San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-12-03

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which she was best suited. Society had
no right to prescribe her lines. How
could the world know whether she
would fit into any one of its dull, accus-
toned grooves? How can the world
know that of any of us? He would
have been glad to have fewer lines him
self.
Ogden Chalmers was probably no bet
ter and no worse than other men, and he
had never preached high standard of
morality for the guidance of others. He
was content to take men and things as
he found them. Yet he felt strange
repugnance when the necessity present
ed itself of going to this womans house.
Already he had associated her in his
mind with Georges downfall, and as the
chief cause thereof; and as the cause
likewise of the disgrace that had come
upon them all. Toward the woman her
self he felt dull anger, more because
she had crossed the clean, white path
way of Lima Tenants life than for
aught else.
He expected to find her coarse and
loud and probably insolent. He would
make his business brief and be done
with her.
81 don't think shall detain you long,"
he said at once when she came into the
room where he waited. 81 am Ogden
Chalmers, and have come to make you
a plain statement and proposal. My
brother is in prison and mainly through
you. (At this the woman demurred by
a negative gesture and tried to speak,
but Chalmers stopped herr 1t is my
purpose to have him released, if it can
be accomplished, as soon as possible,
but only upon one condition" At this
the woman looked up curiously and he
continued: "That condition is that there
shall never be any chance of his meeting
you again. If you consent to this am
willing to pay you well, more than you
could possibly make out of him." he
added sneeringly.
"And if do not consentT
"Then l shall have to cease my efforts
for his release"
"You are very hard" she whimpered.
81 care so much for him, and then
never to see him again"
"Stop," said Chalmers. 81 will not
listen to such stuff. You cared for him
for the money you could get out of him,
and tell you that is at an end now"
"You don't believe, then, that could
care for him disinterestedly as an honest
woman would-say as Miss Tenant
wouldY'
Chalmers flushed Indignantly at this
use of Miss Tenants name.
1--WE will not discuss that lady," he
said briefly.
"You may mott WILL" said the WON
an defiantly. II have seen her; she is
very beautiful. grant you that; and
she thinks she cares for him. But she
did not know how to keep him by her,
and if she knew of me she would never
forgive him. That is how she cares.
But would forgive him everything.
81 told you that l would not discuss
that" said Chalmers. II will make
you proposal. If you will go to Eu-
rope at once and stay there, you shall be
paid five thousand dollars every year
But if you ever come back, if You hold
any intercourse with him, if you let
him know where you are, this shall stop
and at once. | want to make sure that
he will never see you again. Do you
consent?
There was perhaps needless brutality
in Chalmers words and manner, and
there was an angry CLEAN in her eyes as
she answered:
"You make very hard conditions, but
will do it for his sake"
Put it as you WILL" answered her
companion coldly, "only so that you do
it. 1t is settled, them"
She nodded at him by way of reply.
Every well, them" he said, rising to
go. my lawyer will call on you in the
morning and complete all arrange
ments."
From there Chalmers went at once to
Lima Tenants, feeling the while that it
was almost crime to go from so I'M
clean presence into the circle of her
pure life.
She met him, and put out both her
hands impulsively. He took them in his
and held them just an instant, but long
enough for the girl to become conscious
of the intensity of his clasp and for that
consciousness to mirror itself in her
face.
Il SHALL go to Columbus tonight" he
said. 81 came only to tell you that. l
have done what l could today, but am
afraid it is not much"
Then he told her what he had done.
That he had seen Rodney and some other
of the directors of the bank. That he
had also conferred with Georges attor-
neys; had called upon some old and in
fuential friends of his own and secured
letters to the governor, which he should
lnrnsnlnt il, lnnran1l tnInnrrnIIr Not 1-o,.I.