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Show STORYgjP I MARCH H OF THE WHITE GUARD M SIR GILBERT PARKER H (Co;il(M,l("l,tjrl(. ImnoAOo.) B CHAPTER VI Continued. H The Whlto Guard hnd coino Imck! H Tlioy voro met with cries of praise, broken by an occasional choking sound from men llko Sergeant Cohbc. Jnn- B par Huino has simply acknowledged his H wulcomo ob lie bud dono the Godspeed 1 two months nnd more ago. He with H tho Knctor boio tho sick man lit, and B laid him on Mb own bed. Then ho 1 enmo outside, and when thny cheered him again, ho said, "We have vomo H. itafely throiiRh and I am thankful. Hut Bt remember tlint my comrndes In this march deserve jour cheers In this ns H ' much as I. Without them t could " have dono nothluR In tho perils that H lay between hero and tho llanon B GroundB." H "In our Inllrinltli'H and In nil our H dangers and necessities," added Jen H Hydo, "tho luck of thu world was M In tho book!" H In another hair hour tho Whlto H Guard was at euso, and four of thorn H wcro gathered about tho great stovo H In tho store, Cloml-ln-the-Sk smoking H placidly, and full of guttural cm- H phasls; Uito Curscnllcn movlni; his H anlmal-llku Jaws with u senso of sat- H Isfnctlon; Oanpe Toujours talking In H Chinook to tho Indlnnn. In palols to 1 tho French clerk, and In broken ting- 1 llsh to thorn nil; and Jeff Hydo ox- 1 claiming on tho wonders of tho march, H tho finding of Vnrro I,epago at Manl- H tou .Mountain, and of himself and H (laspo Toujouni burled In tho snow. H CHAPTER VII, H In Jaspar Hume's houso at mid- H night Varro Icpago lay asleep with H his wife's letters received through H tho Factor clasped to his breast. H Tho flrollght played upon a facn pre- H maturely old a dark, disappointed H face a doomed face, ns It seemed to tho LV "You know him, then," tho Factor HB eald, after a long bIIciico. T "Yob; I know him woll, years ago," H replied Jasimr Hume. H Just then tho sick man stirred In m his sleep, and said disjointed!), "I'll H mako it all right to you, Jaspar." Then H camo a pauso and a quicker utterance, Q "Iloao I - lovo you Forgive for- m Tho Factor roHo and turned to go, H and Jaspar Hume, with a despairing, Hi sorrowful gesture, wont over to the H Again tho volco said, '"Ten years Hi I havo repented ton years My wlfo MJ Don't, don'tl I daro not speak Jaa- H par forgives me, oh, Rosa!" S Tho Factor touched Jaspar Humo's H' arm. "This is delirium," ho said. "Ho H has fever. You and I muBt nurso blm, H Ilumo. You can trust mo you undur- H "Yes, I can trust you.' was tho H reply. "Hut I can tell you nothing." Hj "I do not want to know anything, Hj H you can watch till two o'clock I H will rcllovo you. I'll send tho mcdl- Hj clno chest over. You know how to j treat him." H Tho Factor passed out and tho other H waB left alono with tho man who had g wronged him. Tho feeling most ac- H tlvo in his mind was pity, and as ho H prepared a draught from his own H Btock of medicines, he thought tho B past and tho present all over. Ho H know that however much ho had But- H fered, this man hnd suffered more. H And in this sllont night there was B broken down any slight barrier that H, may have ood between Varro Lepage Hi and his completes compassion. Having H effaced hlmsolf from tho calculation, H justice becamu forgiveness, Lf HO moistened tho sick man's lips HL und bathed his forehead, and roused R him onco to take a quieting powder. B I Then ho sat down and wroto to Hobo Ppff Lepage. Hut ho tore 'ho letter up BHf again and said to tho dog: "No, r Jacques, I cannot; tho Factor must PBH do It. 8ho needn't know yet that it PPP was I with tho Whlto Ouard who PPVV B.ivod him. It doesn't mako any bur- PBB don of gratlttido for