Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-03-29

tale blood from her face.
do not attempt to deceive me. Give
me the name and your reasons"
by what right do you demand this.
sir?" Her voice steadied as she looked
him tearlessly in the eyes.
by the right which your fathers
will oonfers. For If you take one course
under that will, this property is his
widows, my mothers; and if you take
the other"
I'm the meantime" she said, coldly,
II have several years in which to de-
eide, and during those years neither
you nor your mother can drive me
from this house"
Drive you. Tranoes!"
"Miss Drookin!"
Come, this is folly! am, whether
willing or unwilling, the present head
OF this family, or at least this house
hold. All Richmond will hold me re-
sponsible for everything that happens
here contrary to propriety, and must
insist that you explain this most re-
Aarkabls occurrence. Do not foros
me to ask assistance Of the police, and
thus make the matter public" The
girl did not finch.
II am not afraid thai yeu will do
that. Mr.. Holbin; you have too much q
stake. DR.. Brodnar, besides, has told
you that he was in this room, and
Richmond will want 70 know why, II
there IL anything wrong afoot, you do
not hold him responsible. No one has
been In this room-until now-exceps
by my consent. and II any crime has
been committed. the criminals are
probably better known 70 you than
anyone else. I Am totally in the dark;
I have no idea why anyone, especially
woman, should attempt to shoot q
friend of mine here"
"a woman! Who told you woman
did it?"
my own eyes. saw her tracks; and
now. sir, who told your Was 1t the
woman?"
Holbin laughed silently.
you play that as though IL were
trump" ne said. perhaps no woman's
tracks have ever been there but yours.
II IL your garden.
"Only, I saw them before made any
tracks there" she said, quietly.
II don't question your honesty, Miss
Brookin, but others might; and If peo-
pie were disposed to judge you kindly
they would simply suggest that you
had q powerful motive" To this she
disdained reply. She had picked up
Brodnar's letter from the table and
moved away, seeing which he said per-
sistently: You will please answer my
question. dislike greatly to annoy
you. but my duty is imperative. Your
secret will be safe with me; and
must protect the name of my future
wife-that you will admit"
"Your wife? Have you supposed for
. moment, sir, that shall ever become
your wife?" Frances came back and
stood before him. why. Mr.. Holbin,
there is not wealth enough in Virginia
to bring about that!"
Miss Brookin"-and Holbin sank
his voice to the most courteous of
tones, and met her glances without EN-
barrassment-"why is it that you dis
like me?'
II have not given the matter a
thought, sir. simply accept the fact"
He was silent q moment, his eyes cast
down.
You hate my mother" he said, sad
iy and bitterly, land am included;
understand that. But admitting that
you have cause to hate her-and do
not-you have none 70 hate me. Con-
slider the injustice. Let me say now
did not expect ever to say it, but a
man is no man who will not defend
himself-iet me say now that, so far
from having cause to hate me, if pro-
found respect, if sympathy for your
loneliness, if genuine affection and the
tenderest love count for anything with
= woman, you have more than sufficient
cause to think well Of me-" Frances
looked upon him with amazement.
touched in spite of her resolution. He
was not slow to perceive this. my
mother" he continued, us not from the
worlds standpoint lovable. woman,
but she is--my mother; and am her
son. She is self-wlled; but she i. just.
Shall admit it to you? She has made
my life unhappy; she has been the
cause of my living abroad"
who was Louise, then? And why
should the mention of her name-have
killed my father?" She covered her
face with her hands, and gave way
gently to her tears. He waited a few
moments until she reTained her CON-
posture.
There are turned down pages in
the lives Of all men, Miss Brookin-
and In the lives of some women. Ans
other time shall tell you the his
tory Of Louise, and let you Judge me
If YOU will. But I swear to you now
as though l stood in the presence Of
God, that I did not lead her OFF by
means of mock marriage did not ]!
You may not understand It, but there
are times when the man is not alone
TO blame In these matters. He Is in
VOWED through his chivalry; and in
trying to protect woman he some
times ruins both the woman and him
self have sanned, but If you knew
how I suffered you would pity, not
blame me. Complete reparation was
impossible--but I have done my best,
and to-day my life 10 as free from
evil as most mems"
In no other way could Holbin have
so touched the grille heart. At tho
moment che did pity him, Recent
scenes In her own life rose before
her as he had spoken. She turned
to him, generous and impulsive.
Forgive me II have misjudged