THE WE8T SHORE.
m
" I fear she is going, now," she whispered, " shall
I call them? I promised, you know."
" Hush 1 "
Breathlessly they watched a minute longor; there
was a fluttering of the white lid?, a quick, gasping
breath, and it almost seemed that they saw the angel
of death pass by. The dark eyes opened slowly and
rested for a moment with a puzzled expression ou
Madame's face. She did not effer to speak, she was
too weak, and soon fell into a peaceful sleep. Mad
ame, descending to the parlor where Herald Swinton
and Max D wight sat waiting, said, reverently
" She lives; let us pray."
As he listened to the fervent outburst of thanks,
giving from the lips of the young "color bearer of
Christ," all the jealousy and bitterness died out of
the soul of Harold Swinton, and he said to himself:
" He is worthy of her." As for Mai, he had pitied
his rival with a Godlike pity since first he had soon
how humble and miserable be was.
Another week passed before they dare let Harold
soo her. She had not spoken of him, nor did she
know that he was in the house.
" Mr. Swinton is here and would like to see you,"
Madame remarked one morning, in an indifferent
tone. " Are you strong enough to soo him? "
Bab made no answer until Madame repeated the
question. " Will you soo him now or some other
time?"
" Now," was the brief rejoindor.
Exactly what passed between them daring the
little while that be remained by her side, no one ever
knew; but when he came out he looked like one from
whom all hope had fled.
" I am going, now," he said, as he met Madame
on the landing. " Draw on me for all expenses, past,
present and future, and I will send the regular aU
lowance, besides. You will be a mother to Lor, I
know, and sometimes let mo hear how she is. She
refuses to ever see or hear from me again." His
voico failed him, and with an indistinct "farewell"
he was gone.
When Madame reachod the room she found Bab
once more in a dead faint, but did not think it wise
to tell Harold or try to detain him.
It was late at night when Harold Swinton stepped
from the train in Omaha after his visit to Villa U
ttae. Taking a carriage he was soon sot down before
a handsome brick residence in a fashionable quarter.
Slowly be ascended the steps nd let himself in wth
a night key. A sleepy servant came forward.
" Be it you, Mr. Swinton? I thought it was the
mistress as I am waiting op for."
M Where is your mistress? " he ukeJ, sharply.
M Gone to some kind o' doin's with young Harper."
" The devil sho isl " muttered Harold, going on to
his room.' " Lot her go, I don't care,"
The first faint signs of coming dawn were visible
in the east when Pauline Swinton bade her escort
adieu. She did not meet her husband until luncheon.
" How do you do? " she said, languidly, extend
ing her hand " What time did you get In? "
M I came from Chicago on the 10: 15," ho answer? d,
shortly. " And what time did you get in, may I ask?"
" It was somewhat later, I believe," she answered,
insolently.
There was silence for a minute, like the threaten
ing calm that precedes a storm, and then he said:
41 Well, madam, there is just one thing I have to say.
I forbid you going out again without proper escort.
Do you understand?"
" I understand what you say, but I hare never
gone out without proper escort"
" Do you count that libertine, Harper, fit compa
ny for any woman, a married one least of all? "
" See here, Mr. Harold Swinton, your high might
iness can not scare me, and before you put on any
more virtuous airs, please give an account of yourself
for the past two weeks."
" Easily done, madam. East on business."
"And did she die?"
Paulino's tones were full of sarcasm. Harold
started and colored violently, hesitated a moment, and
then replied calmly, almost reverently
" No, she did not die, thank heavnn."
" Natarally I felt qalte auoaiy after reading the
telegram yoa left on your table."
M Ob! " involuntarily the exclamation escaped him.
"So I left it on the table, did 1? Well, It is of no
consequence. Nellie would never have forgiven me
bad I not obeyed the summons; Iroldrs, I am the
girl's gaardian."
"Pray who and what is this girl?"
" I have already told you -a ward of mine and a
protege of Cousin Nellie's, who is attending school
in the east and was stricken with brain fever. That
Is alL Now, if yoa please, we will Mum to the sub.
ject In hand. Yoa are to cut youog Harper at one,
or I shall forbid him the bouse."
" Forbid him the house! " she rchoml M Pray,
sir, whose house is this, let me ask? "
" Yoa have hinted at the same ueatlon More,
Mrs. Swinton, and now, M me toll jro If ever yoa
refer to the matter In that light again I will leave yoa
for all time to its undisturbed poaaeMtoo. The plaett
is yours, I sappoae, in one sense of the word; but
while I remain 1 am muter."
M lrlel, Mr. Hwltiton, yoa do not frighten me la
the least when yoa talk of leaving Yoa married me