Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1892-04-28
CHAPTER VI.
DISOwEED.

DIsowNED.
II cannot T dare not tell you!"
The words seemed to sound doom,
disaster to all Ruth Elliott's hopes-the
despairing misery in Paul Dalton's eyes
! crushed her.
She had pleaded for an answer to that
wild appeal, to know if he was innocent
or guilty, for the sake of the love that
was breaking her poor, anxious heart,
and he had replied to her thus!
The clinging hands relaxed with a
shudder Terror in her eyes, she sur
! veyed him in dubious dread
oh, my love-" she walled brokenly,
you cannot mean that the cruel words
Ralph Prescott spoke are true!" He
said you were-
AN ex-convict!" cried Paul, the jar
ing dissonance of tortured accents in
his tones. Did he not also say that he
could prove it, and The laughed
harshly, bitterly-aI am powerless to
refute him."
Ruth's eyes distended with shivering
anxiety.
Then it is true?" she gasped.
He grasped her hands suddenly. He
| looked down into her shrinking eyes
with that earnest impressiveness that
told that falsehood could never actu-
ate it,
They said I was a thief" he began.
"Oh, that know is false!"
"They make another charge, Ruth.
What | have feared has come. Better
| for your sake, better for the sake Of
those you love, better for myself, that
we part here and now. Let the past en-
gulf all this mystery, mystery [ dare
not explain. Forget me, forget it all.
Good-by."
"You are innocent. Oh! I see it in
your face. I read it in your patient,
suffering eyes. Leave you-forget you?
Do you value a true woman's love so
lightly as that? Speak, Paul! conjure
you. Give me the one assurance my
torn heart Graves. Only say that you
are innocent, and though they pile proof
mountain high, I will see your brave
face shining, serene, defiant, above it
ALL"
Paul Dalton's pale, undecided features
showed that he was suffering intensely.
Ruth, he said calmly, at last, sup
pose this man Prescott, who hates me
so, should prove that one Paul Dalton
was imprisoned for forgery, filled hide
Gus convict's cell; suppose the records
evidence it, the testimony of others APP
parently verities it, and I, unable to dis
prove it, unwilling to lift the veil of a
mystery that would wreck lives I hold
precious, should deny it, simply deny it,
and say to you, face to face, heart to
heart, it is cruel lie, what would you
say?"
With a wild cry of JOY, of perfect con-
fdence, the fair young girl buried her
face on his shoulder.
"Only say that" she breathed fer
vently, "only tell me that you are inno-
cent"
1T is true-but there all explanation
must cease. Even to you, the woman I
love, 1 dare not explain mystery that
links my life to gloom and doubt. My
lips are sealed"
But, surely"
"The veil will lift?-yes, spoke Paul,
bitterly. when heart of iron wills
it-when he-no, have said too much.
To the censor of my fate, to the keeper
for justice. If 1 fail-good-by In a
month I will return, if the CALLING
chains can be unlinked."
"A month"; cried Ruth shudderingly.
do you know what that will mean-do
you realize that my father, iron willed,
resolute, will by that time make me the
the wife of the man whom you and
know to have caused all this trouble?"
He would not press the sacrifice-oh,
surely, never!" painted Dalton, his eyes
flashing Indignantly. He would not
doom you, his darling child, to loveless
existence 1t shall not bel cannot
lose you'll will not see you bound to
wretchedness unutterable. Ruth, will
clear up this mystery-I will stand in
nocent before the world; but if l lose
yOu-
There was the interruption Of passing
pedestrians, and they crossed the grove.
Toward the distant town their feet
strayed, he talking earnestly, she cling
ing to his words and suggestions, trem-
bling, fearful, as she realized that, once
parted, once her fathers resolute will
was carried out, their future happiness
was doomed.
She sped home an hour later, fright
ened, anxious look in her young face.
She gained the house unobserved.
For his sake!" she murmured. HE is
innocent; he loves me. He has gone to
clear his name-to remove the stain Of
shame and mystery. When they know,
l must endure the blow. It was right
it was the only way; and I love him so
Il love him SOL"
Affairs seemed to come back to their
usual routine within the course of the
next few days.
There was q settled cloud on Farmer
Johns brow, but it was one of suspicion
and watchfulness alone and it became
less dense as he seemed to be convinced
at last that Paul Dalton had left the vi
entity for good, and that Ruth was get
ting over her foolish fancy for him.
Ralph Prescott did not worry Ruth
with either taunts or attentions.
There was a new light in the girls
eyes that he did not like-a definite con-
seriousness of security, mute defiance
that made him restless.
He was content to await the develop
ments of the case, and they came quickly.
Farmer John was obdurate, once an
idea got into his stubborn head.
He made long call on Geoffrey
Forsythe; he was Thoughtful, preoccupied
all one day. At eventide, as Ruth Pres
colt and himself were seated in the
IL l.