The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1903-04-04
never have been my duty to obey him
in such a. commando. .


I never have been my duty to obey him
in such a command"
She spoke with more heat than she
had intended, and she sat with her
hands clasped on her lap, the fingers
pressed tightly against each other.
II was not thinking of my hold on
your father" Burt said. II own that
I do possess a power yer him, but we
will talk as If that did not exist"
A light sprang into Kate's face. Had
she Judged this man wrongly?
ooh, you are more generous than l
thought" she exclaimed. So
He hesitated before he replied.
wait until you hear me before you
Judge of my generosity. Do you abso-
lutely refuse to become my wife,"
".Yes. You know that I can answer
you in no other way
Burt's face grew white as he
heard.
do my unchanging love, my hopes
in life, my whole future happiness
count for nothing with you?" he asked
impetuously., Cannot my %.dcvot;cn
move you? Can you not pity me? All!
you know nothing of the tornlents of
love you have made me endure" +
His voice trembled with his excite
ment. This time he caught one Of her
hands and held it FAST, pressed be-
tween his own.
"You make my refusal very painful
to me-" she said, unable to help feel
ing panied for him, but still speaking
coldly and withdrawing her hand from
his clasp.
"Then I cannot move you from your
d%ecision?" gazing at her with blazing
eyes.
"No. And let me entreat you not
to prolong this conversation. 1t is no
fault of your or of mine that l cannot
love you"
Burt rose from his seat, unable to
control himself longer.
II know whose fault it is, thought"
he cried. IT know it would have been
impossible but that you had finally
loved me we'll enough to consent if 1t
had not been for that cursed nan
that Vance Rothesay!"
The hate in the tone with which he
uttered that name made Kate shudder.
Dick Burt" she cried, also rising,
II will not listen to you longer. Had
l lever seen any other man in the
world it would have been impossible
for me to have loved you. Let me- go
now. There can be no further need for
me to stay"
She was walking out of the room,
when Burt placed himself before her,
his features betraying the a ge that
was in his heart. =.
Eyes, there is great need for you 10
stay" he said, speaking in a calmer
voice than his features would have led
one to expect-"so much need that I
must insist on your being seated"
He took hold of her arm and led her
back to her seat, and then went on,
standing before her.
II suppose you will not deny now
that you love Vance Rothesay?" 4
II deny that you have the least right
to question me-"
cat least I have the power to do
that, and various other things, as you
will soon find. I must say that I did
Judge that you loved Rothesay from
seeing you on the beach with him one
night, about a week ago.
There was nothing but fear for her
lover in Kate's heart as she ex-
claimed: @
"No matter what I did. thank him
for this disabled arm; but that is the
very least l have to thank him for. I
insist upon your telling me If you love
him! Let me hear the words from
your lips If it is So"
Hates eyes shone more sweetly than
Burt had ever seen them as she an
swered:
II am not ashamed of my love. Since
you know sc much-yes, I love Vance
Rothesay."
Burt stood motionless as he heard
her words; and his face became livid.
It seemed to him that he had never
before so much desired her as now,
when he heard her avow this love for
Rothesay. He had felt sure Of it over
since that night; still it was a seveSe
blow to hear it thus.
Now. indeed, he could form some
idea of the way she could love, for her
face revealed even y more than her
| words. 2
She bent her head to her hands, in.
stincttvely feeling that her counte-
nance spoke of the deep emotion with
! which she had acknowledged nor love.
She could not bear that Burt should
look at her when she thought Of Roth
essay.
.Does your fathersknow this?" he
asked.
"No. It remained for you to compel
me to tell you," she said, Indignantly.
Burt, hardened and un%scrupulous
though he was, hesitated to speak that
which he had come to speak. Still he
had great faith in the effectiveness OF
the hold he knew he now had. &
Finally he said:
81 ask you insist upon your lis.
tening attentively to what I say--you
know, of course. in what. kind Of Q po'
sition this Vance Rothesay stands now
Heis belieyedato have murderedSRa q
4 Caryl.. Do you know how strong the
case Is against Mm?"
II know there seems to be greatjrea'
son for those who do not know him q
suspect him. she replied, an underlined
feeling Of alarm growing Up " n.S hcl
heart. $s s.ss / ia-.