Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1903-04-02

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. Il own that
I do possess power over him, but we
will talk as ii that did not exist"
A light sprang into Hates face. Had
she Judged this man wrongly?
ooh, you are more generous than
thought" she exclaimed.
He hesitated before he replied.
"Wait until you hear me before yol
Judge of my generosity. Do you abso-
lutely refuse to become my wife,"
Yes. You know that can answer
you in no other way"
Burt's face grew white as he
heard.
do my unchanging love, :ay hopes
in life. my whole future happiness
count for nothing with you?" he asked
impetuously. Cannot Thy devotion
move you? Can you not pity me? All!
you know nothing of the torn,ents 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.
t'Then cannot move you from your
decision?" 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 cannot
love you"
Burt rose from his seat unable to
control himself longer.
II know whose fault it is. thought"
he cried. 81 know it would have been
impossible but that you had finally
loved me we'll enough to consent if it
that Vance Rothesay!"
The hate in the tone with which he
uttered that name made Kate shudder.
"Dick Burt" she cried, also rising,
Il will not listen to you longer. Had
l never 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 rage that
was in his heart.
Eyes, there is great need for you 10
stay" he said. speaking in calmer
voice than his features would have led
one to expect-"so much need that l
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.
Il suppose you will not deny now
that you love Vance Rothesay?"
II deny that you have the least right
to question me"
cat least / have the power to do
that, and various other things, as you
will soon find. must say that did
judge that you loved Rothesay from
seeing you on the beach with him one
night. about week ago.
There was nothing but fear for her
lover in Kates heart as she ex-
claimed:
"No matter what did. thank him
for this disabled arm; but that is the
very least have to thank him for.
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:
Il am not ashamed of my love. Since
you know so much-yes, love Vance
Rothesay."
| Burt stood motionless as he heard
her words. and his face became livid.
| 1t 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 ever
since that night: still it was a severe
blow to hear it thus.
| Now. indeed. he could form some
| idea of the way she could love, for her
| face revealed even more than her
words.
She.bent her head to her hands. III.
| stinctively feeling that her counte-
nance spoke of the deep emotion with
which she had acknowledged her love.
| She could not bear that Burt should
| look at her when she thought Of Roth
csay.
/ Does your father know this?" he
asked
''No. 1t remained for you to compel
me to tell you" she said. Indignantly.
Burt. hardened and INSCRIPTIONS
though he was. hesitated to speak tina,
which he had cone to speak. Still he
had great faiti, in the effectiveness of
the hold he knew he now had.
Finally he said:
Il ask you-l insist upon your lis
tening attentivcly to what say-you
know. OF course, in what kind of po-
sition this Vance I.othesay stands now.
He is believed to have murdered Ralph
Caryl. Do you know how strong the
case is against him."
~ know there seems to be great rea-