The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-04-16

you state and Of all you fancy. And
suppose were then to say to you that
was prepared to take upon myself
the responsibility of the child, to adopt
her as my own, to treat her In all re-
spects as If no doubt upon the subject
had ever existed. Are not you gen.
erous enough to see that it would be
better for her that it should be so, that
she should be provided for as could
provide for her, than for her to be
looked upon as your daughter, and
provided for only as you could provide
for her?"
The stranger stood up, his eyes
ablaze.
'I'd work my fingers to the bone for
her." said he, with excitement. 'Id
slave for her, starve for her. Look
here, you know 1 have ability; you've
acknowledged it. Do you think that,
| if once'I had an incentive to work, I
shouldn't have money at my command
! in a month";" .,-
Lord Catherington looked the man
straight in the eyes.
+ II don't doubt it, said he. But"
| His pause was significant enough.
The other took up the challenge at
| once.
Yes, I'm ragged, disreputable, any,
thing you please. But I wasn't al
| cared for me. I shouldn't be If she
cared for me now. Why, if I could
I find her." he went on, his black eyes
glowing like live Goals, his whole being
| transformed under the influence Of the
| passion that vibrated in his voice, that
made his eyes glisten, his whole frame
! culver, "and If she were to turn to me
and just say: Bob, forgive me- I'd
wipe out the past, I'd forgive her
everything, everything, and I'd begin
the old fight again, take UP the strug-
| gle, work, work till was blind, all for
! I-,,, @t~o
| would ever take from woman. Yes,
you lords, you rich men, you know
nothing of what a man like me can
feel. or Of the price he's ready to pay
for woman's love-
Lord Catherington was touched,
mans eyes. frenzy born as much Of
want, of drink, Of degradation as Of
disappointed love, of unappreciated
devotion. The situation grew more
difficult the more one looked at it.
He perceived that, if husband and
be able to twist the man again round
her finger, and the two might use his
affection for a little Ermyn as a lever
for extortion in the one case, as a per-
petual menace to his happiness in the
other.
What was to be done?
Even as he paused, running rapidly
over the points Of the case, he was
conscious of a change in the attitude,
in the expression of the man before
him. And looking up from the chair
| where he was sitting, head bent, with
frown on his face, Lord Gathering
ton saw his ugly visitors hand creep
toward the front of his ragged coat
with q gesture which reminded him
once more that, tho the man was pos
sibly to be greatly pitied, he was even
more to be feared.
The viscount stood up, and the
mans hand went down to his side
again.
We'll. why don't you answer me
Are you ready to give her up?" asked
the stranger, savagely.
Let US discuss this quietly reason
amly,' said Lord Catherington, cross
ing the hearthrug to ring the bell.
I'm the first place, you must have
something to eat"
mo, no; I'll touch nothing of
yours. I'll"
you will, you must You have no
in-Will against me, have your"
"N-n-no," mumbled the man, slight
ly abashed.
Then you can scarcely refuse from
me what would not refuse from you.
Green" said he, addressing the but
ler who entered at the moment Il
biscuits, sandwiches, whatever you've
got" He saw that the mans eyes
sparkled. and he affected to consider
where are the cigars I brought home
yesterday" said he, addressing the
servant.
TT don't know, my lord"
His master put up his hand to his
head.
Let me see. Look in my dressing
room, they may be there. And look
here" He followed the man quickly
to the door, and said rapidly, low In
1t
as you can, and keep watch in the
hall"
He turned just in time to see thu
stranger creeping towards him, will
the same suspicious air with which HI
had done so a few seconds before.
The moment he found himself face
to face with his host, however, thu
man drew back and looked away. Nor,
than ever convinced that the step h
had just taken was the only safe one
= Lord Catherington begged him to 81
[ down again and strolled towards tn
2 fire.
He had scarcely reached the hearth
= rug, however, when a sound reached
e his ears which froze his blood. I
q was the cry of child, quite low, onl,
l a sleepy cry, but so near that he knew
Q Beatrice and Ermyn could not hav
:. gone far.
| The effect upon the artist was cleo
. trical. He started up, sprang toward
!. the door at the inner end Of the room
Il and had almost succeeded in seizin
the handle when Lord Catheringto
overlook him and pushed him asid
: so violently, with SO much determine
ton, that the ragged man, not suffi
GENTLY robust to withstand such
I repulse, fell back sprawling on tn
I floor.
With starting eyeballs and a hideou
. cry of rage he struggled to get up
/. but his host, fearful of what Nigh
: happen If once the mailman caugh
g sight of the child whom he elaine
. as his, wrenched open the door, passe
- thru it and turned the key in tn
). lock just at the moment that the dis
= appointed man on the side hurle
=. himself against the panels.
r Lord Catherington found himseI
o trembling like a leaf. The long, gloo
. my apartment which he had now en-
q tered was the disused smoking-roon
: and the green morocco chairs an
r lounges had a ghostly look, as the
IF stood stiff1y round the room in regu
lar lines, as if they had never been So
o. upon within the memory Of man.
A few PAGES away, having evidentl
- sprung back from the door on hearin
h the scuffle on the other side Of i
e stood Beatrice, clasping the little on
l. in her arms, in an attitude Of para
J., wing fear.
a you! Thank Heaven!" cried sh
l., in hoarse whisper, as Lord Gather
Il ington came towards her.
There anothar l11poo az RI