Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1926-01-21
cHAPTER vI-COntinued

.sWIll you promise me-that you vii
not. He hardly knew what h
wished 10 ask from the girl who 81
tensely listened There had beer
nothing between them. He had NJ
right-but In spite OF his dihidencs
found himself begging: You will not
destroy yourself-that beautiful tai
ent, that-soul. because you think to
save your fatherY He was talking
recklessly now, all reticence gone,
enc matter what happens to the post
what Lascelles tries to do, promise
me that you will not throw your hap
piness. your life, to the winds. II Is
not necessary, as you may think
have ample means. will gladly
finance your father-I have influence ;
I'll take Il up with headquarters In
Montreal. Wen beat LasceIles! Don't
don't destroy yourself. mademol-
seIIe ~
AS he finished. she was smiling nj
him through mlst-blurred eyes. thea
rose and went to the window
Ou MlAFE uD1 utlEdbH HE luAAEAEAs
thinking of her letter to Albany.
From the window came the low an
swer. 81 am the faneee of Monsieur
Lascelles"
''You are mad-mad," he groaned.
stunned, unable to accept. now that he
had heard II, what he had feared. II
had no right to ask you--what did.
But / could not help 1t. mademoiselle.
might have known--the. heart Of you
was dead You have killed beau
tiful thing
She suddenly turned tragic face.
Monsieur. you may wonder why / let
you say these things, hut you have
guessed the reason" and she placed
her hands on her breast, ''the heart OF
me-is dead" And she left the room.
To remain longer under the factors
roof, to sit at dinne9 with this hope
less girl, who had bartered her hap
piness for her fathers welfare. and
the man who was brute enough to ac-
cept the sacrifice. was unthlnkable, so
Steele went to the little room which
had been his since his coming. to pack
his dnf1ie bag There he found Char
-lotte. waiting
''You weesh for to maree mann
seller" the Indian abruptly demanded.
The question was startling, but did
honor to the loyalty Of the grave-faced
woman who confronted him
.'she is to marry Monsieur Las
ceIles." said Steele gently. touched by
the evident friendIiness which prompt |
ed Charlotte to seek him cut.
"She hate M'sieu LasceIlesi" vehe-
mently protested the OiIbway. "She
cry an cry wen she send heem de let
tair. You are de good man. Michel
say. Daveed tell you have beeg house.
far away sout' You TAX ma'm'selle.
she t'lnk yos good man, she weel go
Wild you for your womanl"
Steele's pulse qulckened at the
thought would she go with me.
would she go with met" he repeated
10 himself. '1f / were man enough to
take her from her father2 She could
never face future with Lascellesr 2"
Then his knowledge Of Denise ST.
Onge asserted itself 'But no. she
has given Ter word; and she'll Eeep
It. She's that kind. She would never
desert her father and she's hound
herself to -Laseelles- It's toolate :"
Searching his face with eager eyes
Charlotte waited for his answer.
'Tt's too late-eharlotte. Made
has already told the French
49, - I'm ,..-,-~sr Y.frs.
The scowl OF contempt which greeted
lis reply transformed the dark face
" the OjIbway into that OF a fury.
The had placed her faith In this Amer
can. and he had failed her.
.Daveed tell me you are good man
o fight-have de strong heart" she
lurIed at him. "why you have de fear
" dat leetle Frenchmans-are you
eeg -rabbit2 why yon not tax, her
way cen de cano'7 She weel gol"
Again, a fierce exultatlon swept
I'm. Charlotte must know her mis- !.
ress' secret thoughts to speak so con-
Identity. What he had of late felt
ensed-in the presence Of Denise ST.
Dnge; what he had put aside as Inn
ossfble, unbelievable - an Illusion
ased on his own emotions-might, I
fter all, have been her instructive
all for help; the unvoIced reaching !, !,
ut of her heart to one who would
Understand her need. But he had :
ailed her The Sicffm Of his own :
lex OF vanity. ne aad gone on up !
ver and left her TO solve her prob !
m alone. to bind herself definitely to :
ascelIes. when. had he acted on his =
lstiucts. ne might have saved her =
ON herself. he hAd been bEfnd-and =
st.
I'VE must wait. Charlotte. What 8
"a tell me-about mademolselIe--I =
d not-know. But don't lose heart
IrBt, I've work 20 do. I'm going TO
itch that windsgo. Then
Steele did not finish. for the scowling
zee Of the Ojfbway woman went a "
ekly gray at the mention OF the "