Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-08-09
BY N. HARBIN
AUTH "Abne Daniel" "The
Lando Of "The
North Walk Mystery"
Substitute
Copyrights, 1908 by HARPER 6 BRoT HERS


or and leaned over him. cat any rate,
/ am wrong now, for l ought to slap
your face And l want to say to you
l would do 1t but for the respect have
for the people you are visiting; that's
all that saves you. sir I've met con-
temptible, cowardly ours before, but
you
You can say what you wish to me, :"
Telfare painted. Il shall not resent 1t.
Men Of my class do not fight men Of
yours. You can't insult me, Buckley.
What you say does not affect me in the
slightest Men OF honor
'You have no honor to lean on" burst
from Buckley's lips. mo man has hon.
or who deliberately insults man who
is as helpless to resent it as l am in
this case You would strike woman.
You are cur Telfaree'
Telfare was painting again, but his
eyes fell beneath Georges fierce stare
1t looked as II he were actually afraid
Buckley might suddenly strike him in
the face.
You have not heard what l intend
to PROPOSE" he faltered. II have 1t In
my power to pardon your father, who
is now at tho coal mines. can do this
simply by signing my name to pa
per- and If you
THAT is what you want to propose"
George shrnnk back In bewilderment
The awful significance Of the proposal
stunned him. drove his rage momenta-
rily from his brain. set him QuiyerinY
from head to foot. He sat down on the
bench opposite Telfare and lowered his
face to his hands. His fathers liberty
was within his reach.
TeHnre chuckled CONTEMPORARY.
"Ah, I see I hit you between the eyes!
I reckon you are sorry now that you
didn't wait Till I had finished before
you dared to-but that may pass. I
simply will not degrade myself. Buck
ley, by visiting lady who is receiving
a man Of your standing-eyen she is
led only by her sympathies, any II you
will give up all claim to her and agree
never to approach her on an equal foot
ing again, I will nberate your father.
or course, you understand. I'd want
some sort Of petition to come to me-
only a few names Of his neighbors will
debut
"And your object?" George asked,
looking up.
"Well, that's a private matter" an
swere1 Telfare, but may as we'll ad-
NIT that my object Is to marry Miss
Cranston. and. as she evidently is actu-
ated by sort of pity. admirable In
woman, for you in your misfortune. !
simply want to remove you from fur
Their contact with her without having
openly to request the step Of her or her
parents. God knows I'm not Jealous OF
you! 1t Is not that 1t Is only the idea
Of our visiting here as social equals"
George stood up. He had something
to say, and it rang in Telfare's ears
long after the words were spoken.
"My father, Telfare," he began. was
convicted for stealing, and no doubt
Justly, but he was an unlettered, igno-
rant man. He was thief, but you, Tel
fare, are lower than he. for, with your
opportunities for knowing right from
wrong. you degrade your ofice-the Of
fee given In trust to you by the state
to advance your own personal inter
ests. You are more objectionable than
my father. As for my having any
claim ON the lady you mention, have
none, and 1t would be dishonorable for
me to trade in q commodity don't
possess. But hold on; l am not through.
I want to add that II my accepting
your proposition meant that l lent the
weight Of straw toward making Miss
Cranston your wife. I'd refuse with my
dying breath. l could not live know
ing that the purest and noblest woman
God ever made was through an act OF
mine living with loathsome reptile
lihe you. II my father stood on the
gallovvs condemned to death and l
could save him by allowing you to
touch Miss Cranston's hand in lawful
wedlock should let him die"
"You mean to refuse your fathers
freedcmi" gssped felfxre.
"Yes. refuse. I am trying, Telfare,
to show the world By my life that I
have not Inherited my parents weak
ness. I shall not depart from that rule
by entering into dshonorable COM
pact with 4 man az base as you are,
regardless Of what 1t means to me-"
"YoHd b1tter think this over, Buck
ley" laid the governor. "You are mad
now"
II have nothing else to say" replied
Buckley. ''and, to show you how little
regard have for your wishes, shall
keep my engagement with Miss Gran
ston this evening And. turning, he
walked ahead OF Telfare to the house
and into the lighted parior. A servant
took lis hat and told him Miss Gran
ston had gone into the garden, but
would raekn In moment. While he
was waiting the governor entered the
room and eat down. He was pale,
nervous and had desperate glare IN
his eyes. Then Lydia came In. She
was slightly flushed and had tube
rose In her hand.
I'm SO glad you came" she said to
George. Telfare had risen and stood
trying to appear at ease, but she did
not notice him.
''Do you like tuberosesT' she asked
Buckley.