eyes upon her facea "I'm
sorry you've had to wait here %;
cheerlessly. Alec II conscious. we
cant tell yst how serteusly ne q hart