The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1905-05-18
CHAPTER XXXIV.

Leslie sat at her desk, but the paper
before her was untouched save whore
the dry pen in her hand had pricked
strange patterns-circles, curves and
angles intermingled like the tangled
thoughts they followed.
Her father was trickster.
a conspirator! He was worse. He
was treacherous friend. 1t had been
impossible for her to believe it even
when she saw him unnerved by sud-
den accusation, Historically pleading
extenuation and pitifully asking par
don. 1t was impossible to disbelieve
it when she heard the denials, contra
dictions, disclaimers, and retractions
that poured from his lips the moment
he recovered from the shock of dis
closure. She had but one answer to
his torrent of words-a demand for the
instant return of the authority given
him few days previous. And he had
refused. How dare he refuse her any
thing after employing her to perfect
his treachery! All her love for him
seemed to have withered and died be-
fore the one furious blast Of rage which
that refuse kindled.
She was no longer angry. She did
not hate him. But the power she had
put into his hands should not, must
not be used against John Kennard!
What could she do? Suppose she went
TO Maddox and asked his advice? She
would have TO tell him the whole
story-the whole pitiful, humiliating
story.
Leslie's cheeks famed at the
thought, and her dry eyes ached for
the relief of tears that would not
come
If she could revoke the
power delegated to her father, would
she have the courage to take any fur
ther steps? 1t might involve public
scandal; II could not fail to cause pri-
vate gossip What would John Ken
nard think of the woman who openly
defied her own father in order to as
sist a man who had no claim upon
her, and that man her fathers oppo-
nent7 There would be no concealing
her purpose. II would be plain as the
light of day. And for it there could
be but one explanation. No man-no
matter how modest or self-deprecia-
tive--could avoid an inference so forced
upon him. Unless the whole story
were told? Brt II could not be told!
He would be geuerous-she knew it.,
He would look away with manly hon
or-he would be chivalrous in every
way-but she would be at his feet and
there could be nothing for her but
pity. And Pity would kill her!
Was the need for action so imper-
tive, after all? Was it not merely a
business quarrel? Was she not plan
ming, with woman's impulsiveness, a
move for which there was no neces-
sity, and which might only result in
making her ridiculous? Were the
votes she was proposing to give John
Kennard really hers? II her father
purposed making bad use of his vote.
was not this between him and his
conscience? Would she better 1t by
appropriating his power under cover
of merely technical right? But he
had said the shares were hers, and the
failure of the Milling Companies ex-
planned why he desired to have no
property in his name. She had more
than a technical right. But II she did
not exercise 1t, what then? The COM
pany would still go on, and Yes, she
remembered. John Kennard would be
ruined. And the men and women for
whom he was fighting? Could she ever
face him again II, with the power to
prevent his enemies from succeeding.
she did not use II? Would not this
forever stand between them? Would
she not hear the accusation interrupt
ing every word he spoke, mocking her
every answer? ffg bHf
No, these were her thoughts. not
his! She dishonored him by hesits-
tion-dishonored the man she loved!
Yes, let her say II bravely. And the
man she loved would some day know
that he had no better friend And
meanwhile? And afterward? Well
what matter!
Circles. curves and angles, crossing
and rscrpssing one another, intsrtwin.
ing. separating, ending TO begin anew
--forming maze whose secret was {
young giSl's heart.
$50