New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-26

lcve his eyes
yes. why not?" responded the man
Vane shrugged his shoulders
We'll as matter OF taste "o"u '''' '"'
come" he answered. . -
"It wasn't a matter OF taste" Y as the answer
ut was a necessity. had 10 come ! noaro she
was here What made her come here! was IL q
matter Of taste with her."
TT was rather an accident. imagine. IL "ei
house YOU know Blu; You didn't find her
NO didn't find her. she IL prosperous enc
hasn't been near me ali this time: she mas nSt
written. Do you think "o"'o nave ''eA'@
Vanes shoulders went up again.
You can't expect woman 10 thank you for
dragging her down. at least you ca" eNPe0'
Leonora RunciTan 10 do u.
"Dragging her down. Good God. Hear what he
says"
The man flung up his nand with an uncon.
trollable gesture. His pallid face grew almost
purple ,,,,oue,
Vane turned away from him. He remembered
that there were others present who were ignorant
of what these two were speaking about ne Cav =
himself a.sight shake as If trying TO throw OH d'
influence. -.
Really" he said. I'VE ought to beg pardon OF
you ladies' don't need any introduction 10 tnis
this person His name is Robert Dreer. Th9ugh
! haven't seen him for ten years or more re-
member him perfectly. suppose you We oeeh
pardoned out. eh?' .,,s
and was conscious II a wish TO shield the man
whom he addressed. did make an Involuntary
movement toward him; checked that movement
and stood quiet. Vane was hard.
"Dreer?'' now exclaimed Mrs. Ridge. she had
the coffee pot In her hand She set II down on
the stove. and put hand on each MP as she re-
garded the man standing IN 'front.' OF Inc ioI Pncr,
Don't ] remember something apout hop'',
Dreer? Wasn't II in the papers!
Mr. Drecr lifted his head still higher. while the
purple deepened Oh his face. He put his hand up
TO his throat He did not look In the least Ike a
criminal How could Vane speak 10 him as he had
done
Yes" said Mr. DreAr. huskily. ut was in the
papers the trial-everythng. and was the ac-
cused man-forcery embezzlement. robbery Of the
man who had been my benefactor. II was all In
the papers-my sentenoe-my behavior In court
ten thousand things for people to goat over. FER,
haos YOU read IL p" looking at Mrs. Ridge. who had
gradually moved back until the table was between
her ana the speaker.
And we've had you here these three days!' she
cried.
"Oh. I'm quite harmless" he said.
"Accuscd?" repeated Vane, with nexpressible
scorn in his manner you were more than ac-
cused-yOu confessed your guilt.
80 dld-sO did" was the response.
At this Dree. looked squarely In Vane's con-
temptuous eyes.
How did you get out?" asked the young man
again
II told You was parlonei-for good behavior"
Nane laughed.
And now I'm going
Having said this the man turned and marched
with head up toward the outer door Half way
to that place he staggered and fell forward. face
down. his arms spr. al out.
heard MIS- Fidge CIV On "ha' shaH We
Vane did not al first move ran and knet
down by the man He was quite senseless The
next instant vvane came - my side
You have done IT," said to him N"rcey.
81? You don't know what you're talking
about" he retorted.
Somehow. among us all. We got Mr.. Dreer on
to the lounge.
II want him carried right away. somewhere"
declared Mrs Ridge II can't have him here an
other minute. Why. he might have kind us In
beds,
Absurd said shortly
Why. he's just out Of prison He says 50 him
self. | spose he came straight here from Sing
Sing Yes. It's wonder we were not killed in our
BEDS
TIE woman's voice exasperate1 me What II he
had come from Sing Sing? He was not a wicked
man said aloud that he was not wicked man.
Nane glanced at me.
He mus, b. taken right away" reiterated Mrs.
Ridge though; that she was going - repeat
her remark about being killed in our beds. and |
felt as II could not bear 10 hear il for the third
time | did not stop II think that IL might he
strange that SHOULD unhesltaiingly espousc this
convict's cause. did not care how surprisedly
Vane gaZed at me
Don't ycu know II anything to do?" asked.
turning upon Mrs. Ridge. why do You stand
there doing nothing? You geo ne can't be carried
away this cold night. You wouldn't turn n brute
out. won't have it. | say. won't have ~
Before my imperiousness Mrs. Ridge besiiTred
herself. And Vane helped I viii say that for him.
After Mr. Dreer had revived and was lying with
and led me into the sl.tng-r0om HIS lips were
compressed and his eyes stern
You're like a woman" he said. you're very
unreasona BILE"
bent my head In silence. | would listen but
nothing he could say should make any difference
with me
Entirely unreasonable" he went on Il see you
condemn me directly. Why do you do that? DO
you dislike me 80 much?'
| was silent.
do you dislike me so much?" more sternly than
before
Il don't dislike you at all But we needn't talk
about that"
NO; that's true. need not. You thought me
cruel T. that man. what do you know about
him.
Nothing: only mean 20 help him II can" a
little dehantly.
"Regardless Il his past?''
Certainly. His past is nothing 10 me"
Have you written 10 Aunt Nora that he Is
here?"
NO"
You should not do SO. What right have you to
keep him In her house,
At this hestated. but In my mind did not re-
treat from my resolution.
Il shall not do anything To harm Miss Runci-
man ! answered at last.
What has he told you about her.
Nothing IL came here because he thought he
should find her Hs was much affected at sight
Of her portrait there"
glanced at the pie, ire on tho wall
Nane moved AMI looked at the portrait. and
watched his face. rhch the lamplight shown
upon.
He turned back toward me
I'VE owe great deal to Miss Runcman" he
said
II owe her great deal" answered warmly
though he was going on with the subject bu,
his cOuntenanre suddenly changed, If light
had flashed through II.
Cant you love me-" he asked softly. Are you
sure YOU never could love me the least in the
world?"
| wanted to ans Ner promptly, but for some rea.
son could not do IL.
You're not sure. them" he went on. with a
touching eagernsss in his manner: at least #
would have been IA touching cagcrness II / had not
understood his tendencies well.
raised my eyes.
"Oh yes" answered. I'm perfectly sure"
Vane sat down and leaned his crutches against
his chair / still found 1t impossible TO see those
crutches without pang You know ! had moi
had time to become at all accustomed to them a nd
Vane had been so gayly. almost insOlently active
Then that Is done with he said gloomily. "Iv,
been a poor fool all this time. thinking OF Vol
and day Snnnetlr1 IL