The evening world. Newspaper, December 24, 1904, Page 5

| | | In another half-hour the White Guard was at ease. and four of them rg gathered about the great stove in the store. Cloud-in-the-Sky smoking rrp and full of guttural emphasis; Late Carscalien moving his animal-like — oe &@ fense of satisfaction; Gaspe Toujours talking in Chinook to the Indians, pat to the French clerk, and in broken English to them all; and Jeff Hyde a inz on the wonders of the march, the finding of Varre Lepage at Manitou tain. and of himeelf and Gaspe Toujours buried in the snow. 7 In Jaspor Hume's hoves at midnight Varre Leprge lay asleep with bis — letters—received through the Factor—clasped to his breast. The firelight ee ri UpZon a face prematurely old—a dark disappointed face—a doomed fash seemed to the Factor. tid tttat “You knew him, then,” the Factar said. after a lone silence. . “Yes; I know him well. years ago.” replied Jaspir Hume 7, “TM make Just then the sick man stirred in bis sleep. an] said disjointedty, “Rose— it all right to you. Jaspar.” Ilove you—FPorgive—forgive The Factor rose and turned to go, and Jasper Hume, fowing gesture. went over to the bed Again the voice said, “Ten years—T have @on’t!—I dare not spe ck—Jasmar. forgive me! Oh The Fa +o Then came a pause and a quicker utteran with a despairing, sor- erpen + years —My wife—Don't, he said “Fie detirinum.” or touched Jasnar Humes arm ; ; r st c-you under- has fever. You and I must nurse him. Hume. You can trust me~y stand.” “ “Yee. Tecan trust you.” was the reply t F can te neothtir tol two o'clock T will re- te treat him.” ~man whe had he premiuret “I do not want to know anything. If you can w Neve you. Ill send the medicine chest ever sk The Factor passed out and the other wae lef wronged him. The feeling mo«t active in his * @ draught from his own stock of medicines. he i the past S the pres - all over, He knew that however much h soffered. this man had oregon ? more. And in this silent nieht there was br n down any sh barrier eras * may have steod between Verre Lepage and his compl compasson. Hav * effaced himself from the calculation, justice beeame f ead. and roused him He mveistened the sick man’s lips and bathed once to take a quieting powder. Then he «at J to Rese Lep But he tore the jetter up again and said to the dot ques, I a é Factor mus: do it. She needn't know yet that it wa , ig nents » Who saved him. It due it make any burden «f gratitude for her, ny Tar And whew not yet need t meet her, and it @ Kept out of it And the Factor mustn't men - be fs well we will co to Londen with It, Jaca Will be all rich, Jocques, al right!” And the dog seemed to understand: for ha went over to the bex that held It; end looked at his master. And Jaspar Hurme rese and broke the seal and at * locked the box and opened it: but he heard the sick man moan and he che 4 Mf again and went over to the bed. The fecble voive said. “I must speak—I can- ~~ Bot dle so—not so—Jaspar.”” And Jaspar Hume murmured, “God help him.” « @mce again, and put a cold clyth on the fevered sd. and then sat down by the fire again. And Varre Lepage slept. As if eyme cyarm had been In that “God belp him,” the restless hands grew quiet. the breath became more regular, and tortured mind found a shert peace. With the old debuting look in his eyes, Hume sat until the Factor relieved him. And he moistened the lips = CHAPTER V. Reunited. EBRUARY and March end April were past and May was come. Varre Lepage had had e hard etrucgic for! Dut fhe had survived. For Weeks every night there was a Teproor 1 OF that first might after tne return: delirious self-condemnation, entreaty, and tove of Ms wife, and Jasrer Hur s name mentioned now and again in shuddering remorse. With the help of the Indian whe had saared the sick mans q@offerings in the Barren Grounds, the Factor and Jaspar tHume nursed him Back to Life. It ts the 10th of May. In an armehair max 4 Cloud-in-the-Sky sits Varre Lepaxe read Winnipeg, and is coming west as far as Kecina to meet him on his way down. He looks a wreck: but «a handsome wreck! His refined teatures, his soft Diack beard and Diue eyes. Dis gractul ham and gentile manners, one would scarcely think belonged to an evil-hearted man