her, If my namo BjBlB Ib kept out of It. And tho Factor BPL- - mustn't mention mo, Jacques not PBB yet And wbon he Is well wo will go H to London with It, JacquM, and wo BjBB needn't meet her; and it will bo all BBB right, Jacques; all right!" J And tho dog seemed to understand; BjBB for ho went ovor to tho box that hold PIK It; and looked at his muster Ami PPL Jaspar Ilurao roso and broko the seal PBB and unlocked tho box and opened It; PBB but he heard tho sick man moan and PBB ho closed it again and went over to PBB tho bed. Tho feoblo volco said, "I BBBe must speak-1 cannot dlo bo not bo BB PBB And Jaspar Hume murmurod, "God BBf help him." At 1 ho moistened tho lips H' nnco "Bain, aid put n cold cloth on - tho favored lit id, and theu sat down Hl.. hy ll1' V again. And Varro Lepago H , slept, Ab if Bonio charm had beep in K that "Oold help him tho restlnus BBI hands grew quiet. th. breath became mote leguinr, onl the tortured mind found n short ptaro. With tho old debating look In his oyes. Jaspar Ilumo sat until tho Factor relieved hlui. CHAPTER, VIII. February and March and April wero past and May wn como Varro lo-pago lo-pago had had n hard struggle for life, but ho had survived. For weeks ovry night there was n repetition of that first night after tho return, delirious' self condemnation, entrenly, and lovo of his wife nnd Jaspar Huiiiu'b namo mentioned now nnd again In shudder-Iiik shudder-Iiik remorse With tho help of tho Indian who li.id shared the lck man's HiifferlngH In the Darren Grounds, tho Factor nnd Jaspnr Humo nursed him Imck to life lletwcen tho two watchers, watch-ers, no word had passed after tho drat night regarding the substance of Varro Lcpagc'H delirium. Hut ono ovenlng tho Factor was watching alone, and tho repentant man from his feverish sleep cried nut, "Hush, hush; don't let them know 1 tttolo them both from him nnd tho baby died be-cnuso be-cnuso of thut, God took It and Iloso did not know! Sho did not know!" Tho Fnctor rose and walked nway Tho dog was watching him. Ho snld to Jacques: "You havo a good master, Jacques too good and great for the II. II. G." CHAPTER IX. It Is tho 10th of May In an arm-chair arm-chair made of hlckorj nnd blirhbark by Cloud inthe-Sky, sits Vnrro Lepage rending n letter fiom his wlfo Sho Ib at Winnipeg, nnd Is coming west ns fnr as Itcgina to meet him on his way down. Ho looks a wreck; but a hand-somo hand-somo wierk' Ills re lined fonttircs, 'Ms soft black beard and blue oyes, his graceful hand and gentle manners, ono would Rcnrcely think belonged to-an to-an evil hearted man Ho Hits In tho sunlight at tho door wrapped about In mooso and beaver skins, This world of plain nnd wood Is glad. Not to Varro Lepage. Ho sot nnd thought of what was to como. Ho had hoped at times that ho would dlo, but twice Jus'par Humo had said, "I demand your life; you owo it to your wlfo to mo to God!" And ho had pulled his heart up to this domand nnd had lived, nut what lay before him? Ho saw a stony truck, and ho shuddered' Tho liar of Justice and ltestltutlon raised Kb cold barriers beforo him; and ho was not strong! As ho vat thoro facing bis future Jaspar Hume enmo to him nnd said, "If you feel tip to It, I-epnge, wo will start for Edmonton and Shovanno on Monday. I think it will bo quite safe, and your wlfo Ib anxious. I shall accompany ac-company yon as far ns ICdmonton; you can then proceed to Shovanno by easy Btages, and so on east In tho pleasant weather. Are you ready to go?" "Yes I I am ready." CHAPTER X. On a beautiful May ovenlng Varro Lepage, Jaspar Hume, and tho Whlto Ouard are welcomed at Fort Edmonton Edmon-ton by tho oltlcer In command of tho Mounted Police. They are to enjoy tho hoBpltnllty of tho Fort for a couplu of days, beforo they pass on, Jaspar Humo is to go back with Cloud in tho-Sky tho-Sky and Lato Carnrnllen, and n number num-ber of Indian carriers, for this Is n Journey of business too. Gaspa Tou Jours nnd Jeff Hydo nro to press on with Varro Lepage, who Is now much stranger and bettor. Ono day naBses. 