Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-06-12
The colonel swept triumphant
glance at Wrinkle, and then concluded
his command to the servant.

lis 10 Tile sSCISdHIs
ASK her to come down"
II trust" said the captain, when the
man had withdrawn, "that you will par
| don my fear thnt-that the couple real
.ly had the intention Of clipping; but,
seeing them together at such a time, I
was naturally disposed to wonder what
could have caused such meeting; and
a few minutes later, when 1 came
across the dead man, and learned that
Fanshaw had killed him, it was natur-
al that should think"
"You shall be convinced, sir" burst
from Hasbrooke's lips, "that you have
had an attack of blindness that's dan
gerous to the reputation of honorable
| womeE!"
II shall not dispute with you,
colonel" said Wrinkle, in conciiatory
tone; ''but passed as near them as
am to you now: -I'shall leave it TO her.
She will not deny my statement"
The old officer shrugged his Shout
ders in stern unbelief, and five minutes
of sullcn silence bore down on the two
men. 1t was lifted by the approach of
Evelyn. Both men were on their feet
as she entered the room. Capt. Wrinkle
bowed low, but no word of greeting
passed his lips. Her father placed q
chair for her, but she signifed her de-
sire to stand. Her lip curled with dis
dain as her eyes fell on Wrinkles face,
and then she gave her undivided at
| tention to her father.
You are to decide point between
Capt. Wrinkle 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. /, of course,
| firmly denied it,"
| Evelyn held her head high, her arms
| tightly. folded; she seemed to have
stopped breathing.
Capt. Wrinkle is quite right" she an
swered, in low, tense tone.
| The colonel recled 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 eyes
expanded.
Are you crazy, my child?" he blurt-
ed out.
"Almost!" Evelyn laughed harshly.
"The, only man ever loved as women
love once in their lives is facing the
most horrible crisis ofhis existence. I
happened to meet him on his way to
give himself up to the sheriff, and, as I
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 l wonbl have
Fat so,a If you cast me Oft q million times
I shall have all the more heart to be-
Stowe him he more pity in his. sor-
row!"
The old soldier seemed to wither like
a plant under a fierce heat; his hands
hung Imply at his sides for a moment.
and then he drew himself up as erect as
| if he were on parade and faced his Wis
itor. 81. 81.
You have rendered me valuable
service, Capt. Wrinkle, he said distant
", land I hope some day to be able to
show better appreciation for it."
He moved backward to the bell.
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
revolving chair and lowered his head
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. II love you as fondly as
any daughter ever loved father, but
as, sure as God is in Heaven that love
| will die-you will kill it if you turn
against me in my first hour of actual
woe! lam suffering for the man love
as never fancied even lost soul could
suffer, and yet you have no pity for
me. You demanded more in your daugh-
ter, but I tell you l demand more in a
father!s God made me love Ronald Fam
shaw; He did it by opening my eyes 10
his greatness of mind and character.
l will not allow you to insult him by
your tears" her voice rose to sharp
command and she stamped her small
foot. 81 will not, I say!"
The white head was raised. The old
mans eyes CLEANED with the fires of
despair; but as they rested onthe calm,
undaunted face of his bestowed child
their glance wavered.
DO you mean that, Evelyn-my
God-are you in earnest?"
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 trem-
bling hands and took hers i'll his grasp.
"You are right, my daughter, in a
way"-he kissed her lightly on the
brow-"but am right, too. Pardon
me if have been impolite; you and
have never had disagreement before,
L