Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-26

and when he spoke OF a failure because Of
her preference for Mortimer. an acridity
crept into his voice that she knew meant
ruin for all time for whomever he had the
power to ruin. or felt disposed to.
II am sorry, Mr.. Crane" she began con-
ventionally, Il am sorry, l couldn't marry
a man without loving him. What you have
just told me must win regard for you be-
cause l know that you feel strongly, and l
think any woman should take an offer OF
honest love as the greatest Of all compli-
ments."
But I don't even ask for your love now
he interrupted.
"Ah, but you should. You shouldn't marry
a woman unless she loved you. AT any
rate, l feel that way about Il. or course, II
there were a chance Of my coming to care
for you in that way, we could wait, but it
would be deceiving you to give hope"
rs 1t because you care for Mortimer"
he asked.
Il think it is. 1 suppose IL / am to
help him I must be quite honest with you.
I do not want to talk about it, it seems
to sacred. 1 have even spoken less to Mr..
Mortimer Of love- she added with a palm
full attempt at a smile. you have said that
you care for me, Mr.. Crane, and 1 believe
you. You have been generous to my father
also. Now won't you promise me some
thing just for the sake of this regard? 1
suppose 1t is impossible to prove Mr.. Nor
timers innocence" she felt her own help
lessness, and who else could or would care
to accomplish it-"but 1t is In your power
to lessen the evil. Won't you take my word
that he is innocent and stop everything?
As you say. either Mr.. Mortimer or Alan
must be suspected, and IL it we're brought
home to my brother, it would crush me, and
my mother and father"
what can l do?"
Just nothing. / know Mr.. Mortimer has
determined to accept the disgrace, and he
will go away. You can make his load as
light as possible. for my sake"
Though 1t was to Cranes best interests,
he pretended to consent out Of pure chivalry.
What you ask" he said, "is very little. 1
would do a thousand times more for you.
There is nothing you could ask of me that
would not give me more pleasure than any
thing else in my barren life. But 1 could
not bear to see you welded to Mortimer. He
is not worthy-you are too good for him. I
don't say this because he seems more for
t%unate, but l love you and want to see you
happy"
The girl was like a slim poplar. The
strong wind Of Cranes clever pleading and
seeming generosity swayed her from her
rigid attitude, only to spring back again, to
stand straight and beautiful, true to her love
and faith in Mortimer.
You are kind to me-" she said simply;
II wish I could repay you"
Perhaps some day l may get. a reward
out of all proportion to this small service"
She looked fair into his eyes, and on her
lin hnUann1 20 I~HNH.y --laNN,I
smile, as though she were wishing that he
could accept the inevitable. and take her
regard, her gratitude, her good opinion Of
him, and not wed himself to a chimera
which would bring only WEAKNESS Of spirit
in return for his goodness.
"You will be repaid some day." she an
swered. 'for I feel that Mr.. Mortimer's
name will be cleared, and you will be glad
that you acted generously"
"Well, this will give him a better chance"
he said, evaslvely. tits not good to crush
a mar when he's down. l feel that no one
connected with the bank shows him the
slightest disrespect. OF course, he'll have
to go; he couldn't remainu under the cir
cumstances, he wouldn't"
They had turned into the drive to Ring
wood house.
I'VE are home now" she said. ''and /
want to say again that I'll never forget your
kind promise. I know you will not repent
Of your goodness"
Mrs. Porter had seen Allis and Crane to-
gether in the buggy. This incident pleased
the good woman vastly.
Allis' success with Lausanne had taken
a load from her spirits. She was not mer-
cenary, but there had been SO much at
stake. Now in one day Providence had
averted disaster, and she had awakened
from a terrible nightmare of debt. The
sunshine OF success had warmed her hus-
bands being into hopeful activity. a bright
ness was over his spirits that had not been
there for months. 1t was like an augury of
| completed desire that Crane should come
the day of their good fortune with Allis.
II she would but marry him there would be
little left to worry about. So 1t was that
Crane. perplexed by his recent love check.
and Allis, mired In gloom over her hero's
misfortune. stepped into a radiancy of
exotic cheerfulness.
The girl bravely sought to rise to the oc-
c%asion. Gliding her heavy heart for its
unhlial lack OF response.
Crane, accustomed to mental athletics,
tutored his mind into a seeming exuberance,
and playfully alluded to his own defeat at
4 ~ VI Al NAV "a AAauAonnCs
There was no word OF the bank episode,
nothing but a pean of victory.
Cranes statement to Allis that he was
going out to Ringwood to see her father
was only an excuse. He soon took his de-
parture. a stable boy driving him back to
the village.
There he had a talk with the cashier.
Mortimer was to be asked to resign his
position as soon as his place in the bank
could be filled. No further prosecution was
to be taken against him unless Crane de-
cided upon such a course.
"In the meantime you can investigate
cautiously" Crane said. land keep quite to
yourself any new evidence that may turn
up. SO far as Mr.. Mortimer is concerned,
the matter is quite closed"
CHAPTER xxx.
Crane returned to New York. his mind
working smoothly 10 the hun OF the busy
wheels beneath his coach.
This degrading humiliation Of his rival
must certainly be turned to account. With
Allis Porter stil believing in Mortimer's
innocence, the gain TO him was very little;
he must bring the crime absolutely home TO
Mortimer. but In a manner not savoring OF
persecution, else the girls present friendly