The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-06-21
HEARTS OF COLD;
The Heiress of Maple
Leaf Farm.
GENEVIEVE ULMER.
Or
CHAPTER Y.
DRIVEN FROM EDEN.


As If he had been dealt q 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 q man lost utterly, and, clutch
ing at chair for support, he gasped, In
. quivering, agonized tone:
1T has come at last. The blow has
Sallen!"
Farmer John stared at him with WON
dering, half believing face. Ruth, with
q little cry Of terror, more at his bearing
than at the accusation, seemed unable
10 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-
nltant tones. HE dares not deny it.
Let him dare say it amt truel I'll
prove what say-I'l prove it now and
here"
Il neither affirm nor deny it. Let me
pass"
The words were q sob. With dazed
ewes, his face void Of misery, Paul
Dalton groped blindly for the door.
Through It he passed. Upon him 1t
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 O thief, trifer with the affections
OF his only child, but man reeking with
the prison-rot- branded as a wretch,
with his hand against every man, and
every mans hand against his own!
Choking down her dread, her uncer-
tainty, her anguish, Ruth managed tc
totter to her feet.
Father" she walled, Il love him."
An awful frown darkened the brow OF
John Elicit.
I. -SiIence!" he ordered sternly. Speak
that mans name in my presence again
and disown you. Meet him, even ad-
dress O single word to him, and I curse
you. And I trusted him-a thief, q con-
Yict.' ..
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. I have a man at the
village who knows him-was in the
same cell with him. He was Gagged for
forgery, and pleaded guilty to get
light sentence. Well rid Of him, Mr.. FL
lott, Lucky to get him away without
ytIs throat cut or your house burned
over your heed. * o. t. -sI--
y Ruth Mas 5obbing piteously. A real
tzatton that her tears were shed for the
man he so hated nettled the sp;teful
Prescott like an ox-goad.
And worse than all, he tried to steal
her away from nae. He
k.Ero.gh of this, ordsfed Farmer
Jo6d, ssesnly. Its 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 ro such risla Ruth, you know my
iron will. There will be no further de-
lay. Ralph, your marrying her was set
tied long ago."
SILENCE! My blessing or my curse
q convict or an honest man-take your
choice! You marry Ralph Prescott
within o 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-faced, the Roman father in mien
and heart, he stood looking from the uE-
curtained window.
The crafty Ralph, gloating with tri-
umph, approached him, but he waved
him glooIaily aside.
Paul Dalton crossed the broad stream
Of lamplight cast across the gravel path
q minute later.
His head was bowed, his face color
less.
Never q word did he speak, never
backward glance did he take, until he
had reached the stile.
His face was one great void Of de-
spair 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 murmu-ed, broken
ly. Il might have known it. What
right had I to love, what right to drag
an innocent life to shame and sorrow?
And I dared not deny-I dared not
speak my promise, my oath! Well, it is
only one more fctter to tho heavy chain;
but she-it was no crime to love her
but heaven forgive me for the grief l
have brought to the woman whose love
was the one bright star of cheerless
existence"
He turned to take the highway that
bounded the Eden Of his dreams, but
paused suddenly.
From the hedge woman's form had
Huttered.
Her hands grasped LIB OWL spasmodi-
cally minute latc~.
Ruth"
she swayeI where she stood, her eyes
burning up into his own.
"One word before you 60" sho walled,
piteously. Innocent or guilty-teU mo
quick, tell me truthfully, or my nears
will break!"
CHAPTER vi.
DISowNED.
Il cannot, I dare not tell you"
The words seemed to sound doom,
disaster to oil 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 il he WAS innocent