Mower County transcript., 1897-09-01

/ than I; but it seemed to be forced upon
me-" returned the girl, quietly, as she
rose. Snow that have explained the
matter, however, I need not keep you
out of bed any longer"
"Wait," exclaimed her father, sharp
| ". as she started toward the door. II
should like to know how your precious
| protege took his deliverance. Did he
appreciate the situation? and did he
thank you prettily?" the last words
! replete with biting sarcasm.
For the first time Dorothy's calm
seemed shaken. She glanced toward
the door as though half disposed to
90 away without answering; and when
she spoke it was with obvious effort.
II was not there when he came out
of the shaft; at first it seemed as
though could not face him, as though
I must sink to the earth in shame il
but felt his eyes upon me; but after
ward I waited for him outside-I felt
I had to-and told him that it was all
mistake-that you had nothing to
do with it" her voice, which had been
faltering, ceased entirely until her
father gave vent to an impatient eX-
clamation, when she broke into a little
nervous, mirthless laugh. 1T is SO easy
to fall into the habit of lying, you
know" she ironically observed.
''Whether he believed me or not do
not know; but at least he was gentle
manly enough to assume that he did,
and kind enough to promise, when l
begged him, that he would never bring
the charge against you in any way
that he would be absolutely dumb in
regard to the whole affair."
"He promised that?' anger giving
way to sudden alert interest.
Eyes; he promised. He was more
generous than I when exacted such
promise of him." she bitterly declared.
"Well, upon my word!" the tone half
amused, half incredulous. Il must
give you credit for having some method
in your madness, but -" he hesitated,
with a note of sardonic laughter, his
steely eyes surveying the girls glowing
beauty with a look of keen comprehen-
sion; "all the same, I should have to be
much harder pushed than ever l have
been vet, before I could willingly see
my daughter go out into the highways.
making mashes oh impressionable
young men in my behalf" He waited a
moment, narrowly watching her face to
besure thatshc felt the coarse thrust, be-
fore he added, the tone telling more than
the words of the cold, tense rage which
possessed him: II supposed that
you had been brought up to know
what conduct was BETTING a lady;
that you had some tact as we'll as dis
cretion; but this event goes to prove
that have overrated both your intelli-
gence and your breeding. And if it has
reached a point, when must tell you in
plain English that my business is not
to be meddled with"
"Perhaps it would be as we'll that
should place myself beyond the reach
of such temptation,' interrupted the
girl, coldly; "Aunt Marion has been
urging me lately to go east and stay
with her. I have been thinking that
that would be the best thing for me to
do"
LAS you like" returned the colonel,
indifferently; but Dorothy fancied that
he looked little startled. "When
should you like to go?"
Right away, think"
II shall have to stay here couple of
days longer" the words coming hesi-
tontly, as though he hardly knew what
to say to this proposition; "but I can
take you down to Denver then, and you
can make your arrangements to go any
time after that, unless you change your
mind"
"Very WELL" And in such few words
the rift which had come between them
| was tacitly recognized and accepted.
But force of habit and regard for ap-
pearances combine to hide many fam
lily skeleton; and when they met next
| morning, it was to all outward seeming
as though nothing had happened to mar
the harmony of their relations. Dor
othy fancied that her father looked
somewhat shamefaced and sorry, as
though, could he have so far unbent
his stubborn pride, he might have re-
| tracted some of the bitter words which
ranked in her heart; and with the per-
ception of his feeling her own mood
grew more tender; but it did not change
her purpose of leaving him. 1t was bet
ter that henceforth they should dwell
apart.
| On the morning of the second day,
their last in Windy Gulch according to
his plan, the colonel so far showed his
desire to let tggones remain bygones
that he invited his daughter to ride
with him. II shall have to go up to the
mine," he rather diffidently explained,
as though he fancied that the mention
of the place might be fraught with
some embarrassment for her; "but you
can ride on to Gem lake, if you like, and
I can overtake you there when | am
through with McCready."
But when they came to the point
where the old trail left the highway,
Dorothy decided that she would prefer
to go on to the mine with him. The
colonel looked family surprised, but be
it! If I were woman think should
be simply dying with curiosity"
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