The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1904-01-28

KANE HALTED IN DOUBT As TO MS
RECEPTION AND OF WHAT MIGHT
BE COMING.
prise offering his hand, which the cui-
prit gripped with fierce tcuacity, a
great gulp in his throat the while. In
his bruised and beaten state of mind
the cool nonchalance and semi-senial-
ity of the others manner was like a
pat on the head to a pariah dog that
has been uniformly kicked and cutfed
all around camp.
II received your letter about the
money" said Dysart, and I'm bound
to say that you've tried to do the hand
some thing, as | told Sir Arthur.
cant quite make IT out, Kane. BY
rights, suppose | ought to hate you,
and all that sort of thing, don't you
know but for the life Of me I'm not
able!" and the speaker save dissat-
isfed sort of chuckle. perhaps it's the
life out yonder; one gets used to giving
and taking hard knocks and running
all sorts of risks, It's part of the
great game | won't say but what if
I'd come up with you at the Cape
there'd been a lively sort of reckoning
between us; but somehow | cant call
you down here at home when we've
eaten each others salt and been such
uncommonly good friends
He paused and pulled his cigar, as
if to give Kane a chance to speak, but
all the latter's old audaci had de
serted him, and he paced slowly back
and forth by Kicks side, his gaze
clouded and his brain dullod.
Perhaps it's on account of Stella"
Dysart went on musinely, as if loath
to cease wondering at his own pacific
state of mind. "Sho's hard hit, Kane
worse than any of us, I'm afraid.
What's to be done?" stopping short in
his walk and facing him.
Kane groaned and staggered, and
would have fallen but for the help Of
a friendly tree trunk, against which
he leaned his hand heavily in an eX-
cess of bodily weakness and mental
abandon.
Il won't insult you by asking if you
love her Rick went on, ITS plain
to be seen tho liCtlo woman loves you
with all her heart and soul"
'Do not keep her from me-" burst
from the tortured breast Of the other.
81 have no right to ask it, know,
but if | do not see her it will kill us
both"
That's about It, | iragine," said
Rick, sententiously. I'm up the same
tree myself" he continued With a con
scious laugh, "and | know how it
would feel"
"Of course, | rclinquish I'll claim to
her" said Kane, Il know that's hope
less after what has happened, but"
"Now, look here, Kane" interrupt
ed Rick, "I'll undertake to square Sir
Arthur, and seeing that I'm the in
jured party fancy he won't have much
to say Suppose Stella agrees to marry
you-in view of the facts you won't
want to live in England"
The world is wide" answered Kane,
raising his head, "A CLEAN of hope new
born in his eyes. Il dare not ask you
to be my friend. but | do ask you to
trust me! | have had bitter lesson,
and have paid dearly for my crime
Like most healthy and sane English
speaking men, Richard Dysart hated
heroics or anything approaching a
scene. SO he simply clabped the other
on the shoulder and said blully:
'fEbat 4, al riUbt ola ,nau' Ha,,I Ian,
and good luck, Wait here and I'll
send Stella to talk TO YOU" And
whistling to his dogs, who had been
nuzzling each other by the old lych-
gate, Rick strobe away into the fast
gathering dusk.
Soon Kane saw the little cloahed and
hooded f snre approaching through The
private woodland path that led from
the Denecrolt domain. Slowly she
came towards him, her veil down. nor
would he seem 70 presume or PREJUDICE
her attitude by advancing to meet her.
Bitter sorrow and vain regret had
set their seal upon his finely chisolcd
features, while affection unuttcrable
and unspelkable cleaned in his eyes.
With an inarticualc cry she tottcred
into his arms; shaking with sobs, her
head sunk on his breast.
With self-accusing words he stroye
to soothe her, putting back the re-
bellious tcndrils Of hair that iruRod
her temples. by degrees he Gained
her agitation, and poured balm into
her aching heart lie told her anew
of his undyine love, and that it was
because Of this cnnoblng passion he
had schooled himself 10 the confession
which had raised up a well-nigh i'm
passable barrier between them
If | had not loved yon 50 well, dear
est" he concluded, II could not have
brought myself to face H.
And now love you All tho better"
she exclaimed. smiling upon him