Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1902-02-13
CuApTEn ~

III could" supplements he. gently.
He turns and leaves the room.
CHAPTER TX.
While the two girls were discussing, In
frightened way. the result Of Griselda's
lmprndenee, seaton was having tusEle,
sharp and severe. with bis father.
They are all alone In the world he
says.
Yes, yes" Acknowledges the old man
with a frown. Except for me-" hastily;
IL alone came 10 their rescue"
THAT Is true. II was quite what I
should have expected OF your
Why should you expect lt1 There was
no reason" says the old man. sharply.
1T was OF my own free will that took
them. DO you question my kindness to
themf What more am 10 do for theml
Would you have me kneel at their feet
and do them homage9 Have | not ex.
planned 10 you how dewlrous ann Of max.
Ing one Of them my daughterT Ha! l
have you there, think IL not that az
fectionE Am | not willing to receive
herr You should best know"
Yes says the young man, stonily, his
eyes on the ground.
why. look you; would give her even
you! You. My son! Ny Que possession
that has any good In it!'
you must put that idea out Of your
head once for all could not combat
a dislike active ss hers"
"Iier dislike? Hers? That beggar."
his face working. What dye mean, sir?
tell you Il shall be. Shallw
Talking like that will not mend mat.
ters. II certainly will not alter the fact
that l myself personally am objection
able to her. ! can see that Il Is almost
as much as she can do 20 be civil to me
to sit at the same table with me. en-.
treat you not to set your heart upon this
thing, for Il can never be-"
II tell you again that It shallr shrieks
the old man, violently. what! is the
cherished dream OF a lifetime to be set
aside to suit the whim Of a Eitl penni-
less creature3 She shall be your wife,
swear Il, though | have to crush the
consent out OF her" He falls back clum-
silly into his chair, huddled heap.
Seaton In an agony OF remorse and fear
hangs over him, compelling him to swal-
low cordial lying on the table near.
Here. sir. BE patient. Ali shall be
as you wish. implore you to think no
more OF this matter. Yes" In answer to
the fiery eyes now more ghastly than
ever In the pallld, powerless face, II
shall try my best to fulfill your desire"
He feels sick at heart as he says this,
and almost despicable; but can he let the
old man die for want OF word to ap.
peasO the consuming rage that has
brought death lowering with outstretch-
ed wings above himS And yet, OF what
avail Is II all? A momentary appease-
ment. Even as he comforts and restores
his father, there rises before his mental
vision that pale, proud, sorrowftil face,
that Is all the world to him, and yet,
alas! so little.
Vera having made up her mind to 60
to her uncle and fully explain to him that
neither she nor Griselda desire any
change In their way OF living, waits pa
tiently for Seaton's departure from his
fathers den, and now, at last, seeing
the coast clear, goes quickly forward
"Uncle Gregory. l wish to say some-
thing to you" she Is beginning, hurried.
ly, hating her task and hating her hearer,
when suddenly she Is interrupted.
"Hah! For the FIRST time, let me say,
am glad to see you," says the old man,
grimly. Hitherto | have been remiss,
fear. In such minor matters Of eti-
Quette. Sit down, l, too, have something
to say to you" He Axes his piercing
eyes on her and says, sharply: you have
met my son several timesT"
"Yes," says Vera.
"You like himY' with = watchful
glance.
II can hardly say so much" coldly.
"He is neither more nor less than . com
plete stranger to me-"
CAS- yet. Time will cure that; and l
speak thus early to you, because it IL
well that you should make up your mind
beforehand to Ike him." ~
"Why?" she asks,
Because In him you see your future
husband"
There Is a dead pause. The old man
sits with bright unblinking eyes fixed
upon the girl, who has risen to her feet
and Is staring back at him as II hardly
daring to understand. From red to white,
from white to red she grows; her breath
fails her, passionate indignation burns
hot within her breast.
"Absurdv' she says, contemptuously.
"Call It 30 II you WILL" with an offend
ed fash from his dark eyes, "but regard
1t as fact for all that. You will marry
your cousin, let me assure you"
THAT certainly shall not" decisive
y.
"That you certainly shall. Did you
not know that your marriage with my
son was the last wish, the last command
of your fatherW
He is lying well, so well that at first
the girl forgets to doubt him.
"My fatherT she says, with much
amazement HE never so much as men.
toned my cousins name to me-"
ITO me, however, he did. Do you wish
to see the letterf
This is bold stroke. Vera hesitates--
then, mo" says she, steadily. Even
IL my father did express such a wish.
should not for a moment accede to it.
shall not marry to please any one, dead
or living, except myself"
$50 you now think. We shall see," re-
turns he, In an Icy tone.