Waterbury Democrat., 1901-03-23
Drive you. FranceS!" "Miss Brookin!"

''Drive you. Frances!"
 ''Miss Brookin!"
 '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- sponsibIe for everything that happens here contrary to propriety, and 1 must insist that you explain this most re- markable occurrence. Do not force me to ask assistance of the police, and thus make the matter public" The girl did not finch.
 II am not afraid that you will do that, MT. Holbin; you have too much at stake. Dr. Brodnar, besides, has told you that he was in this room, and Richmond will want to know why, if there is anything wrong afoot, you do not hold him responsible. No one has been in this rcom-until now-exce pt by my consent. and if any crime has been committed. the criminals are probably bItter known to you than anyone else. l am totally in the dark; l have no idea why anyone, especially 2 woman, should attempt to shoot 2 friend of mine here"
 "A woman! Who told you a woman did it?''
 My own eyes. saw her tracks; and now, sir, who told you? Was it the woman?''
 Holbin laughed silently. |. You play that as though it were trump" he said. "Perhaps no woman s tracks have ever been there but yours. It is your garden
 "Only, I saw them before made any | tracks there," she said, quietly. T don't question your honesty, Miss Broolin, but others might; and if peo- | pie were disposed to judge you kindly they would simply suggest that you | had a 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 1 question. l dislike greatly to annoy you, but my duty is imperative. Your secret will be safe with me; and I must protect the name of my future wife-that you will admit Your wife? Have you supposed for q moment. sir, that I shall ever become your wife?" Frances came back and stood before him. Why, MT. Hoibin, | 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 em- rassment-"why is it that you dis like me?'
 l II have not given the matter a thought, sir. l simply accept the fact He was silent a moment, his eyes east down.
 You hate my mother" he said, sad ly and bitterly, and l am included; l understand that. But admitting that you have cause to hate her-and l do I not-you have none to hate me. Con- sider the injustice. Let me say now I did not expect ever to say it, but a man is no man who will not defend himself-het me say now that, so fag 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, lis not from thu worlds standpoint lovable woman but she is-my mother; and I am her son. She is self-willed; but she is 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 few moments until she regained her com posture.
 There are turned down pages in and in the lives of some women. An other time I shall tell you the his tory of Louise, and let you judge me if you will. But l swear to you now as though I stood in the presence o1 God, that I did not lead her off by means of mock marriage-I did not! You may not understand it, but there are times when the man is not alon, to blame in these matters. He is in volved through his chiyaIry;. and 1T trying to protect woman he some times ruins both the woman and him self. I have sinned, but if you knev how suffered you would pity,. no' blame me. Complete reparation wa! impossible-but have done my best and to-day my life. is as free from evil as most men's.'
 In no other way could Holbin havs 50 touched the girl'e heart. At th.