The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1905-04-20
CHAPTER XIV.


Kennard's pen darted rapidly across
the page that was to carry his answer
to Miss Harlan's invitation. The
words wove themselves together with
hideous facility.-witty words; words
which Knocked and laughed and
sneered. twisting. knotting and plait-
ing sentences weli-nigh impossible to
construct, wholly impossible to forget.
Each line was a snake-like lash that
hissed and glittered as 1t fell, binding
the writer and goading him to new
fury. 1t was written with bursting i'm
patience, directed. stamped, and posted
without rereading.
When he returned from mailing 1t,
Kennard was still breathing heavily
from his hurried errand. He crossed
the room and stood before the window,
pressing his hot forehead against the
cool glass.
How was It possible that he had been
deceived all this time? 1t could only
have been accomplished in one way.
lie would have seen through a trans
parent rouge like Joshua Harlan long
ago If his daughter hadn't stood before
him. 1t had been cleverly manipula-
ted, but once the woman's skirts were
swept aside the plot was plain enough.
Her immediate interest in the factory
oh, wasn't that touching! Just the
bait to hook his widespread mouth!
Then the visit to the factory-papa
declining. That was del
icate maneuver, quite lost upon the
hungry gudgeon. Then the recommen-
dation Of non-union man, in the hope
Of causing strike and sowing the
seeds of discomfort. BY Jove, she did
that prettily! II was worthy Of bet
ter game. And then the bargain,
whatever 1t was, with the agitator Nc
Mannis, and his attempts with the fac
tory inspectors. probably to SOW the
seeds Of discomfort more widely. That
was almost unnecessary, and scarcely
as subtle at the other moves. All, yes,
but that was probably McMannis' own
cast. She would have had no hand in
such clumsy angling. But the friend
ship with Culver showed her touch
again. He was to steal the informa-
tion which would allow competition
to seize whatever back-handed diplo-
macy failed to attract And that was
the play which had finally landed him!
1t was all part and parcel Of one big
scheme to get control of his property
and rob him in one way or another.
Well, the end was not yet, and those
who thought 1t was mistook their
man!
He could remember a conversation
had long ago-God! it must have been
ages ago! And yet her voice spoke
the words, and hers was the face that
interpreted them as she sat in the
cosey, fire-lit room asking and answer
ing questions.
..."What qualities would I choose
for woman were ! limited to three?
My first thought would be sincerity,
tact, and loyalty. might want to
revise that list on maturer considera-
ton"
"And for a man?"
"The same. Sincerity, tact and 10y
atty"
What about courage?"
do you mean moral or physical
courage? Moral courage is more a
requisite that a quality. One has to
have that in order to live at ALL"
81 was thinking of physical cour-
age"
81 should not name that among the
hay he
were towards, and more heroic because
Of their cowardice. Physical bravery
is largely matter of nerves. Don't
you think so?"...
Could he have spoken the words he
had written, face to face with hel
whose voice was sounding through
those questions and answers? II not
he was a coward to have writer
them-worse than a coward to have
written them as he did. And yet HI
loved her even in that paroxyism o
rage, and while he stabbed with ever!
word, would love her II she confessed
with her own lips to every act he hat
suspected. But she could not be guilty
There must be some explanation, SOM
escape from the horrible, haunting
facts.
She must not read that letter. II h
telegraphed her now, she would no
open 1t. but she would have to be toll
the reason.
He sat down at his desk and pickle
up his pen.
He would write another letter nov
But which would she open first? II
could send It by messenger and ask he
not to read the other. And tell he
the reason? No, that was impossible
She must not get that letter. She mus
never know.
He wrote a formal note deGinin
her invitation. directed. and stampe
it, and crossing over to the windo
again, gazed into the night.
| A fierce gust of wind drove the raj
In q sparkling shower against tt
pane, binding him for the instant, an
driving him from the glass. When
peered out again, the skyline vi
black - ink. The lights In the crol
had disappeared. He looked hurried
ly ct his watch. Half-past clever