Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-10

courtesy I'VE call this Gods country.
SIR" he said. II have Travelled far in my
time, but 1 have never seen anything to
compare with this bluegrass region OF
Kentucky
st is certainly exquisite. Drake. would
you mind coming for walk? have
something I want to consult you about !.
After while. First. l want to tell
But the Judge interposed mo! No!
Tom, not now" he said. Run along and
take your walk. Tonight, If you want to
speak, I'll hear YOU But remember-as we
tell the prisoner at the bar-anything you
may say will be used against you, Run
along now With gesture OIL ..nality he
waved the young men off the porch.
For little while the two walked silently
along. the real Drake swishing viciously
with his cane among the weeds that grew
by the road. Look here, Stafford he
burst out at last. DO you think you are
treating me quite fairly?"
Perhaps not. OF what do you complain?
"Of everything. You are not playing fair.
If hadn't appeared when l did you would
have told the judge everything.
Probably l shall tell him yet. BY the
way, you appeared very opportuneiy-for
you How did il hapnen?"
Il was listening" defantly. you can't
blame me. l was in the parlor and heard
your whole conversation It's lucky did.
confound it. man, you wouldn't be so cruel
and gone-tust as uncle has made his Will
and everything is safe."
That's just it. It's dirty trick we
are playing here, and I'm ashamed and
tired of it. We're deceiving that splendid
old manufacturing and betraying HIM,
and I'll be damned
You should have thought of that before.
When you agreed to help me still had a
chance to win out for myself; not very
good chance prehaps, but still chance.
Now. if you betray me, l have none 1t
would be a treacherous trick to speak
now.
Stafford studied the others face for a
moment Yes" he said, moodily. Il see
your point of view. You have some right
on your side. l wish to heavens l had
never gone into the scheme. Oh! WELL
I'll think things over and give you warming
before | act
Drake drew a long breath. That isn't
all. Stafford he said; you've been max
ing love to Margaret
Stafford whirled around IN sudden anger
"You-you-' he spluttered.
"Oh, I'm not blind I've noticed 1t all
along. l didn't mind as long as only you
were involved, but now Well, l believe
that Margaret is beginning to care ~for
you, and l tell you plainly | won't nave II.
I may be playing a disreputable trick on
uncle-I suppose l am-but, by heaven, / m
a Kentuckian, and l won't have my cous-
ms affections trif1ed with won't nave
her fall in love with Pennies adVenlurer'
sailing under false colors.
well. I'll be. A penniless adventurer,
eh. Sailing under false colors, Ell? rms
from you, from you! H's-its really
funny and Stafford laughed aloud.
Drake flushed hotly. Il know my own
skirts are not too clear he said, bitterly;
but 1 won't have Margaret trified with.
You must stop paying her attentions
And if | refuse?'
Then l shall tell her the truth,
THE truth! About you and me, do you
mean?"
Yes
But she will tell your uncle and you'll
lose your dollars.
u can't help that.
But a moment ago you were pesS''e
me not to tell him. ,,
THAT was a question of money; TINS
is a question of a klnswomah heal''
can't sell my cousins happiness even Ior
a million dollars Girls come ahead or DOL
lars, every time-in Kentucky at all events.
Come, Stafford, play fair. Stick 10 our
bargain You'll get one-fourth OF all uicie
leaves me. Surely, a quarter of a mliiloh
is enough for months time. Let II ~
at that; don't be greedy.
STAFFORD hesitated. Tn consider, ne
said. soberly and let you know tonlsnt.
l want TO say, however, that 1 lhinA ~
rather fine of you TO have SAID what !pu
have. You haven't hurt yoursel1 any py
the stand you've taken, 1 assure you. NOW
I NJ, going 10 turn back to the house anu 20
to nv room and think. No. don sollis
with me; l want to be all alone he lace9
about abruptly and strode rap na
the house, leaving Drake TO ioilo"' .,s
AS STAFFORD came within sight Oh ny
house he saw Margaret-the or1sIha a. VI 49,
nicture Drake had shown MIN on the 49, -
come out on the porch and bend over Hei
uncle; heard her cry out shalpAS ~
the servants running. .,rS ,,doe
..By George" he exclaimed ne U.s.
must have had another stroke. ne otoh n6
into a run and did not stop uii'ii .' ~
IA h1i
The Judge lay back gasping, whlie Mar
garet knelt by his side. 1t needed no SCI
ond look to see that the old man was dyins'
Margaret! Margaret! ne taltereo siUp-
dear, Don't worry, It's all right! It's
heen good day; now let 1t be good night.
W here's Tom? Tom! Tom! he caAeo'
feebly. ,ro,,,
hand into the wasted white one: IL was 700
late for explanations now. Here l am
SIR he said quietly. Here I am 49,
'Ah. Tom, Tom! Good! Tom ana Ma MAJ
me SO himself. He wants you to be ms
wife Dear, do you love him? Through
the gathering mists Of death the old man
tried to read the girls face
Stafford looked at her with his heart III
his eyes. do you, dear?' he asked softly
do your
''Oh. yes, yes! uncle, I do! l do!
A look of contentment came over the
Judge face. Win II great tIiOIl ic plCNo-4e
the hands of the two together and clasped
them together. Thank God he murmur-
ed, with a sudden sinking of his frame.
Stafford looked at him for an instant. He
is dead" he said gently.
Dead" The words were a shout as
Drake bounded on the porch Dead! Good
Godr' Then, he saw Stafford and Mar
garet still standing hand in hand. his an
ger rose. What does this mean?" he de-
manded.
Margaret shrank back. Not now. Not
nowi' she said family.
But Stafford drew him to her gently. I'VE
might as well have it out now, dear" he
said quietly. He turned to Drake. Miss
Morton has promised to be my wife," he
gravely.
Your wife. Never l told you-Marga-
ret it's too long story to tell now, but
that man is not Tom Drake. His name is
Stafford: he Is an adventurer-nobody
knows who. II is / who am your cousin.
Margaret looked al him calmly. II know
that" she said simply.
"You-know-that! Drake gasped in as
constituent.
Yes. l have known it from the first.
You see, / have known Mr.. Stafford for
good many years. 1t was because of me
that he went to South America, and it was
because of me that he accepted your pro-