The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1901-01-17
ri guess you've heard about Ronald

Dcttucb, III DeHOoNeu ncT 10 uihbcmDie.
"IIc has murdered Sydney Hart"
Evelyn drew quick breath and re-
torted:
"He did IL In absolute
ly In sclf-dcfensei"
81 don't believe a word Of H."
Evelyn bowed her head, and passed
on up the steps, realizing that even II
she could justify her lover In Caro-
lines eyes IL would not benefit his
cause in the slightest, and she had
heart for nothing that could not light
en- his woe. but Miss Hnsbrooke was
not satisfied. Nagging was an amusc-
ment to which every braln-cell she
possessed was adapted. She followed
Evelyn into her room and closed the
door with significant care and soft
ness.
80 you see what you escaped" This
was her first shot, and she coolly
ranged her guns again on Evelyn, who
stood at the dresser, removing her
gloves and hat.
81 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.
Winklc has told me n thing or two.
intended to report IL to father II you
had not changed your tactics. Suppose
you had let your silly romanticism run
on, how would you have felt now?"
This sort Of gonding was maddening.
Evelyn turned upon the offender. ~
don't see how could be more miserable
than l am" she said, with sharp frank
rcss Of voice and look.
The elder girl grasped the speakers
arm and her bony fingers tightened on
1t. Evelyn" she said, raspingly, you
are not in love with that man?"
"Morc deeply, Caroline, than you will
| ever love--or ever could love anybody
with that stony heart Of yours. Yes, I
love him! II II would give him one mo-
ments relief, I'd go to his cell tonight
ard share his sufrerings."
Evelyn Hasbrooke!" Caroline stood
like n figure of stone. "You cannot
mean III"
But Evelyn simply sank into n chair
in the scmi-darkncss Of the room. Her
sisters voice sounded as IL II came from
n great distance.
81 shall not tell father" Caroline was
saying. at would humble him to the
dust. II would simply break his heart"
She paused. The plantation bell rang
for the last time. II was signal for all
loiicrcrs In the fields to come into the
quarter. custom which had been kept
alive since the days OF slavery. The elder
sister drew up a chair and sat down
near Evelyn.
"Tcll me how II came about" she
said.
For moment Evelyn seemed drawn
out Of u stupor OF gloomy reflections.
''Ile had threatened to kill Ronald y
she bcgan--"to kill him on sight-and
Ronald's brother gave him "a"
"Oh, mean how did you ever hap
pen to fall In love with such n creatur,
as he is?" broke In Miss lIasbrooke, al
most angrily. "Ilow can you admit
such thing, when you remember who
and what the Hasbrookcs are?"
III have never thought of them as be
ing gods, nor even angels" Evelyn
blurted out, and then she laid firm, de
termincd hand on her sisters arm. 81
must beg you, Caroline, to leave me
alone this evening, cannot bear "a
hear you run him down for what he
canno; help. Please go!"
| Caroline drew herself up from hcr
chair and moved to the door with a step
full OF dire prophecy. ~ shall not tell
father" she repeated. mo, shall no,
tell him."
"lIut shall" answered Evelyn. 81
am helpless to aid the man love-thc
man I'd die for willingly, but shall
not conceal the truth from single
soul. At least can do that much.
can be true to him.. i.shall not deny
him."
Caroline leaned on the swinging door
her cold, vindictivc face rested on her
arm. II was on the tip Of her tongue
to make an angry retort, but she cyi-
IDENTIFY thought dumb silence on her
part would bc more crushing, so with q
look Of forced incrcdulity on her face
she turned away. 81 shall not tell fa-
ther," came like n belatcd echo from
the hall. IL 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
pcrs. The soft light OF German stu
dent lamp brought his fine face out
strongly and clearly from the darkness
round him. lie 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 ne
was thinking OF making u will which
would divide his property equally be-
tween his two daughters. One of the
servants approached with n card.
Tell Capt. Winkle," said he, MS he
glanced at the card, "that cannot see
him tonight, unless It is something OF
Importance"
"lle said II was very important, suh."
The old man fumbled his papers with
nervous fingers.
at has come at last" was the thought
in his mind; but she shall not be CO.
creed. l shall never ask n child of mine
TO marry against her inclnations, and
Evelyn has acted strangely In regard to
him.
well, send him In here, Nebo, and
then see that we are not disturbed"
Col. Hasbrooke opened the door Of n
big iron safe and thrust into II his pa
pers. He remained standing, his eyes
on the door. Capt. Wrinkle wore riding
boots and held his gloves and whip in
his hands as he entered.
~ dropped In only for n minute, colo
nell" That was his greeting, but il
was a cold one, unlike the young on
cer's nsnnl snnNiIN Inlced- hls inne