The Minneapolis journal., 1902-07-16
BOOK vi. :
Chapter v.
SURPRISAL.

BOOK vi.
Chapter v.
SURPRISAL.
The portraits centered their gaze on Alice
@s she sat, with sunken head. waiting for
Gotheran. In her breast struggled the changes
of indignation and doubt, and f1ushes came
and went upon her face. Was the boys
charge true? But true or not, the accusa-
ton was testing her regard for Sotheran If
she should even suspect him he did not hold
her heart.
She strove to recall the lieutenant of the
woods, in voice and feature. Physical like
ness to Sotheran she could perceive; the man
had been tail and graceful But the face,
seen but for little while, and then charged
with strange eager passion, as was the
voice. seemed different from Henry's. And
the aspect of it which she best remembered
was his repulsive visage he FELL his fea-
'tures livid, streaked with blood. That was
the fact she thought of when she thought OF
him, and which had disturbed her earlier
dreams. There was no likeness there to
Sotheran, calm and elegant
The knocker thundered at the outer door.
and Mr.. Eller.- came downstairs.
IF it is a ysitor?' he asked deferentlaliy.
''If it is Captain Sotheran,' she answered.,
al will see him here alone
Mr. Ellery opened the door. Then Alice
heard Sotheran's voice. The front door smut,
she heard Mr.. Elery go upstairs again She
knew that Sotheran stood on the thresholo,
and could not bring herself to rise and turn
to him. She sat still.
He came a step nearer to her, but she DID
not move. He saw the color in her cheeks;
surely she had heard him. This was his mo-
ment; he had long been prepared for 1t. he
came still nearer, and when, unable to pear
the strain longer, she turned her head, ne
was kneeling on one knee, his hands OUT
stretched:
He was picture an ideal soldier, wonder
fully handsome in his uniform and po"oereo
hair His dark eyes glowed upon her. ne
murmured "Alice!" Any woman might be
proud of such a conquest, such lover, and
she, having but this moment doubted him,
felt self-reproach. But she must know the
truth She could not smile nor welcome him.
but looked upon him strangely as she rose
Henry" she said, come nearer
He rose and approached her Alice ne
responded simply. Il love you.
in his voice He seemed SO true that sne
hesitated to put her question. She was
troubled and showed it in her face.
.'Henry,' she said, first answer me.
''Wilingly," he replied.
She raised her eyes again. 1t was not IN
her to use artifice. But though doubt was
fleeing, her natural simplicity was better than
the CleVereSt QeVlCe W SUI plloo hiihA'
3 TT was not you she asked, to "nom
Frank El,ery trusted me in the woods?"
He was not on guard. The truth, tne
Iabominable truth, leaped from his eyes. An
ger followed it. Then he was~calm ana
was ready to deny. But she raised her mana.
~5t,feury!" she exclaimed, and shrank beiore
the revelation.
again the distorted countenance- The slgnt
sudden and odious was like blow, and she
all hut staggered. Yet she bore up and Sui
looked him in the face.
But he, seeing his complete unveillng, los'
his self f-control. His glance fell. For mo-
ment he could not face her; for an instant sne
aav his shoulders quiver. His hands clenched;
his teeth were set He stood looking at tne
floor Then with an effort he raised MS neao
Shame passed-the only honest shame he ever
felt-and he met her eyes
II will reDa-.' he said.
sRepay," she cried.
81 offer to marry you
'Repay," she repeated will you give
hack the lives of those Indians, my friends:
will vou restore the old man Benny to his sis
fer who lives here in this house? You sic"
him with your hand Will you give me my
father? The long wait killed him. Repay!
She had thrown the rags of his character IN
his face Not all his insolence could upholo
him against her denunciation, and for a mo-
ment he could not answer. But once more ne
commanded himself and sought TO retain "ha'
ground he could.
"Be reasonable" he said.
She made no audible answer, but he saw he1
lips repeat his words, and her eyes burned
him
1.-THE past is past" he urged. Nothing can
be done Let US be reasonable.'
d: Still she looked at him, unchanging, and
he saw that the moment was passing In which
his words might move her. Abruptly he
turned from reasoning to pleading.
s'Alice" he cried stretching out his arms
"I admit everything. 1 was brute; i have
been a coward; but was not myself. God
knows that j regret it, but l dared not con-
fess Alice he begged, II was weak, but
was not deliberate. Forgive. Let atone as
far cant
He seemed to pause for breath so had his
words shaken him. For single instant she
hes:tated But then he looked at her keenly
to mark his effect; and she saw
.'Contemptible!" she said.
Then like the wise man that he was, he
recognized his end. His pride came to his aid
and shamed him. He stood upright and reared
his head
'"Well," he asked haughtly, land now
what?"
She recoiled. His voice was harsh, his man
ner bold He eyed her-her, a woman-W1tf
sneer. This the real man! She started
away from this disclosure more, terrifying
than the first. The chair came under heI
hand. She seized and clung to it, looking al
him with widening eyes. She saw his evil
nature to its depths - p. -.
"Well?' he demanded with disdain. T.
so, .go!'' she breathed.. -
'tNo,'' he said; and he folded his arms, 81
stay 49,. .-
~ Her courage came to her. She raised her
head to front. his own. and met his sneer
with scorn. -. ..,s... - F..
This is you? she asked
She struck beneath his ar1nor and he strug-