El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-07-16

|
the tavern keepers wife, bridling up a
little "She amt no better blood in
her veins than my Abe has. 1 reckon
she'll git used to 1t. She'll like HI well
enough after she's fast tied to him.
Gals is allus ornery at first"
But FRANKLIN couldn't believe that.
He tried to tell himself it was none of
his business Nevertheless he could
not drive all thought of the girl from
| his mind, and he often wondered if
| there was no escape for Rose or if he
was doing right in idly seeing her sac
| rificed to her uncles spite.
1t was long before he dared breach
| the subject to Rose herself. He soon
| began to see, however, that the girl
was Ioosing her bloom and that the
pretty, appealing blue eyes were grow
ing dark ringed and sunken. Then it
was quite impossible for the engineer
to keep still any longer. One day as
Rose waited upon him at table Che had
arrived late), he blurted out:
Rose, what is the matter with you?'
She started nervously as though she
feared he was going to find fault with
her service, and the sudden, terrified
look in her eyes brought a lump into
Franklyn's throat.
"Come, 1 want to be your friend" he
said. 'Is there anything 1 can do for
you?"
She glanced around tearfully, but
shook her head.
"Come, my dear, you must trust me-"
he said soothingly. "You are not hap
Ply. Would you like to get away from
this hole?"
For an instant her face lit up; but
then the cloud returned, and she shook
her head sadly.
81 can't leave here" she whispered.
Its got to be-"
You mean to say you've got to
marry that COnley?'
She nodded, flushing to her forehead.
FRANKLIN, Disguised with such tame
ness, was tempted to let her alone, but
something impelled him to say:
''You don't love that fellow, do your
The red in her cheeks deepened, and
for an instant there was a flash of an
ger 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
this it makes me wonder
"Abides!'' She repeated the word
with a world of passion in her voice,
yet still speaking under her breath.
"Do you suppose for an instant, Mr..
FRANKLIN, that l am not forced to this
awful thing?'
''Why don't you leave, them"
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 tender flesh was crossed and re-
crossed with great blue welts. Frank
Ign leaped up with i passionate oath,
but the girl flew at him and pressed
her hand over his lips.
flush, Hush, For Gods sake. 1
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 l tried to run away. 1t
was day before yesterday" She had
fastened her dress again and was Sob
bling softly. Uncle would let me have
no money to go away, and 1 tried to
walk. They caught me after 1 had
gone nearly 20 miles, had almost
reached Emsden. They brought me
back, and-and Uncle Abe did that