Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1890-04-03

led Iris to leave London and had brought
her to visit him in his clearinghouse at
Ardoon?
81 wanted to get away from home" she
answered: land having nobody to go to
but my godfather, thought should like
to see you"
"Alone." cried Sir Giles.
"NO-with my maid to keep me Con-
pany."
"Only your maid, Iriss Surely you have
acquaintance among young ladies like
yourself!''
'.Acquaintances-y No friends"
Does YOUR father approve OF what you
have done."
will You grant me favor, godpapa-"
"Yes-if can"
Don't insist on my answering your last
question"
The faint color that had risen in her
face when she entered the room left it.
mouth altered. The lips closed firmly, re-
vealing that strongest of all resolutions
which is founded on keen sense of wrong.
She looked older than her age; what she
might be ten years hence she was now.
Sir Giles understood her. He got up and
took turn in the room. An old habit, Of
which he had cured himself with infinite
difficulty when he was made Knight,
showed itself again. He put his hands in
his pockets.
You and your father have had anoth-
er quarrel" he said, stopping opposite
Iris
81 don't deny it." she replied.
s'Who is to blame."
She smiled bitterly. ''The woman Is al
ways to blame"
Ibid your father tell you that"
My father reminded me that I was
twenty-one years old last birthday-and
told me that could do as liked. un-
derstood him, and left the house"
You will go back again, suppOse?"
81 don't know"
Sir Giles began pacing the room once
more. His rugged face, telling its story Of
disaster and struggle in early life, showed
signs Of disappointment and distress.
Hugh promised to write to me-" he
said. land he has not written. l know
what that means; know what you have
done to offend your father. My nephew
has asked you to marry him for the second
time. And for the second time you have
refused"
Her face softened: its better and young
er aspect revived. Yes" she said, sadly,
and submissively; 81 have refused him
again"
Sir Giles lost his temper "what the
devil is your objection to Hugh!" he burst
orr
my father said the same thing to me-"
she replied, almost in the same words.
i Luduc Hlul duSIy Wucu L tEl00 " give
my reason. don't want to make you an
gry, too"
He took no notice of this. 'Isn't Hugh
q good fellow" he went on. isn't he
affectiOnate and kindhearted and honOra-
ble-aye, and a handsome man, too. if you
come to thats'
Hugh is all that you say. like him; I
admire him: owe to his kindness some
of the happiest days of my sad life, and
am grateful-oh, with all my heart,
am grateful to Hugh"
IF that's true, Iris"
every word of it is true"
81 say, if that's true-there's no excuse
for you! l hate perversity in young wO-
man. Why don't you marry hims"
TRY to feel for me-" she said, gently
can't love him.
Her tone said more to the banker than
her words had expressed. The secret sor-
row of her life, which was known to her
father, was also known to Sir Giles.
Now we have come to it at 1aSt?' he
said. You can't love my nephew Hugh.
And you won't tell me the reason why.
because your sweet temper shrinks from
making me angry. Shall l mention the
reason for you, my dear? / can do 1t in
two words-Lord Harry"
She made no reply-she showed no sign
OF feeling what he had just said. Her
head sank little; her hands clasped them
selves on her lap: the obstinate resignation
which can submit to anything, hardened
her face. stiffened her figure-and that
was all"
The banker was determined not to spare
her
'It's easy to see," he resumed, chat you
have not got over your infatuation for that
vagabond yet. Go where he will. into the
vilest places and among the lowest people.
he carries your heart along with him. I
wonder you are not ashamed Ct such an
attachment as that"
He had stung her at last. She reused
herself, and answered him.
Harry has led wild life." she said;
"he has committed serious faults, and he
may live to do worse than he has done
yet. To what degradation bad company
and bad bringing-up may yet lead him
leave his enemies to foresee. But tell
you this, he has redeeming qualities which
you; and people like y9n. are not good
friends who can still appreciate him-your
nephew, Arthur Mountjoy, is one of them.
Oh, know it by Arthur's letters to mel
Blame Lord Harry as you may, tell you
he has the capacity for repentance in him,
and one day-when it is too late, dare
wife. We are parted, never in all hkeli-
hood to meet again. Well, he is the only
man whom have ever loved: and he is
the only man whom ever shall love. II
you think this state of mind proves that
am as bad as he is, won't contradict you,
Do we any of us know how bad we arei-
Have you heard of Harry latelyi"
The sudden transition, from an earnest
and devoted defense Of the man, to an easy
and familiar inquiry about him, startled
Sir Giles.
For the moment he had nothing to say;
Iris had made him think. She had shown
q capacity for mastering her strongest
fQaliO OF n tho mi vrhon hnr q =
ened to overcome her, which is very rare
ly found in young woman. How to
manage her was q problem for patient
resolution to solve. The bankers obsti-
macy, rather than his conviction, had en-
Outraged him to hold to the hope of Hugh's
marriage, even after his nephew had been
refused for the second time. His head
strong goddaughter had come to visit him
of her own accord. She had not forgotten
the days of her childhood, when he had
some influence over her-when she had
found him kinder to her than her father
had ever been. Sir Giles saw that he had
taken the wrong tone with Iris. His an
ger had not alarmed her; his opinion had
not influenced her. In Hugh's interests
he determined to try what consideration
and indulgence would do towards culti-
waiting the growth Of her regard for him.
Finding that she had left her maid and
her luggage at the hotel, he Hospitality :
insisted on their removal to his own house.
while you are in Ardoon, Iris, you are
my guest, he said.
She pleased him by readily accepting
the invitation-and then annoyed him by
asking again II he had heard anything Of
Lord Harry.
He answered. shortly and sharply: 81
have heard nothing. What il your Last
news of himf"
'News," she said, (which I sincerely
hope IL not true. An Irish paper has been
sent to me which reports that he has
Joined the secret society-nothinR better
than society of assassins, am afraid
which II known by the name Of tho In
vincibles"
Az she mentioned that formidable broth.
erhood, Dennis HoWmore returned from
the police ONCE. He announced that .
Sergeant WAS then waiting to receive in
Stxuctions fRom Sir GIlea,
I1sss osst'assal