Wallowa chieftain. [volume] (Joseph, Union County, Or.) 1884-1909, 1902-04-24
CHATTER NX

CHAPTER Xxx.
With the fatal will clasped in his
hand, Dysart goes straight 90 the small
morning room, where he knows he will
De sure 10 ind Vera. Twilight is begin
ming 10 fall, and already the swift herald
OF night is proclaiming the approach Of
ms k!ng. She starts slightly as ne comes
in.
i am sorry TO disturb you" says Dy-
saFt, with an effort at calmness, but il
was so necessary that | should come.
that"
Il am glad you hav. come. |. too,
was anxious TO see you" says Vera, a
touch Of nervousness in her tone. 4
you must know 1t is impossible that we
should stay here any longer. Our uncle,
who was our guardian, is gone and
she has risen to her feet and IS looking
at MIN in sore distress-"I have wanted
TO speak to you about it for a long time:
thought, perhaps. you would help US
10 ind another home" He can see that
she suffers terribly in having to throw
herself upon his good nature, to openly
demand his assistance. I'VE must leave
this. and at once" says she, stammering
q little, and with a slight miserable break
in her voice
You will not have to look for another
home, says he; this is your own
house"
oh, mo-" drawing back with naughty
gesture; 81 have told you it is impossi-
bic. | shall certainly not stay here"
As you will" quite as haughtily. at
VIII De in your power for the future to re-.
side exactly where you please, but if the
fear Of seeing me here is deciding you
against this place, pray be satisfied on
that point; | have no longer the smallest
claim TO consider myself master here"
Warned by change in his manner.
Vera looks at him.
Something has happened?" she says,
abruptly.
Yes; something find it difficult to ex.
plain to you
Still he manages to tell her all and to
show her her grandfather's will-the will
which MS father had suppressed all these
years.
But this is HORRIBLE" she says, faint.
iy, when he had finished. II won't have
1t. She throws out her hands as though
in remuneration Why should deprive
you of your home? Give me enough to
live on elsewhere with Griselda, but"
You are quick to fall into error" saws
he, grimly. Il have begged you already
to try to grasp the situation. 1t is /
it appears. | who''-he hesitates, and
after hnding it impossible to speak of
ms father, goes on-'whO have deprived
You Of your home. You must see that. |
beg, slowly, that you will not permit
yourself any further foolish discussion
on this subject"
He turns away abruptly. There is
something so solitary, so utterly alone in
his whole air, that without giving her
self time for thought she springs to her
feet and calls to him.
Where are you going? To sit alone?
70 brood over all this? Oh do NOT
Why, going swiftly to him and standing
before him with downcast lips and trem
bling fingers and quickened breath, why
not stay here with me for a little while
and let us discuss all this together and
try to see way out of it?'
My way is plain before ME; it wants
no discussion says Dysart, reso!utely.
refusing to look at her
You mean" TREMENDOUSLY. that vo,
will not stay?' One white hand hangipg
at her side closes upon a fold OF her soft
black gown and crushes it convulsively.
Il mean in an uncompromising tone,
that | fully understand your mistaken
klndneHs-the sacrifice Of your incliua-
tions you would mak-and decline to
profit by it."
y Oh are disingenuous. What Won
really mean is" in low tone. that van
will not forgive"
There is nothing to forgive, save nv
presumption"
lie opens the door deliberately and
closes it with a firm hand behind hin,
Vera, left standing thus cavaHerly in tba
middle of the room, with the knowledya
full upon her that she has been slightaJ
spurned, her kind intentions ruthlesSlv
flung back upon her, lets the quick. mas.
sionate blood rise upward, until it dvas
cheek and brow. She presses her hand
upon her thrObbins heart, and then all at
once it comes to her that she is no long
er poor, forlorn, but rich, one of the rich
est commoners in England. And with
this comes, too, sense Of deeper desc
Iation than she has as yet known. Drop
ping into chair. she covers her face
with her hands and cries as if her heart
is broken.