Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-07-09
CHAPTER Nv.
Loves Cross Purposes.

Loves Cross Purposes.
Amelia slowly and painfully with
drew from the banister and stood erect,
the professor towering In front OF her,
ready. it seemed. ON the least provcca-
tion. 10 let his fury loose again. She
saw her travelling bag upon the floor,
n stopped mechanically to pick il mp.
.4Iake il with your snarled the pro-
fessor. still keeping his voice down to a
whisper.
The unhappy girl looked and moved
as If size were bewildered.
"You have no right to keep me here"
she said. family. Il am not your
daughter; you are no longer my legal
guardian. / cannot stay here"
"You can stay here. and you must"
retorted Prof. Drummond. do you
think | shall let you go out and publish
pour calurnnies against me? 1t is
foul enough that you operate from
within my own household"
Her eyes flashed a little at this, as IL
resentment were clearing the shadows
from her mind.
yes" she answered. 81 have done
very wrong. That is why l am going
away
The professors face lit with a savage
triumph.
Il knew it, he said, REFRESHING his
voice with difficulty.
Then he took her by the shoulders
n pushed her into the room across
the hall from the dining room. She
was not only incapable physically of
resisting so powerful a man as her UNI
Gle, but she was impelled by her pro-
found regrets for what had occurred
TO refrain now from calling out or do
ing anything that might attract the at
tention of others in the house. Prof.
Drummond could not have dreamed,
much less believed, that Amelia was
so determined as he that no further
light should be shed upon the Fairview
tragedy by any act OF hers. Once with
In the room, and the door closed, he
continued:
"Who else but you could have set the
Starkweathers to Investigate an in-
guest. eh3 Tell me that"
II did IL she responded.
"You --"
The professor raised both his hands.
h fingers extended, and quiyering 10
close upon her throat; his lips were
parted and his passion esSayed TO find
words. but he could rot 20 beyond the
beginning.
Amelia faced him with despairing
Seif-Dossession. Her str myth was ms
nothing compared 70 his. and vet lie
trembled before her with the very ex-
cess Of excited energy.
Presently he lowered his hands
slowly.
Il could kill you where you stand!'
he muttered.
"And add another to your crimesY'
she added.s
You lie!' he Kissed. and as his rage
again mounted to a fury, and be yet
remembered how they stood there. in
broad day, with others close at hand.
he whirled about, strobe across the
room, aud, catching up a walking-stick
thnf leaned against the fireplace,
1T in his hands until Ii broke
In two. He looked vacantly at the
fragments a moment. and then dropped
chem upon the hearth.
That might have been your bodyg'
he exclaimed.
II wish Ii were,'' said Amelia.
: The professor glared at her fixedly
for several seconds, and a great reyul-
sion Of feeling came over him. The
fury died out of his eyes. and the pas
sionate quivering of his heavy frame
ceased.
Poor GIRL he said in a very chang
ed tone, you have been terribly upset.
haven't you? Too bad! Something
must be done. Yes, OF course you shall
go away. Amelia, dear, but not now.
Walt a little and I'll take you"
He approached as IL he would lay his
hand car~essingly upon her. With real
terror she started back. h feared
mis- kindness more than his passion.
aGo to your room now, child" con-
finued the professor, unmoved by her
aversion. II will send for you before
long. 1t will be much better for you
chat you should 90 away without the
appearance OF trying to escape. You'll
see that yourself. | think, after you've
had q little rest. Go now, Amelia"
He opened the door and stood beside
II for her TO pass. A very different
man the professor was at that moment
from she maniacal iend he had been
hut q few minutes before. Now he
was cool, i~mperturable. calculating, his
familiar self, and Amelia knew that
save for the possibility of physical
violence when he was enraged, he was
now most dangerous. His change OF
demeanor was but the outward sign 81
q purpose conceived in the violence OF
his passion, that needed quiet and un
bending resolution TO accomplish. What
that purpose was she could not guess
and she did not try to. her w pur
pose remained fixed In her mind, and
she, too, had Drummond blood anG
%l - III Ihn