The Lamar register., 1901-09-25
CHAPTER VIII, continued

| tuluA ~ never Will De. cono uot hovo
found fault with you had you forgotten
me. viii you forgive me when con-
fess was fearful you had7"
mo. do not think ] can quite for
give that. What reason had you for
mistrusting me?" she earnestly asked.
"You passed me this morning. you
know, without bowling"
u was so startled. and we had gone
by before l realized that it was you
who were standing there That was
q slight cause for mistrusting me, SIR"
"It was and am very sorry. Indeed,
have been q fool right through the
whole affair. I see it now. I had NO
right to make such a promise"
"Well, do not think you were .
fool. But, forgive me, that promise was
a foolish one, and-and just trifle un-
kind" The tears again started in her
eyes, and her voice took on the tremble
which went so appealingly to my heart.
"Never again will be 80 foolish!" 1
exclaimed. II will see your father and
tell him have broken my promise, that
1t was impossible to keep it, and that it
is simply absurd to subject us to the
misery of a longer separation. May I
us?"
She hung her head, while the red
flush spread over her face. Then she
murmured: Eyes, speak for both of
us. Why not, since it is true? Perhaps
you'll find father has changed his views
trifie."
mot in his opinion of my innocence,
hope" said. "I have been told he
strongly objected to my arrest. And
/ know whose influence caused him TO
do So"
mot mine, really" Florence earnest
ly replied. Father believed you were
innocent, and took the stand he did
for that reason. did not know about
the robbery until after the first meet
ing of the trustees. It was at that
meeting that he opposed your arrest.
1 remember he felt quite triumphant
| afterward, for most of the trustees in
sisted upon your immediate arrest, and
it was only after father said that he
would never consent to 1t that they gave
up the point"
Now that is pleasant to hear" I
cried. joyfully. What reason have you
to think he has changed his views re-
gartling the promise?"
This morning, after we had passed
you, said: That looked like Nelson
Conway Father laughed at me, and
answered that it must have been an
hallucination produced by constantly
keeping my thoughts upon YOU"
1t is impossible to describe the fasci-
| nation of Florence's manner when she
told me this-how maidenly bashful-
L. I.
the blushes dyed her smooth cheek,
while her eyes shone with arconfident,
happy light.
"Then at lunch this noon father
asked me II IL liked you as much as
ever. Liked was not the word he
used, but never mind. we'll use it now -
"And what did you answer?" asked,
eagerly and expectantly.
'That not day went by that did
not think of you. And oh, Nelson" she
continued, her voice deep and full in its
earnestness, "that was not half the
truth. Why should hesitate to con-
Tess it to you, my dear friend?'
Here 1 made use of my disengaged
arm. I could not help it. drew her
closely to me and kissed her blooming
cheek.
"I certainly shall not go on If am in
terrupted," Florence said, in gentle re-
monstrance.
what did your fathertsay in an
swer?" I finally asked.
HE said he thought perhaps 1t was
unjust to both of us to insist on your
keeping the promise"
"Did he say that?" exclaimed. "Then
Florence" but really 1t is enough to say
that the dear girl promised to be my
wife. even though the suspicion should
not be removed from me, providing Mr
Morley's consent could be gained; and
she moreover promised to do all she
could to help me gain his consent.
When we arrived at the Cross roads
Florence insisted on riding her horse
the rest of the way to her home.
A thought occurred to me after had
assisted her to remount. I laid my hand
on the bride to restrain her going.
"Do you mind If ask. you q ques-
ton ?" inquired.
"Assuredly not"
Then tell me, do you see much Of
Horace Jackson7 Has he,asked you to
marry him7"
"Yes, he has asked me tomarry him. >
she replied, dropping her head. "In.
deed, there is q compact between NJ
so9%s soh,m ~ .sn-~ \
"Yes. Now, please do not be foolish
and feel badly over It. But have prom
ised Mr.. jackson that will marry him
If the robbery can be traced to you, and
the stolen property. or portion of It.
be found in your possession"
"Good heavensi Why did you give
him that promise?"