Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-06-01
housel l feel as il were an INTRUDER,
somehow"
"You are not. The favor is to him.
/ have his word for IL ~


She still fingered. "Mr. Barker, you
have been so kind and good. / wish l
could do something for you. Ii l can
ever. will you let mc?"
"Yes, Miss Ford"
Etlic left the Office with a queer dis.
satisfied feeling at her heart. Down
the browsing street, filled with lazy
shadows, she strolled. AS she turned
a corner she collded with rakish.
looking youth. He recovered himself
with an apology. There was such .
frank look in his bright, blue eyes,
that Efiic took to him at once. He nc.
companicd her as far as the gate
opened it, and, with bow, turned
toward the open plaza. "What a very.
very nice, accommodating boy" was
Ellie's mental comment.
She met the every nice boy fire..
quently after this. He was eighteen,
and quite idle. He obtained a conven.
tional introduction-Bcrt Gwynne was
his name-and he constituted himself
Eiliic's vcritable double. On the street.
at church, Mr.. Bert Gwynnc was al.
ways present, and he assumed the atti.
tude with such an of-course-it-is-agree.
able-to-you air, that Ellie became in.
censed, and determined to give him q
piece of her mind.
One day he commenced to poke fun
at "old Gabe Barker" Then the
dynamite exploded.
Hes not DID," she flashed.
"Forty If he's an hour" insisted the
provoking.
al say he is not" declared the frank
little lady. "Any how he's not pre-.
suming boy" great acrimony in the last
words
Hell make you marry him after a
while; now you see. He bought up ev-
cry one of those notes, cried the badly
conducted.
"What notesp Tell mer' Enie was
ahamc.
"Your fathers. Who do you sup
pose paid the debtsP Why, Gabe Bark
er, out of his own pocket. This very
house is his, !" continued he.
"You are wicked person, and dom
believe one word you say" burst Out
Efiie.
at isn't such a mighty thing aftel
all. I'd do ever so much more, Eflie
II you'd let me. But you called mt
presuming, and it made me angry"
80 you are. l hate you, and Tn
going this minute 10 Mr.. Barker" Sht
flung on her hat.
II wouldn't. Let it alone. He's
well able to do it if he wishes" Ber
thought he had never seen Eflie so dc
sirablo. as with that angry pout ant
the infinite air of scorn with which sht
regarded him.
"Mr. Barker. is it SOP Tell me.
will know" with tear-nushed face She
raided in on him. "They say that pap,
died-insolvent, and-and you bough
up his no'otes, and-tell mer' she i'm
plored passionatcly.
"Ellie, don't! you will be i'll. Who
told you such cruel things?" He shut
fled his papers in agitation.
"Bert Gwynnc. He says it is the tall
of the place, and"
Heavens! What has she almost said
Hell make you marry him after
while" He marry her! such an insig
niiicant nobody.
"Eilie, listen; am not going to den,
what have done"
"Then you did! ohr' She wen
down by the stiff old clients chair il
a heap. and hid her face in her hands
"Child, what could l do? The cred
itors threatened. There was nothing
to pay them, and you looked so littl
and helpless. Besides, it is only dis
charging an old obligation. You
father was very kind to mo when l wa
a poor lad. Ellie, don't be angry"
| (Sob, sob from the rounds of tn
chair.
as the house yours too?"
"By heavens, Eflie, if you ask me an
thing moro I'll deny every thing" des
perately.
Is it. I sayP" tcmpestuOusly.
"Yes."
| Gabrielle Barker was as ahashed as
| he had been confronted with selling i
legal whisky.
EDO you hold those notcsp"
| ("Confound thatmeddlesome Gwynn
boy; I'll thrash him tomorrow, if
live). Yes, Eflie, but they are yours
have left them to you in my will
Here they are" laying bundle in he
lap.
Take them away. / will not hav
them" she said excitedly. "Unless-
Mr.. Barker-you tell me how-I-can-
pay--you.n
"Will you. il 1 tell you, EllieP"
He opened his arms, and she crer
close to his heart, Whispering:
Eyes, Gabriel"
"How could you afford itP Didn't
take quantities of money!"
-"You remember an uncle who die
in California ayear agoP He left me
hundred thousand dollars. 1 hav
saved twenty-five thousand and tn
house; so you won't be quite destitute
sweetheart"
"Destitutep Sheba's queen was not 8
wealthy, She didn't own my Gabriel.
They were married in the morning
That evening, as they sat together i
the library (or they took no weddin
Journey, he leaned toward his whit
robed treasure.
"Efie, will you burn those notes fc
mep"
He kindled a bright blaze on the wild
hearth, and Ellie took the fat bund
and commenced, woman-like, to unit
it.
mo, nor he objected. "burn it so.
"But it will burn quicker" the will
full little fingers tugged at the string
81 desire yon not to open it, Ellie.
"But, Gabriel, will" Out droppc
a sealed letter, directed to "Miss Eff
Ford" Underneath was scrawle'
ITO be delivered in case of my death,
, The despoiling fingers closed upon
greedily.
i. mo, Efie," he pleaded.
Gabriel" solemnly, "listen, al
believe me; 1 shall never bo real
, happy unless l read this letter"
/ "Eve thought the same"
"Hush about Eve! nevor ate al
0 interdicted apples, and the nineteen
r century Eve deliberately seated herst
i to enjoy her forbidden fruit. 1t was
4 letter Of impassioned love. but just
l "a u A |. i 4 4 4