Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-03-06
CHAPTER XXI.

ever meant to say TO .Margery Grier-
son on any of his visits to Mereside.
she never suffered him to follow out
any programme OF his own. She did
not do it now; and when he would
have spoken about the loss of the
launch and her own narrow escape
from drowning, she turned him aside
with word r.r
''It was an accident, and accidents
are always happening" she said,
lightly. Nobody was drowned, and
I hope nobody will be silly enough to
take cold. That wasn't why I was
hoping you would come"
"No?she said, following her as she
led.the way. to. wicker tete-a-tete in
the hammock corner.
/ NO. Sit down and be prepared to
give me what I have never had; d
good, sound fogging of advice-a
cool-headed mans advice. You'll do
it. if can make you understand how
much l need it,
: His smile was se1f-depreciative.
"You have hit upon the worst pos
sible man, 7 fear. I'm more in need
| of counsel myself than able to give
| it."
/ She regarded him with curious
! little smile twitching at the corners
of her piquant mouth. Are there
two of us?" she asked.
He saw beyond and behind the
smile; saw troubled depths in the
bright eyes, and was suddenly moved
to pity, though why she should be
pitied he could not guess. The pity
was the first step on the way to other
things, but this he did not suspect.
He was conscious only of a certain
| pleasure, in her nearness; fattered q
| little; too. as any man would be, by
her implied promise to take help
from him.
Il can't imagine your leaning on
anyone he said. "But if a broken
reed will serve your purpose"
"Hush!" she commanded. THAT is
conventional cant, and you know it.
You are not living up to your pose
here in Wahaska. You may think
you are, but you are not"
81 don't know why you should say
that"
IF I couldn't say it, I shouldn't
be asking your advice" she retorted.
Not many people here know the real
| ACiAhCCi vi AS"oiNs O0C L thAhh w.
Griswold smiled. Describe him to-
me, and I may tell you if you are
right
There was a little pause, and
though she was looking past him.
there was certain raptness in her
eyes that was new to him.
HE is very ruthless man at
HEART" she said, speaking slowly;
hard and unbending, and terribly
self-centered, but with eyes that see
! through all shams but his own. He
thinks thoughts and would do deeds
that would shock conventionality into
a state of coma; and yet convention
ality is his god. Am I right?"
Griswold took time to think about
it. Perhaps you are" he said, at
length.
/ II am going to assume it," she
went on, land ask him-the real
Kenneth Griswold. you know-to lend
me those hard, IMPLYING, all-seeing
eyes of his. May I?"
4 '.If I.say yes it is without preju-
dice to the right of protest"
She waved the condition aside in a
quick little gesture of impatience,
and what she said seemed altogether
irrelevant.
FIN your opinion. Me-. Griswold. how
far may a father go in demanding
the loyalty of his child?"
The question was so totally unex.
pected that Griswold had once more
to take time to think about it.
eff you mean in the ethical field.
should say his right stops this side
of wrong-doing."
"Thank you. Now supposing tina,
the father of young woman pressed
his demands beyond that point;
would She be justified In open rebel
Hon?"
I'm refusing, to be sure"
i mo, but in, rebellion-in open re
prisals, mean2''
81 don't know; possibly the cir
cumstances in some particular cas-,
might Justly open rebellion. Blu
/ Il can hardly conceive the condi
TONS"
!. Cant you? Let me see If I ca,
{ suppose them for you. Picture t,
, Yourself am unhappy marriage-th
unhappiest of all in a world of un
5 happy marriages. Let the blame o
; it lie where it may fall, on eithe
side. but remember that the man wa
/ brutal and the woman was weak
7 Suppose there was a child. who. in