Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1889-05-10

It not be best for us to consider the con
versation at an end and your proposal de
clinedY'
Il would rather hear your reasons fol-
declining it plainly. sir" said Jim, will
admirable GOODNESS.
is that so?' asked Mr.. Earle
Yes. SIR" returned Jim, that is So"
Then must speak out" said the ole
man. with sort Of groan. He hate.
everything unpleasant, and made a rul,
of Sinking all disagreeables whenevel
possible We'll, Mr. Beresford, mus
tell You frankly that if You had come T.
me last autumn and asked for my daugh
ter, should. if my daughter had beei
willing. have considered yourself, YOU
family and your income perfectly desir
able and suitable match for her; but sine,
that time great deal has happene3
You, for instance. have been arresto
since then on a suspicion of murder"
Jim fairly staggered back as the worc
passed the old mans lips.
Mr.. Earle" he said, hoarsely, "yo.
don't-you surely can't believe that
committed that foul crimef"
If | believed it., Mr.. Earle answerc
Il should have asked you to go out of n
house some minutes ago. Yet there is
fact-you were arrested on suspicion, an
a verdict of willful murder against som,
person or persons unknown is returned
Do you not see that until the case is 81
at rest one way or the other, you are noi
and never can be, free from suspicion? 4
any time it is liable to rise up against you
not mere suspicion, but hideous dan
ger which may overwhelm you! Do 20,
think, Mr.. Beresford, that could o.
would let my young daughter 60 head
long into such danger as that? No, sir
thousand times, no; and let me tell yo,
that although l may have antiquate,
ideas Of love and honor, think you show
your wish to love and honor her very
poorly indeed by even dreaming-dream
ing of subjecting her to even a remot,
chance of such misfortune"
Beautiful Jim looked as he felt, more
staggered than ever; and, worst of all, liz
felt that from his point of view the ole
man was right
You are right, SIR" no said. IL
knowing my own innocence-forgot that
all the world did not know it also d.
you mind telling me one thing-suppost
that this mystery is ever cleared up, ant
Miss Earle is still willing to be my wife
will you give your consent them
Certainly will, the old man replied
"And you will not forbid mo to SEE
herr Jim pleaded.
81 will not forbid you. Mr. Beresford
No. on the contrary. | will show you
willingly that trust you as an honorable
gentleman. by simply asking you not tc
attempt to marry her without my permits
sion. and not to compromise her by being
seen about with her II she likes to cor
respond with you, well and good. If yor
care to come hero now and again. wber
you are in town. will not prevent it Of
forbid it. dare say, under the circum
stances, this is q somewhat unusual yea,
of proceeding: but have always giveI
my daughter the most absolute trust anC
she is worthy Of it in every way be
.ieve you to DO innocent and believe yor
20 be honorable, for sec you had moi
thought Of the danger to which such {
marriage would expose her-so l viii
trust you also"
Mr.. Earle" said Jim, holding out hi.
hand. this has been an awful blow Il
me-one l never expected. But you hav,
spoken to me fairly and well, and thanl
you You may depend that will nevel
betray your trust. Miss Earle shall be q.
safe from any persuasions of mine as if
were Malay Indian and could not speal
q word of English"
1T may oil work out smooth enough,
the old man said. kindly.
But Jim shook his head. Il have very
little hope of it, SIR" he answered, sadly
II have very little hope Of it; but thanl
you all the same for the consolation"
After a moment of silence Mr. Earl,
spoke again.
MY daughter must be told" no said
uneasily "She Is SO sensible, SO clea
headed, that feel sure she will see per
fectly the advisability of the objection, O.
rather stumbling block, which have beef
compelled to raise. But it will DO a sat
blow to her. fear, poor child, and-well
really. Beresford, on the whole think tn,
news had better come from YOU"
1t will DO o hard task for me-" sale
jim
Il don't doubt it," returned the ole
man, but the question is-from which
of us will she take it the best9 Sh,
will see then, even II she does not see il
already. that you are convinced Of tho
truth of what l urge; and-yes. think il
eAshe oCeeS" SOAAo lTOA yOu, OcLcSlOfu,
do, indeed. l will go out and lunch a
you may tell her and get it over. Yes
that will be the best, l am sure. You see
my dear fellow. / trust to your honor alb
solutely."
Before Jim could say word against thi.
plan tho old gentleman had shaken his
hand again. and had slipped out of the
CO h y,HA H. l..k A. al
tho meeting with Nancy and the neces
sary disclosures which it would entail
with the best grace that he could.
Not that no waited very long; he heart
the hall door close behind the master Of
the house, and then. as Nancy did no,
come, he rang the bell and asked thu
servant who came In answer to his sum
mons II he would ask Miss Earle to b.
good enough to see him. And in less thar
two minutes she camc-with her doves
eyes oil alight with love and the sweetest
and brightest smile upon her ips-th,
lips that were his and yet not his.
"Wells" sho said. gayly. as she crossed
tho room to his side.
Beautiful Jim took her outstretched
hand in his.
MY dearest, I am afraid I have thu
most sorry news for you," he said
humbly.
Sorry newss" sharply. Then. wher,
Is my fatherf"
HE has left ne to tell you-gons t.
his club"
ITO tell me-whatf"
For moment Jim could hardly speak
ITO tell you that our engagement i,
impossible; for the present, at least" hs
answered, with an effort.
Father said thatf But whyf What
do you mean, Jim-that he refuses?'
cat present"
"At present-ohi do tell mo the wors,
at once. What do you mean by ct pres
entf"
my dearest, your father is quite right
though it is hard upon us, said Jim
gently. "He does not forget that I have
been arrested on suspicion of murder
and that while the affair remains q mys
terry, am not free from further suspi
cion."
"But he does not believe 1t, surely,
she cried, with blazing eyes and lips
tightly compressed.
"No, he does not believe it, thank God. .
Jim replied quickly
But If he does not believe It, why lei
II affect us?" she exclaimed. II Fave
never known my father influenced by the
opinion Of others in oil my life, never
And to think that he should begin to be
50 when the consequences are so serious
for me. is too hard-it's too hardl''
But you don't understand" said Jim
gently. ut Is not the opinion of Others
he is thinking Of at all-only, that as
am not cleared yet, the suspicion might
at any time rise up against me and over
whelm both of u.s."
But You are innocent"
Innocent men have been hanged be-
foro today. my darling. and your father
feels it," said he, more full Of pity fol