The Holly chieftain., 1900-06-22

". e'NS. tnSssdl 40 shall do -
such thing. Do you think the thiaes
you speak Of are any temptation 70
me? What can . girl like n, vhp
has bean brought up among bu&sioss
and o9tricheg, With AL the fresdnn q
hsySldt apdst1S Aoahtains dbsut ~.
ate pr y sl4 Nj c<Ge II - 1hs-
Hsh city. even With I diamond tiars
and . carriassi But, 1t any rata, sven
II that were q temptation, l Wouldn't
marry Mr.. Moore, not fcf anything
he could tive. 4 don't iits hin aoe!
trust him" ~
4 But tell you yol shail marry him.
gtri! You 'mustl" exclaimed her fA-
thsr again furiously. He started from
his positioh and faced her. his 49,
almost purple with passion snA sx-
citement.' his weiss, atAhding ont like
knotted cords. his lips unsteady.
There's no choice in the matter
you've got to do It! have sworn TO
Moore you will be his wife this day
weak, and you shellk2vF Il
'sYou had NO right 70 promise such
. thing" retorted the girl indignant
". Bluebeil Leslie was no milk-and-
water. weak-willed girl, to be bullied
Into such course by her father or any
one else. She had bsen brought up in
too hardy and Independent life for
that.
II shall not marry him, father, that
is certain. You don't need 70 try to
urge me. You are my father. and /
owe you affection and obedience; but
not In such matter as that OF selling
myself to a man I despise and dis
trust. Yes. that il what do. didn't
think why you brought him to New
Kelso.' II you had seen him strike
Sam today But there. what Is the
use of speaking?' she added quickly.
II have given you my answer. dad.
az ! gave 1t to Mr.. Moore himself to-
day. Did he not tell you!'
Instead OF answering directly. her
father strode to her side, seized her
arm and, holding II In such a grasp
Of iron that 1t almost wrung cry
from her lips. whispered in her ear:
You'll have to marry him. or see
your father ruined and disgracsd!
Bluebell. tell you I'm in Gerald
Moore's power. At any moment he
can sell me up. take every stick I've
got, and turn US out on the'veldt home
less and penniless.'
Bluebell turned her face toward him.
1t had grown very pale, and her eyes
glowed. Words Of Adair Rothes kept
ringing in her ears: Beware Of that
man. he is dangerous" -
You mean" she said, slowly, in .
changed voice. all the girlish defiance
and brightness gone out Of 1t, that
you are In shat mans power"
live been foolish lately, Blue
bell. confess It. I've been speculat-
ing and lost. got into Moore's power
up at harrisburg. There's worse than
I've told you. Moore holds . bill-a
bill that would disgrace me forever.
would"-his voice sank-"put me in
prison"
Bluebell gave low cry. shrinking
from her fathers touch, and covered
her face with her hands.
1T was-I was not quite accountable
for IT," said Mr.. Leslie In q hoarse whis-
per. III had been taking too much.
But It's done, Bluebell. and can't be
undone. You must save me. On the
day that you marry him Gerald Moore
will give that paper over into my
hands to be destroyed.
Bluebell's hands dropped from her
face and she looked up at him.
so, to save you from the conse-
quences Of your crime" she said slow
ly. you would make me give myself
up to this INSCRIPTIONS vii
LANA william even according
to your own showing! You
will be saved, but what of me? am
to be sacrificed to life worse than
death. life with man fear and des-
pise and dishonor. who-yes. am sure
Of it--does not love me, but wishes for
some purpose to get me. as well as you
into his clutches. Did 1t never strike
you as being rather cowardly thing
to do. dad?"
There was strange bitterness In he,
voice-a bitterness that had never been
heard in Bluebell Leslie's blithe, clear
young voice in all her life before. The
wretched man felt 1t and WINGED; but
the next moment he seized her arm
again.
II am your father, and have right
to demand this of you!" he exclaimed
hoarsely. will you see your father
dragged to prison and your aunt and
yourself turned out on the yeldt, ruin
ed and disgraced, to be shot by the
Beers, or to die Of starvation? Answer
me that!"
II cannot answer you now. Let me
20 to my ROOM" said Bluebell in low