Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1892-04-28
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CHAPTER v.
DRIVEN FROM EDEN.

AS if he had been dealt a sudden and
terrible blow, as the vindictive Ralph
Prescott spoke those words, Paul Dalton
staggered under fearful shock.
His face became the color Of ashes,
his eyes expressed the wretchedness and
despair of man lost utterly, and, clutch
ing at chair for support, he gasped, in
a quivering, agOnized tone:
at has come at last. The blow has
fallen!"
Farmer John stared at him with Won
dering, half-beIieving face. Ruth, with
a little cry of terror, more at his bearing
than at the accusation, seemed unable
to rally from the shock it gave her.
Only the revengeful, excited Prescott
was alive to the real issue Of the mo-
ment.
DO you see?" he cried in jeering, ex
ultant tones He dares not deny it..
Let him dare say it amt true! I'll
prove what 1 say-IIl prove it now and
here
Il neither affirm nor deny it. Let me
pass"
The words were a sob. With dazed
eyes, his face a void of misery, Paul
Dalton CROPPED blindly for the door.
Through it he passed. Upon him it
closed. The crafty Prescott himself
was amazed. He had counted on tri-
umph, but the victory had come too easy
to him. The victim had submitted with
out struggle. He had not even afforded
him an opportunity to gloat over his
downfall.
Farmer John had sunk to chair,
fairly overcome He had housed not
only a thief, trifer with the affections
of his only child, but man reeking with
hn NJ hran lodi
with his hand against every man, and
every mans hand against his own!
Choking down her dread, her uncer-
tainty, her anguish, Ruth managed to
totter to her feet.
Father" she walled, II love him."
An awful frown darkened the brow Of
John Elliott.
"Silence!" he ordered sternly. Speak
that man, S name in my presence again
and I disown you. Meet him, even adj
dress single word to him. and l curse
you. And 1 trusted nina thief, con-
Wet"
1T is false. Father! father!" cried
Ruth, can you think it true when you
remember his goodness? His face is
not the face Of criminal, and his words
to me-oh! my heart is breaking, break
ing"
Why he did not even deny it" NUT
tered Elliott.
He dared not" burst out Prescott
Let him try it. 1 have man at the
village who knows him-was in the
same cell with him. He was Gagged for
forgery, and pleaded guilty to get a
light sentence. Well rid of him, Mr. Ell
lott. Lucky to get him away without
your throat cut or your house burned
over your head"
Ruth was sobbing piteously. A real
ization that her tears were shed for the
man he so hated nettled the spiteful
Prescott like an ox-gCa d.
And worse than all, he tried to steal
her away from me. He"
Enough of this, ordered Farmer
John, sternly. It's an experience I
shall profit by. I've heard of such viii
lains-robbing their benefactors, de-
luding silly girls. He's not the man to
leave US in peace, even after all the
trouble he has made. He'll hang
around and try to meet Ruth again, and
work on her sympathies, but there shall
be no such risk. Ruth, you know my
iron will. There will be no further de-
lay. Ralph, your marrying her was set
tied long ago"
"Father-
silence! My blessing or my curse
convict Or an honest man-take your
choice. You marry Ralph Prescott
within a week, or you leave my roof for
ever.
He lifted the crushed girl to her feet,
and led her from the room as he spoke.
Her sobs died away in the distance.
Grim-f faced, the Roman father in mien
and heart, he stood looking from the I'M
curtained window.
P,1, wiz %,.
umph, approached him, but he waved
him gloomily aside.
Paul Dalton crossed the broad stream
of lamplight east across the gravel path
a minute later.
His head was bowed, his face color
less.
Never word did he speak, never a
backward glance did he take, until he
had reached the stile.
His face was one great void OF de-
speir as he halted, and, turning slowly,
looked across the fair field and the
bright haven that was home to him no
more.
1t has come" he murmured, broken
". L might have known it. What
right had l to love, what right to drag
an innocent life to shame and sorrow?
And l dared not deny-I dared not
speak my promise, my oatn Wen, 1t is
only one more fetter to the heavy chain;
but she-it was no crime to love her
but heaven forgive me for the grief I
have brought to the woman whose love
was the one bright star of cherries
existence.
He turned to take the highway that
bounded the Eden of his dreams, but
paused suddenly.
From the hedge a woman's form had
futtered.
Her hands grasped his own spasmodi-
oally a minute later.
RUTH"
She swayed where she stood, her eyes
burning UP into his own
One word before you go, she walled,
piteously. Innocent or guilty-tel me
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