The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-10-23

the fact to him before unknown, that she
was the niece of his mean antagonist, and, be
ing a gentleman, 50 redoubled his attentions
an his courtesy that Mrs. Plodgitt made up
hei ,oind that it was foregone conclusion,
and seriously reflected as to what she should
wear on the momentous occasion, But that
night poor Carmen cried herself TO sleep, re-
solving that she would hereafter cast aside
her wicked uncle for this good-hearted
Americana yet never once connected her IN
nocent penmanship with the deadly feud be
tween them. Women-the best of them-are
strong as to collateral facts, swift OF deduc-
ton but vague as children are to the exact
statement or recognition of premises. 1t Is
hardly necessary to say that Carmen had
never thought of connecting any act of hers
with the claims of her uncle and the circum-
stance of the signature she had totally for
gotten.
The masculine reader will now understand
Garments confusion and bushes, and believe
himself an ass to have thought them con-
fesson of original affection, The feminine
reader WILL by this time become satisfied
that the deceitful minx's sole idea was to gain
the affections of Thatcher, And really |
don't know who is right.
Nevertheless, she painted q sketch for
Thatchcr-which now adorns the company
Office in San Francisco, in which the property
is laid out III pleasing geometrical lines, and
the rosy promise of the future instinct in
every touch of the brush. Then, having
earned her wage as she believed, She be-
came somewhat cold and shy to Thatcher,
Whereat that gentleman redoubled his atten-
tons, seeing only in her presence a certain
meprisc, which concerned her more than him
self The niece of his enemy meant nothing
more To him than an interesting glrl-tO DO
protected always-to be feared, never But
even suspicion may be insidiously placed in
noble minds
Mistress Plodsitt, thus early stopped of
matchmaking of course put the blame on her
own sex, and went over to the stronger side
the mans.
Its great pity gals should be so curious"
She said, soto voce, to Thatcher, when Car
men was in one of her sullen moods. yet |
sposc it's in her blood. Them Spaniards is
always rcvcngcful-liic the Eyetalians.'
Thatcher honestly looked his surprise.
"Why. don't you see, she's thinking how all
these lands might have been her uncle's but
for you And instead of trying to be sweet
and" here she stopped to cough.
Good God!' said Thatcher, in great con-
Germ, II never thought of that He stopped
for a moment and then added with decision;
a can't believe it; it isn't like her"
Mrs. F. was piqucd She walked away, de-
liyering, however, this Parthian arrow:
swell, hope taint nothing ,rorSe."
Thatcher chucked, then felt uneasy. When
he next met Carmen she found his gray eyes
fixed on hers with a curious, half-inquisi-
torial look she had never noticed before. This
only added fuel to the fire. Forgetting their
relations of host and guest, she was abst)-
lutely rude. Thatcher was quiet but watch
full got the Plodgitt to bed early, and, under
cover Of showing moonlight view of the
Lost Chance Mill" decoycd Carmen out of
earshot, as far as the diSmantled furnace
"What is the matter, Miss De Haro; have
offended your
Miss Carmen was not aware that anything
was the matter If Don Royal preferred OLE
friends, whose loyalty of course he knew, and
uho were ADORE speaking III against a
gentleman in his adrersity-toh, Garment
fieD if he preferred their company to Iate,.
tI'icnds-why the masculine reader will OBJ
serve this tremendous climax and tremble)-
why she didn't know why he should blame
her
They turned and faced each other. Tie
conditions for perfect misunderstanding
could not have been better arranged between
two people. Thatcher was n masculine rca-
soner, Carmen feminine feeler--if | may be
paldoued the expression. Thatcher wanted
to get Mt certain facts and argue thercfrom
Carmen wanted to get at certain feelings and
then fit thcfacts to them.
But am not blaming you, Miss Carmen"
he said gravely. at pus stupid in mo to con
front you here with the property claimed by
your uncle AMI occupied by me, but it was a
mistakc-no!' he added hastily, ut was not
a mistake You knew it and didn't You
overlooked it before you came, and was too !
glad TO overlook it after you were here"
"Of course" said Carmen pettishly, II am
the only one to be blamed. It's like you meni
Mem. She was just fifteen, and uttered this
awful resume of experience just rs if it hadn't |
been taught TO her in her cradlcJ
Feminine generalites always staGger a
man. Thatcher said nothing. Carmen be-
came moro enraged.
"Why did you want to take Uncle Victor's |
property, them she asked trumphantly.
~ don know that it is your unclc's prop
erty"
Eou-don't-know! Have you seen the |
application with Governor MiChcltorena's |
Endorsement: Have you heard the wit
neSScs." she said passionatcly.
signatures may be forged and witnesses
lie" said Thatcher quietly.
What is it You call forged"
Thatcher instantly recalled the fact that |
the Spanish language held no synonym for |
forgery" The act was apparently an inven- |
ton of 81 Diablo Americana. SO he said, |
with n slight smile in his kindly eye:
"Anybody wicked enough and dexterous |
enough can initiate anothers handwriting. |
When this is used to benefit fraud we call it |
1 h,y your Me- nn Iyn,.,