Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-02-16

"Immediately to get into this cart. I
have little business affair to settle with
you.'
Her voice was commanding, and the
words fell from her lips like clean, crisp,
sharply-cut coins.
Fairfax saw there was nothing else to do
but obey. With eyes fastened upon the
ground, with laggard steps and silent as
the grave, he slowly took his seat by Lydia's
side.
He knew he was taken wholly at disad-
vantage; beside he had by no means recov-
cred from the shock of the last scene with
Natalie He seemed to have lost control
over his wits; to be utterly powerless to
cope with even child, much less a woman
of the mental caliber of Lydia, whose feel
ings were stirred to the utmost; whose
faculties were at their brightest and
zeenest; who also seemed to have them
under perfect control. There was remain
ing to him mind enough to know that
silence was his strongest hold, until those
scattered senses of his could be collected.
He had offered to take the reins as he en-
tered, feeling that, as a woman, with her
fingers occupied with fancy work, has the
advantage over an awkward youth who
seems unable to dispose of his hands; so he,
with the reins, could much better gain his
self-control while Lydia would be more apt
20 lose hers.
81 prefer to drive, myself, sir,'' she re-
piled with dignity.
Then the suppressed fires of her anger
famed forth.
Are you professional brigandl Pos
Sibly, this is the usual way with American
gentlemen; their method of protesting de-
votion, chivalry and all that is noble. Are
courtships commonly conducted in this
manner, in this model Republic of yoursl''
Fairfax answered nothing.
He was now gaining ground, and she rap
idly losing. If she would only persist in
keeping up this TRADE, he soon would have
the upper hand.
In my country" continued she, in those
icy, cutting tones, "when a gentleman pro-
fesses to know nothing about woman and
to care less, we hardly look to see him, a
day or two afterwards, run away with her
IN a manner befitting a barbarian. Alto
gether, sir, you have placed yourself in a
position exceedingly unenviable, and have
lost the confidence of all respectable per-
sons''-Whom she meant by ''al respecta-
BILE persons was q trif1e uncertain.
Snow" said she, beginning to grow irri-
tated under Fairfax's persistent silence and
her failure to enrage him; ''now, sir, have
no time to waste with you in this matter;
nor do care so to do with man of the
vague ideas of right and wrong you seem to
possess" Her voice assumed a regretful
tone, tinged with shade of tenderness as
she proceeded ''There was time when
matters appeared differently she
turned and gave Fairfax sidelong glance
that presented a curious compound of shy
ness, scornful defiance, yet curiosity.
Fairfax, too, at this singular remark,
raised his eyes in an upward inquiring look.
What could she meant
Resumlng her chilling hauteur, she went
on:
~ shall not ask, nor do I care to know
your motives, or your course in this out
TageouS affair, this was a deliberate false
hood. She was burning with desire to learn
ut ALL want to tell you that Natalie must
be Immediately released and, what is more,
Sent safely back. Do you mean to say,
wretched fool! that you for moment sup
posed you could win her love in this way?
Even the most obtuse villain could not fail
to sec such thing We're impossible. And
I'm surprised that man of the cunning
which this performance of yours shows you
to possess, should fail to perceive itr
She continued for some time in this bit
ter, biting manner.
Meanwhile Fairfax was fast regaining
his old-tirne composure.
There was something about this strange
man that was irresistible. Even his silence
was often more effective than the words
of others. Lydia became conscious of this
powerful influence of his over her.
1t was the old story of the subtle strength
OF will which silently forces one person to
recognize another as his superior.
She tries TO lash up her anger, but only
succeeds in feeling her growing weakness
more and more.
Then she began to reflect. and, in an act
i've contest, reflection generally loses the
day What was this she was doingl Here,
in strange country, with a man she had
seen but once before, and on On errand
that few women would have dared, and
most women been ashamed to undertake..
She stole another glance at her compan.
Ion, and now began to notice that firm
hard mouth; those tightiy-compresse lips
and the stern, daring look about the face
After all, her knowledge of his character
was almost nothing. 1ne began to grow
alarmed.
Fairfax felt, rather than saw it all, and
suddenly leaned forward, with the remark
1--WE arc coming to q dangerous part o,