He sits t Sumiight at the door, wrapped about in moore and beaver skins ‘This orld of plain and wood is glad. Not so Varre Lepage. He sat and thought of what was to come. Me had hoped at times th he would die. but tw Jaspar Hume had said, “1 @emand your iif: vou owe it to vour wife to met» ¢ " And he had fines hear >» to sna amd had lived But what tay before him? e oa a iene track. and he shuddered. The Far of Justice and Restitution fuised old barriers before him: and he was not strong! As oo we theme facing his fu Jaspar tlume cam, to him and said, “If you feel up to i Let art for Edinonton 1d Shovanne on Monday. IRbink it wil be quite safe, and yur wife I shall accompany you es far as E ime you can then proce ‘vanne by casy stages, and and dirchbark by his wife. She is at of hickory ter ¢f "= is arxious. do to Sh go on east in the pica Weather. Ai ™ ready to gov’ 4 m ready” On a beautiful Miy evening Varre Lepate. Jaspar Hume and the White Guard are welcomed at Fort Edmonton by the officer in command of the Mounted Police. They are to enjoy the bespitality of the Fert for a of days before they pass Tlume ‘ts to no back with Cloud nd Late Carscallen and a i for this is a journey of business, too. Caspe Tonjours vde are to press on with Varre Lepage, whe is now much stronger and better One day misses. and on the following morning Jaspar Hume gives in- structions to Gasper Toujours and Jeff Hivde and makes preparations for his going back. He ts standing in the Barracks Square. when a horseman rides In and in- quires of a sercean! stonding near if Varre Ts has arrived at the Fort. A few words bring out the fact that Rese Lepage is ne the Fort erom the sou'h, Being determined to come on from Shovanne to mea her husband. The trooper thinks she is now about eight or ten miles away. but ts not sure. He had been gent on ahead the day before, but his horse having met with a slight accident, he had been delayed. He had seen the party. however, a long distance back in the early morning. He must now ride a y and meet Mrs. Lepage, he said. He was furnished with a fresh horse and he left, bearing a message to the loyal wife from Varre Lepage. . Jaspar Hume decided to leave Fort Edmonton at once and take all the White Guard back with him. and he gave orders to that effect. He entered the room where Varre Lepage alone and said: “Varre Lepage. the time nas come for ws to say good-by. I am starting at once for Fort Providence.” But the other repl.cd: “Yeu will wa't until my wife comes. was pain in his voice. “I must not.” Varre Lepage braced himself for a heavy imsk and said: “Jaspar Hume, if the time has come to say &% i-by. ic has also come when we should speak together for once openly; to settle, in so far as can be done a Img account. You have not let my wife know wae saved me. That appears from her letters. She asks the name of my I have net yet teld her. But she will know that to- day. when I tel! her “When you tell ber “When I tell ber al “put you shall not de at” “T will. It will be the beginning of the confession which I shan afterward make to the world.” “By H n carriers. You must.” Thre scuer at | aed ali net do it. Coward! Would you wreck her life ?”* Jaspar > sthful and remained so till the other sank back in the chair wrecomp pase! ead in his hands; but it sefiened a s he saw this remorse and shame. see that Varre Lepage had not clearly grasped the whole situation. aks ynecth eter, but still firm tones: “No, Lepage, that matter fs between us ie te gre : e« must never know—the world therefore must never know. ate ERG . ae : 1; you are suffering a manly remorse. Now let it onl oe ~ an it s 1° he said in fierce tones as the other snook his head here—but = - would have let you d t Manitou Mour if I haa thought you pacep eed to take away your wife's peace—your children’s respect.” wou = P . ae dren; our baby died. iceet ~ shang n softened. “Can you not see, Lepage? The thing cannot De mended.” Just then his hand touched the book that he still carried in his bosom, and as if his mother Ind whispered to him, he continued: “T bury ft all, and so must you. You will begin the world again—old friend—and so shall L ll ~ THE MARCH OF THE WHI TE GUARD. Keep your wife's love and