Waterbury Democrat., 1901-02-01
The World Against Him By WILL N. HARBEN.
 Copyright. 1900, by AN. Kellogg Newspaper Company.
CHAPTER XIII,

found her sister waiting for her 1n the garden. Caroline Hasbrooke said nothing until the groom had led away the pony, then, with a malicious glance at Evelyn, she opened up:
 "I guess you've heard about Ronald Fanshaw."
 Evelyn nodded; she could not trust her voice to calm utterance just then; besides, it behooved her to dissemble.
 .'He has murdered Sydney Hart"
 Evelyn drew a quick breath and re torted:
 'sHe did it in self-defense-absolute- ly in self-defense!"
 "I don't believe a word of it.'
 Evelyn bowed her head. and passed on up the steps. realizing that even if she could justify her lover in Caro- lines eyes it would not benefit his cause in the slightest, and she had heart for nothing that could not light .n his woe. But Miss Hasbrooke was not satisfied. Nagging was an amuse- 7nent to which every brain-cell she possessed was adapted. She followed Evelyn into her room and closed the door with significant care and soft ness.
 "So you see what you escaped" This was her first shot, and she coolly ranged he; guns again on Evelyn, who stood at the dresser, removing her gloves and hat.
 II don't understand you," said Eve lyn.
 Caroline came step nearer, her sharp eyes flashing.
 You came within an inch of falling in love with him last summer. Capt. Winkle has told me thing or two. l intended to report it to father if you bad not changed your tactics. Suppose you had let your silly roman nticism run on, how would you have felt now?"
 This sort of goading was maddening. Evelyn turned upon the offender. T don't see how I could be more miserable than I am,'' she said, with sharp frank ness of voice and look.
 The elder girl grasped the speakers arm and her bony fingers frightened on it. Evelyn" she said, raspingly, you are not in love with that man?''
 More deeply, Caroline, than you will ever love-or ever could love anybody with that stony heart of yours. Yes, love him! If it would give him one mo- ment's relief, I'd go to his cell tonight ard share his suferings."
 Evelyn Hasbrooke." Caroline stood like a figure of stone. You cannot mean it!'
 But Evelyn simply sank into a chair in the semi-darkness of the room. Her sisters voice sounded as if it came from a great distance.
 II shall not tell father" Caroline was saying. 'sIt would humble him to the dust. It would simply break his heart" bhe paused. The plantation bell rang for the last time. It was signal for all loiterers in the fields to come into the quarter, a custom which had been kept alive since the days of slavery. The elder sister d1 W up q chair. and sat down near Evelyn.
 "Tell me how it came about" she said.
 For a moment Evelyn seemed drawn out of stupor of gloomy reflections.
 ''He had threatened to kill Ronald" she began-"to kill him on sight-and Ronald's brother gave him a."
 'Oh, I mean how did you ever hap pen to fall in love with such a creature as he is?'' broke in Miss Hasbrooke, all most angrily. How can you admit such thing, when you remember who and what the IIasbrookes are?"
 ''1 have never thought of them as be- ing gods, nor even angels" Evelyn blurted out, and then she laid firm, de- termined hand on her sisters arm. q must beg you, Caroline, to leave me alone this evening. I cannot bear to hear you run him down for what he cannot help. Please go!"
 Caroline drew herself up from her chair and moved to the door with step full of dire prophecy. q shall not tell father" she repeated. "No, shall not tell him."
 But I shal,' answered Evelyn. '.I am helpless to aid the man I love-the man I'd die for willingly, but I shall not conceal the truth from a single soul. At least I can do that much. l can be true to him. I shall not deny him."
 Caroline leaned on the swin ging door, her cold, vindictive face rested on her arm. It was on the tip of her tongue to make an angry retort, but she evil dently thought dumb silence on her part would be more crushing, so with a look of forced incredulity on her face she turned away. ''I shall not tell fa- ther," came like a belated echo from the hall. T shall not be the one to break his heart.''
 The colonel had come in from tire some ride across his domain and sat in his study looking over some legal pa- pe-s. The soft light of German stu dent lamp brought his fine face out strongly and clearly from the darkness round him. He had spread the papers on the top of his mahogany desk Only the day before he had insured his life for another large amount, and he was thinking of making a will which would divide his property equally be- tween his two daughters. One of the servants approached with card.
 ''Tell Capt. Winkle," said he. as he glanced at the card, "t1fat cannot see him tonight, unless it is something of importance"
 He said it was very important, sub. 9
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