The Delta independent., 1897-12-10

business reverses," he murmured.
Then, suddenly fixing his eyes on my
face in . searching glance. he said:
My daughter was weeping. What was
the reason? What did you say to her
to cause her tears?
ut was her own tender heart that
caused her to weep" / replied. after .
pause, during which considered what
seem right to add any fresh trouble to
the already overburdened man.
He regarded me with questioning
look, and / added: ''She was sorry, sir,
that nv innocence has not been estab-
lished. This was partly the cause for
her tears. l am deeply grateful for
her tender sympathy"
Obi" The hard lines OF his face
relaxed; he drew a long breath "she
thinks very highly Of you. Conway"
Your words give me the keenest
pleasure. Mr.. Morley. and offer me an
opportunity to lay before you q sub
ject which may prove unpleasant"
said, eagerly.
Mr.. Morley started; then tremor
ran over him. What was the matter
with the man that he seemed to take
alarm, first at my presence and now ut
my words? II he was SO bound up in
his daughter that he was fearful of
having her leave him. even to marry the
man she loved. there seemed small hope
IF obtaining his consent.
In the fear that should lose my love.
after all. l poured out my earnest
words.
"Mr. Morley. l want Florence to be
my wife. There is no use mincing mat
tiers; the simple fact II, must have
her. She loves me. and my love for her
is part OF life itself. Will you not give
your consent?"
To my disappointment he lodged the
question altogether.
"Why are you herer' he asked.
"Here?"
ayes. Why did you come to Nelson
ville?"
ITO find rest and quiet and peace; to
escape peoples cruel tongues" l ex-
claimed impatiently. II give You my
word of honor, sir" went on, think
ing ] OWNED what his thought was, Il
knew nothing Of your living in Selson-
Vile. No idea wis farther from my
mind than that should meet Florence
here. But / cannot help telling you
how my meeting her has lightened the
burden of the past year, how her love
makes my life appear bright before
me, and shine even through the cloud
which still rests upon my honor. You.
of course. can withhold your consent.
but, I tell you openly. I shall in that
case do my utmost TO persuade her to
marry me against your wish"
was startled by my bolduees in
speaking as I did. but the words were
out. and I would not have recalled them
il / could.
Florence would not marry without
my consent" Mr.. Morley remarked,
with the trnce Of smile.
"Ah, sir, I know that well. We can
wait until my innocence is proved. But
Il would he most cruel to US both should
you withhold your consent"
"You are still ssnguinc. then OF
your Innocence being esfabIishsdT'
''Most assuredly. air"
Why an anxious look should appear
on his face I could not tell thrn. !
know the many sudden changes Of ex-
preston which came over him curing
the conversation caused me consider
able surprise at the time.
IL have not kept trnck Of That af-
fair" he begnn fecbly. "having been
fully occupied with my own concerns.
Have-er-have there been any new de-
velopments. any discoveries upon which
you base your hopeT
IAN innocent man cannot be made
TO suffer forever. according to ell laws
Of truth and Justice. ! firmly believe
my name will be cleared, perhaps SOON
er than expected"
"Then your hopes are based on mere
sentiment. and not on any discovery
bearing on the case?" Mr.. Morley asked.
MOSTLY on the idea thnt truth will
eventually prevail" replied, epigram-
matically.
"a most unstable anchorage nova
days. Facts md proofs are what the
practical world demands. So. then you
ask me TO rescind my request made Of
you . year ago, Notwithstanding the
fact that the conditions remain the
same. You have broken your promise
to me; how then am 10 know that your
protestations Of love for my daughter
are sincere?"
stared at the man In astonishment,
for his words were delivered in n cold,
matter-of-fact manner, and. IL there
had been any reason for IL, should
have thought there was n triumphant
ring in the tones Of his voice.
The idea that Horace Jackson hnd ac-
tually succeeded in persuading the fa-
ther that I was the guilty one in ref
H..