respect. Henceforth you will deserve it.” Varre Lepage reised moist eyes to the other and said: “But you will take back the money I got fo- that!” There was a pause. .hen Jaspar Hume replied: “Yes, upon such terms. a and conditions as I shall hereafter fix. And you have no child, Lepage?” ne eentiy added. “We have no child: it died with my fame.” Jaspar Hume looked steadily into the eyes of the man who had wronged him. “Remember. Verre. you begin the world again. I am going now. Py the mem ry of old days. good-by.” and he held out his hand. Varre Lepag> tok it 2 ful iose tremblingly to his feet. and said: “You are a good man. JaspT ifume. The Sub. “Tf it will please you, tell your wife that perlaps I would rathes— vt mst it would Pesse! out into the heat of sarchine that et tutes) at the door 1 , ene will tell her be mere torus. f ad its Ile SRO Deets cired ote che room and fell across the figure of Varre Lepaze. wro sat and aaid dreamily ‘And begin the world aguin.” a tetore Jaspar Hume m +d. almost immediately after, to {an the White Guard wow weady fo the ¢ ¥y back, Jacques sprang upon bim 191 pasacl ts Ami wnce again, and for .7e mst time that we “its ad reht, Jacques.” nerth again. As they were doing so a shadow sRuniiacht that streamed upon Var.e Lepage. He looked up. There ed erv of j in Answering exclamation of love, and Kese Lepage was locked in ber hu<band’s arms A few moments afier and the wie rode away to the orth as I came up. Varre? but 1 can’t think -who it is leader of nese 2K i teeters heart Jaspar Hu And then they fell across ahali hear it, sod da for the start Was a stur swWeet-faced woman said: “Who wes that man He reminded me of some one, “That woes thre . - Guard, the man whe sive] me, my wife, He paused a moment and then emmy seid) “That man was Jaspar Humet The wife reee toe Ber feet with a spring. “He sived you! He saved yout Jaspar Mume’—oh. Varre!”" “He dome. Rosset Her eves were weet “And he would rot stay od bt me tuunk him' Poor fx lhow sor Jaspar—Hume! Has he then b 'p thee ten years?” lier "was flushed and puin was stru With the joy she feit in seeing ber husband aztin “Yes. he has been up here all that « “Li 2 succeeded { life, Var her thoughts went back to the for health’s sake, and she ve felt for him, and how grieved she was Uhat when b ng and weil he did not come near her or her husband, and offered no congratula had not de rately wrenged him She did not new he wished her to be his wife She knew he cared for her; but so did Varre Lepage A promise had bee siven Us neither when Jaspar Hume went away; anc after that she grew to love the suecessful, kind-mannered genius who became her husband Even in this happiness of bers, sitting once again at her husband's feet, she thought with a tender and clowing kindness of the man who had cared fos her eleven years ago, and who bad but now saved her husband. “He has mot s seeded in life.” she repeated softly. Lovking down at her, his brow burning with a white beat, Varre Lepage said, “He is a great man. my wife “Tam sure he is a good man,” she added, Perhaps Varre Lepage had berrowal secne strencth from Jaspar Hume, for be said almost sternly, “He is a great man.” His wife looked up half-startied at his tone, and said: “Yes, dear, he is a g00d man—and @ creat man.” The surlicht still came in through the open deor. The Saskatchewan flawed swiftly beliween its verdant banks, an eagle went floating away to the west, robins made vocal a solitary tree a few yards away. troopers moved back and forward across the square, and a hen and her chickens came fluttering to the thresbold. The wife looked at the yellow brood drawing close to their mother ani her eyes crew wistful. She thourht of their ane baby asleep in an English srave. But thinking of the words of the captain of the White Guard, Varre Lepage said “We will begin the world again, my wife. She smiled gud rose to kiss his forehead, as the hen and chickens hastened a@way from the door, and «a ciear bute unded in the square. “Yes, dear,” she said, “we will bein the world again.” ° - - . - - - Fea? : and it, Juspar Hu Sorry them »s away 1s. She CHAPTER Vi. Eleven Years / ater. LEVEN years have gone since that scene was «enacted at E Imonton, and