4 nway nnd meet Mm Lepage, be salfl. Ho was furnished with a fresk horsa nnd ho left, bearing a messago to thfl loyal Mifo from Vnrro Lepage. Jaspar Ilumo decided to lenvo Fort Edmonton at once, and to tnko all the White Guard back with him; nndgav orders to that effect Ho entered u room whoro Vnrro Lepago :n: .'ijuo, and said! "Varre Lepajj, ii , time has como for ns to say gocU iv I nm starting nt once for Foit ft idenco." Hut tho other replied will wait until my wlfo comes io nwtf." Thoro was pnln in his volco. "I must not." Vnrro Lepago braced himself for a heavy task nnd said- "Jnspar Humo, If tho tlmo has como to say good-by, It lias also como when wo should speak together for onco openly; to settle, In bo far as can bo done, a long account. You have not let my wlfo know who saved mo. That appoars from her lettors. She asks tho namo of my rescuer. I havo not yet told her. Hut sho will know that to-day when I tell her nil." "When )(" tell her nil?" "When I tell her nil " "Hut j ou shall not do that," "I will. It will bo tho beginning ot tho confession which I shnll afterward mako to tho world." "Hy Heaven ou shall not do it Coward! Would )ou wteek her Hfo? Jnspar 1 1 nine's faco was wrathful, and remained so till tho other sank back In the chair with his forehead In hit hands; but It softened us ho saw ttiU remorso and shame Ho began to seo that Varro Lopngo lud not clearly ' graBped the whole situation. Ho mud In quieter, but still firm tones: "No, Lopage. Hint matte; Is between us two, nnd us alone She must never know the world therefore must never know You did an unmanly thing; you are suffering a manly remorse Now let It end here but I swear It shall." he said In lleice tones as tho other shook his head negatively; "I He Moistened the Sick Man's Lips. and on tho following morning Jaspar Humo gives Instructions to Gnspo Toujours nnd Jeff Hydo, and makes preparations for his going back. He Ib standing in the Ilarracks Square, when a horseman rides in and inquires in-quires of a sergeant standing near, if Varro Lepago has arrived at tho Fort A few words bring out tho fait that Hose Lepago is neurlng tho Fort from tho south, being determined to como on from Shovanno to moot hor husband. hus-band. Tho trooper thinks sho is now about eight or ten mIM nway; but Ib not sure. Ho hod been sent on ahead tho day before, but his horso having mot with a Blight accident, ho had been delayed. Ho had seen thoVuty howovor, n long dlstanco back in tho early morning. Hu must now ride I i would Jiavo let you dlo at Manltot Mountain, If I had thought you would dare to tuku nway your wlfo'a peace your chlldien'B respect." "I havo no children; our baby died." Jaspar Humo ngnln aoftoned. "Can I you not see, Lepago? Tho thing cannot can-not bo mended" Just then his hand touched tho book that ho still carried in his bofora, and as it bis mother hod whispered to him, ho contluued: "I bury it nil, and bo must you. You will begin tho world again old friend and ho shall I, Keep your wlfo's lovo and respect. Henceforth you will deserve It." Vnrro Lepago raised moist oyes to tho other and bald; "Hut you will tnko back tho money I got for that!" Thoro was a pauso, then Jaspar Humo replied; "Yes, upon such terms, times and conditions as I shall hero after fix. And you hnvo no child, Le-pageT" Le-pageT" lie gently added. "Wo havo no child; it died with my fame." (TO HE OONTINUKD) |