The advocate., 1894-01-17
THE DEAD LINE.
Continued from page 81

AAO CAlOyCA bAAO hAOAASAhO VA 0hOgAAOA
hearty laugh. "Just as if you had been
at 1CorkP' Kate joined in the laughter,
though she saw nothing to laugh at.
She laughed from sympathy.
"Well, then, you have got to do this.
If you refuse I'll leave the house and
the country this minute. You shall go
to college, now. So listen to this prop
osition. When you get through college,
and get to be a great somebody like l
dreamed you had become, you will have
money. Lots of money. / am willing
to bet all have that you will pick up q
fortune easily, once you get through
college,"
Kate's eyes fairly danced at the pros
pect of future greatness. He had
touched the right chord at last. He
saw his advantage and pursued it.
eNoW, listen," he continued. eve
draw up and sign binding written
agreement to this effect, tO-Wit: That
am to advance you certain sum
noW-say $250-and thereafter, quar-
terly, such sums as you may need, until
six months after you shall have gradu-
ated at any college you may choose to
attend; and five years after that date,
you promise to repay the aggregate
amount, with per cent. interest, to my
order. Although you are a minor, a
contract for such purpose will be bind
ing. Besides, you will not care for
that. You would consider yourself
bound anyhow, no matter about the
law"
81 would so love to go to college,"
said Kate. "You will wait for me to
ask father about it before agree?"
"Of course, my dear girl. "Well go
together and ask him."
"NO, no." exclaimed Kate. Gre
member your last buggy ride"
That's So" said he. but | shall
have to ride once in while yet, sup
pose, nevertheless. Wen 60 together,
Kate. wish to meet your folks any
how. But putting his finger to his
lips suggestively)-dOn't tell them
don't tell anybody am an ex-cOnvict,
Kate. Not many people would look at
it as you do. 1t would ruin me were it
known. Everybody would regard me
with horror. Society always Furnishes
the victim of injuStice-rarely the
other man. Besides, what would peO.
pie say about gOu were it known that
an old ex-conVict had lent you the
money with which to go to college ?
Imagine what Mrs. Carlington's set
would say should they hear that you
were out riding with an old resident Of
Sing Sing! l hardly think even your
own folks would look upon it as just
the thing. Let that be oar secret,
Kate. Not a word to anybody on
earth"
'I can keep a secret" said Kate.
"You needn't have any fear of my tell
ing it"
In truth, Kate had a very clear per-
ception of how even her father would
regard the matter, and she began to
dread that it might in some way be
discovered.
The old man was weary with his long
conversation, and the feelings it had
stirred; he soon fell asleep. Kate,
full of hopes and fears on the verge OF
the new life so suddenly opening be-
fore her, sat mOtionleSs long time at
the sleeper's bedside. Suddenly sus-
picion flashed into her mind. Was the
story she had just heard from the old
mans lips trueP She recalled the quiet
dignity of his manner, and the Ian
guage he had employed. He was Ger.
tainly no ordinary man, like those she
had been used to meet. She knew none
with so gentlemanly an air. Had he
really been a convict p-and for twenty
two years? Besides, what had he been
before he went into the army? Had he
been a doctor, living in fine style in
city, like DIR. CarlingtonP Perhaps he
had been lawyer, for he spoke of hav-
ing wished to manage his own defense
in court. But-he spoke of going to
.the farm" to seek his familYl Was he