The Princeton union., 1900-04-12

bowed low, but no word of greeting
passed his lips. Her father placed
chair Tor her, but she signified her de-
sire to stand. Her lip curled with dis
daln as her eyes fell on Wrinkles face,
and then she gave her undivided at
tention to her father. .t@
You are to decide point between
Capt. Winkle and myself began the
old man, as he released her hands,
which he had taken to lead her to the
chair. ''He is sure he saw you in the
cart with Fanshaw, driving away from
the scene of the tragedy. I, of course.
firmly denied it.
Evelyn held her head high, her artas
tightly folded; she seemed to have
stopped breathing.
"Capt. Winkle is quite right" she an
swered, in low, tense tone.
The colonel reeled as if he were
dizzy. For the ensuing moment there
was no other sound in the room save
his labored breathing. Suddenly he
steadied himself before her, his eyea
expanded.
care you crazy, my child 2" he blurt-
ed out.
"Almost!" Evelyn laughed harshly.
1.-THE only man ever loved as women
love once il their lives is facing the
most horrible crisis of his existence. I
happened to meet him on his way to
give himself up to the sheriff, and, asI
love him and wanted to be with him as
much as possible, to comfort him, and
assure him of my fidelity, insisted on
driving him to Ratcliff's. He begged
me not to insist on it, but would have
it so. If you cast me off million times
shall have oil the more heart to be-
stow on him-the more pity in his eor-
row!"
The old soldier seemed to wither like
a plant under fierce heat; his hands
hung Imply at his sides for moment,
and then he drew himself up as erect aa
If he were on parade and faced his Wis
itor.
You have rendered me q valuable
service, Capt. Winkle," he said Distant
~, "and hope some day to be able TO
show better appreciation for it,
He moved backward to the behL
pull. his eyes studiously avoiding those
of his child.
capt. Wrinkles horse!" he called out
to the servant. His words rang like
pieces of falling metal.
When Wrinkle had gone, Hasbrooke
stood for moment eying his daughter
sorrowfully, then he sank into his big
oh I.
to the desk. Evelyn looked down on
him pityingly, and then she stepped to
him and laid cold white hand on his
head.
Father" her voice cut sharply into
the silence. Il love you as fondly as
any daughter ever loved father, but
as sure as God is in Heaven that lore
will die-you will kill it if you turn
against me in my first hour of actual
woe: am suffering for the man loye
as never fancied even a lost soul could.
suffer, and yet you have no pity for
me. You demanded more in your daugh-
ter, but I tell you I demand more in
father! God made me love Ronald Fan
shaw; He did it by opening my eyes to
his greatness of mind and character.
l will not allow you to insult him by
your tears" her voice rose to a sharp
command and she stamped her small
foot. Il will not, say!"
The white head was raised. The old
mans eyes CLEANED with the fires of
| despair; but as they rested on the calm.
urdaunted face Of his best loved child
| their glance wavered
do you mean that. Evelyn-my
God-are you in earnestly
''Thoroughly in earnest, father; you
have often told me about the strength
of the Carnleigh women in their love.
Would the Carnleigh you welded have
allowed her father to weep because of
her love for you?'
The colonel stretched out two tren-
bling hands and took hers III his grasp
'You are right, my daughter, in q
way"-he kissed her lightly on the
brow-''but I am right, too. Pardon
me if have been impolite; you and I
have never had disagreement before,
but I can see farther than you-the
light OF calm reason is stronger than
the fare of infatuation. Now go to
bed. and let me think; ah, let me think!"
Without word she moved away. At
the door she turned and looked back.
He stood where she had left him, his
arms folded as if in death. 1T is awf11N
My God, it is awful" she heard him
muttering.
CHAPTER XIV.