The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-12

Franklyn, Disguised with such tameness,
was tempted 10 let her alone. But some
thing impelled him to say:
You don't love the fellow, do your"
The red in her cheeks deepened and for
an instant there was flash of anger in
her eyes.
WHAT must you think of me to ask that
question:" she asked, bitterly.
Franklin FASTENED to make peace
Pardon me. Rose. But when a girl
so tamely abides by such a thing as this,
it makes me wonder
"Abdes! She repeated the word with
world of passion in her voice do you
suppose for an instant Mr.. Frankyn,
that / am not forced to this awful thing?"
why don't you leave, then?'
She looked down upon him for an in
slant with that hard light of anger still
in her eyes. Suddenly she unfastened the
print gown she wore at the throat and,
turning her back to him. stripped the light
dress down over her shoulder. The ten
der flesh was crossed and recrossed with
great blue welts. Franklin leaped up
with passionate oath, but the girl flew
at him and pressed her hand over his
lips.
Hush! Hush! For Gods sake! ought
not to have shown you. You will bring
some one in here"
Franklyn was forced back into his chair
breathless with rage
''Who-who did that?" he demanded.
Uncle But Hi Conley held me-"
Franklyn's face was deadly white.
What was it for?'
Because 1 tried to run away. 1t was
| day before yesterday" She had fastened
her dress again and was sobbing softly.
Uncle would let me have no money to
Il 7
me after l had gone nearly twenty miles
4 had almost reached Emsden. They
brought me back and-and Uncle Abe did
that with his riding whip. II cannot
stand such treatment; 1 am a coward A"
she was trembling now and half-faint-
ing. HE said he would kill me If I told
anybody"
Franklyn got up, leaving his dinner
scarcely tasted. IF you will let me help
you, swear you shall get away from this
place." he said.
Il am afraid of Uncle Abe and Hi"
'I'll get you away if there were dozen
Uncle Abes and Conleys. There are legal
means-even in a community like this-to
force them to give you up. suppose
though, that your uncle is your legal guar
| dian?"
Rose nodded.
"And how old are you?"
Seventeen
"And to be tied to that scoundrelv' NUT
tered FRANKLIN. There was the sound of
a gruff voice in the outer room; he recog-
nized it as Conley's. Rose shrank away,
the terror coming back into her eyes.
Keep up your heart" whispered the
engineer. I'm make my plans, see
lawyer, and tell you what steps to take
when I come back the next time" Then
he lounged out into the barroom, paid his
| score to Abe, and nodded to Coney and
set out for the lumber camp.
When he got back to Bannock's il was
nearly dark. He saw Rose nowhere about
the house. although he lotered moment
or two; but upon going down TO his Ice
boat little figure crept out of the bushes
and spoke to him.
"Is it you, Rose?''
Eyes" she whispered. He could scarcely
see her face, but the fact that she stood
| so near him thrilled him strangely. He
had begun by plying the girl, but he
found himself wondering if he should end
by falling in love with her.
'Ill do what 1 can for you before I come
up next time" he said, and he spoke
more coldly than he intended. She shrank
back little.
I'll only wanted to tell you that-that
if you can bring me any help it must be
very soon."
WHY"
Because uncle and Hi are determined
that the-the matter shall end quickly.
Perhaps they are afraid 1 will tell some
body"
you mean that they are going to get
you married right away?"
Eyes"
'How? There's no minister in these parts
now"
But there's justice of the peace up
at the Falls, a friend of HIS. He'll do it
In spite of any objections on my part"
Franklyn's jaws came together with
snap. "When?" he asked.
s'Not for several days, l think. The
justice is away just now"
''You'n see me day after tomorrow"
declared the engineer, and moment later
the Ice Wrath skinned out into the
river.
"By thunder" muttered Franklyn, after
he had started, II wish l had swung her
aboard here and carried her off. She could
have taken the train at the landing for
Bangor. But then, that wouldn't have
been fair to her. 1t would have started
some evil tongue to wagging. The legal
wav is the best and safest method"
But after he. had talked with a lawyer
he began to believe that an 'elopement
would have been the best way out of the
difficulty. after all. The legal process
promised to be a long one, and there was
a grave doubt in Franklyn's mind II Ban
mock and Hi Conley would await the
pleasure of the courts before carrying
their own plans into effect
He started for Bannock's the follow
inq morning in a state of considerable
indecision. 1t would be a week or more
before the lawyer could get an order from
the court restraining Abe Bannock from
exercising further guardianship over the
girl until the case had been examined by
the Judge; and a week was long time
When he arrived at the tavern he saw
at once that something was on foot. There
was crowd of men around the door, and
within Franklyn saw the petticoats OF two
or three women. He entered the barroom
in some trepidation.
Abe Bannock was behind the bar, but
he was not waiting upon customers. His
wife was doing the honors for the thirsty
crowd
Halo, Mr. Franklyng exclaimed the