the curtain rises for the last act of that drama of Life which is con- nected with the brief history of the White Guard. A great gathering is dispersing from a hail in Piccadilly. It has been drawn tocether to do honor to a man who has achieved a tré- umph in engineering science. As he steps from the platform to go he is greeted by a fusiliade of cheers. He bows calmly end kindly. He is a man of vigorous yet reserved aspect; he has a mre individu ali:y. He receives with a quiet cordiakty the congratulations of his friends. H-- remains for some time in conversntion with a royal Duke, who takes his arm and with him passes into the street. The Duke is a member of this great mans club, and offers him a Feat in his breugham. Amid the cheers of the People they drive away together. Inside the club there are fresh congratulations, and it is Proposed to arrange an impromptu dinner, at which the Duke will preside. But with modesty and honest thanks the great man declines. He pleads an engagement. He had pleaded tims engagement the day befure to a well-known society. After his health ts proposed he makes his adieus, and leaving the club. walks away toward a West End square In one of its streets he pauses and enters a building called “Providence Chambers.” His servant hands him a cablegrum. He passes te his library, and standing before the fire, opens it. It reads: “My wife and I ecnd congratulations to the great man.” Jaspar Hume stands for a moment looking at the fire, and then says simply: “I wish my poor old Jacques were here.” He then sits down and writes this letter: “My Dear Friends—Your cablegram has made me glad. The day is over. My last idea was more successful than I even dared to hope: and the world has been kind I went down to see your boy. Jaspar. at Clifton last week. It was the 13th. his birthday. vou know: ten years o'd: and a clever, strong-minded little felow. He is quite contented. As ne Is my god-child, I again 1imed the right of putting a thousand dollars to his credit in the bank —I have to speak of doltars to you people living tn Canad T have done on his every birthday. When he is twenty-one he will ha ity-one theusand doNars—quite enough for a start in life. We get along well together, and I think he wil develop a fine facuity for science. In the summer. as I said. I will bring him ever to vou There is nothing more to say to-night except that I am as always, “Your faithful friend, “JASPAR HUME.” ished the servant entered and announced “Mr. Late Carscalien”” With a «mile and hearty greeting the great man and this member of the White Guard meet. It was to en‘ertain his old Arctie comrade that Jaspar Hume had declined to be entertained by soc.ety or club. A little while after, seated at the table, the ex-Sub-Fact or suid: “You found your brother well, Carscaliien?”’ The Jaws moved slowly as of old. “Ay, that. and a gtand minister, Captain,” “He wanted you to stay in Scotland, I suppose.” “Ay, that; but there's no place for me ke Fort Providence.” “Try this pheasant. And vou are Sub-P- . Carscanen!” “There's two of us Sub-Factors—Jemr Hy nd myself. Mr. Field fs old and can’t do muc ork. and trade is heavy now.” “Yee; I bh from the Factor now and then. And Ge=epe Toujours?” “He went away three years ago, but he said he'd come back. He never aia though. Jeff Hyde believes he will. He says to me a hundred times: ‘Carscalien, he made the sign of the cross that he'd come back frig St. Gabrie ie, and that’s next to the Fook with a Papist ‘s alive he'll cx ‘eo 1d-in-the-Sky 7 “Perhaps he will, Carscalle “He's still there. and comes es with Jeff Hyde and me, as he used to do with you, sir: but he doesn y our orders as he did those of tne Captain of the White Guard. He said to when I left. ‘You see Strong-back, tell him Cloud-in-the-Sky good Indian—he never forget. How! " Jaspar Ifume raised his glass with «emfling and thoughtful eyes: “To Cloud-ine the-Sky and all who never forget!” he said. (The End.) A moment after the letter was fin The next SATURDAY’S NOVFL, the fifth of ) this interesting series of complete stories given with the Saturday EVENING WORLD, wilil be ‘‘ The Lottery Ticket,’’ a great detective siory by F- Du Boisgoley, the French Conan Doyle-