Mower County transcript., 1904-01-20

to meet him half way-perhaps be-
cause of his general liking for the
man. So when, after the usual salu-
tations and inquiries, he came to the
point simply and directly with :. -
. "As the head of your family, Sir Ar
thur, am come to ask your sanction
to your sisters engagement to me-, the
baronet smiled and said:
Eyes, received hint to that effect
this morning, coupled with command
that was not to 60 out. Well, Mr.
Kane, what has the culprit to say for
himself? You know it's a pretty Sc
rious matter to rob brother Of his
only sister, particularly when that
brother is bachelor!"
THE only extenuation I can plead,
Sir Arthur, is that the lady will be
making another poor bachelor the hap
piest man on earth.'
"Oh, if you put it in that way"
laughed the baronet, Il can have moth
ing to say, except that l do not know
anyone to whom l would sooner trust
stella's happiness" And so saying he
offered his hand.
"The lawyers can attend to the set
Elements, l suppose" he continued,
land from what have seen and heard
Of your resources, Mr.. Kane, l opine
there is little danger of your wife eve,
coming to want
They both laughed at the jest, and at
this OppOrtune moment Richard
strolled in. -.
Here, Rick" exclaimed Sir Arthur,
"you are just in time to be introduced
to your future brother-in-law. Shake
hands and congratulate each other"
AS Rick came forward his manner
was most cordial. The mornings rec
objections of the night before had ap-
parently left no unpleasant taste, and
he took Kane in all seriousness and
sincerity for what he had appeared to
be.
"See What comes of my leaving
home," he said ruefully. II find the
family running at loose ends when I
return and my little sister about to be
carried off into captivity. But you
have my sincere congratulations and
good wishes, Mr.. Kane. I wish our ac-
quaintance had begun a little earlier
out yonder. l rather think you and I
together could have pulled off some
big things
Kane could only bow his acknowl-
edgments, as was perhaps natural un-
der the circumstances, and was GER
tainly safest.
Rick knew, out of his own expert
ence, what the other would wish next,
and said tactfully, with quiet smile
lifting the corner of his tawny mus
tache:
You'll find Stella arranging her
flowers in the morning room and keep
ing an eye on the door. We shall see
you at luncheon, I hope?"
With grateful assent and a fare
we'll bow Kane took his way in the
direction indicated, and as he was
careful to close the portals after him
we will not intrude
Proudly elated, he rode homeward
in species of physical and mental ex-
altat1on, in which mood he conulnueu
for several days.
But the reaction, inevitable to man
of his acute temperament, ere long ap-
peared He had failed to reckon with
foe within which night and day as.
sailed the fortress of his iron-clad will
and determination to see the thing
through. The simple faith and cour-
tesy and confidence with which he had
been received for what he claimed tc
be by those two English gentlemen
did more to undermine his purpose
than if they had held him at suspi.
cious arms length.
Moreover, he was now a daily Wis.
1tor at Denecroft, and, treated already
as one of the family, he dined OF
lunched there more often than al
home. His relations with Richard be-
came more and more intimate and con
fldential. Again and again the sub
1ect of the latter's adventures in South
Africa was touched upon. Once, in full
family conclave, after dinner, he was
compelled to listen unflinchingly, an(
in the full glare of the brilliantly light
ed room, to graphic recital of tn,
tragedy on the banks of the Moo
river, to feign indignation, horror ant
surprise, to join in conjectures as t,
the identity of the criminal, and dis
cuss plans for his exposure and pun
ishment. He also learned, to his dis
may, that Richard had set an inuuir,
on foot to achieve these righteou!
ends.
And all this under the warm glance
OF the girl whom he loved dearer tha,
life, and whose manifestations of af
tectionate trust and loyal admiration
were thereby turned into so man
scourging whips of steel.
In short. the situation was daily be
coming one long, intolerable tortur
alike'to Kane's manhood and his love
Remorse Knocked at his endeavors t
lift the incubus.
CHAPTER TX.
The dual wedding of Stella an