Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-09-20
tand, I think, just how you must look

stand, I think, just how you must look
at it."
1--WE are very. very sorry for you,
Mr.. Oakley. I want to explain my
manner last night. The whole situa-
ton was so excessively awkward. 1
am sure you must have felt it"
II did" shortly.
"Oh, dear, l hope you didn't think me
unkind."
NO" Then he added, a trife weari-
ly: ITS taken me all this time to real
lie my position. l suppose l owe you
some sort Of an apology. You must
have thought me fearfully thick skin
ned" He hoped she would say no,
but he was disappointed. Her con-
science had been troubling her, and
she was perfectly willing to share her
remorse with him since he was so
ready to assume a part of it. She was
as conventional as extreme respecta-
bility could make her, but she had new
er liked Oakley half SO we'll. She ad-
mtred his courage. He didn't whine.
His very stupidity was il its way ad-
nirable, but it was certainly too bad
be could not see just how impossible
be was under the circumstances.
Dan raised his eyes to hers. Miss
Emory, the only time l remember to
have seen my father until he came
here a few weeks ago was through the
grating of his cell door. My mother
took me there as a little boy. When
b died l came west, where 10 one
knew me. I had already learned that.
because of him, l was so-.e4ow j!l e.
and condemned too. 1t has a.wus
been hanging over me. have AWAY
feared exposure. l suppose e.!
hush it up after awhile, bat there WI!
always be some one to tell il 10 vino.
ever will listen. 1t is no longer a Sc.
cret."
WAS it fair to your friends. Mr..
Oakley. that it was a %secret:"
Il can't see what business it VAS of
theirs. 1t is nothing have done. and,
anyhow, l have never had any friends
until now l cared especially aboat.'
"Oh!" and Miss Emory lowe.r,. her
eyes. So long as he was mere, de-
termined and stupid he was SAFE. bu,
should he become sentimental it might
De embarrassing for them both.
You have seen my father. Do Won
tnlnk from what YOU can judge from
appearances that he would kill a man
IN cold blood: 1t was only after wears
OF Insult that it came to that. and then
ue other man was the a-srcsso~
What my father did he did in self de-.
-ense, but | am pretty sure YOU were
not told this"
he was swayed by a sense of duty
toWard his father and g desire TO yindi-
cate minnie was so passive and en-
ourlng. The intimacy of their relation
had begotten warmth and mnath
1neS nad been drawn nearer and near
er each other. The clannishness of his
olood and race asserted itself. 1t was
d point OF honor with him to stand nm
ior us friends and to stand up for his
1ather most of all. Could he, he worl6
nave ground his heel into RIDERS face
LOT MS part in circulating the garble1
version OF the old convict's history
some one should suffer as he had heen
made to suffer.
"of course Mr.. Ryder did not know
"nat you have told me-" Constance
sand hastily. She could not have told
why, but she had the uneasy FEELING
mat Grif required a champion ,hot
he was responsible.
Then o did hear IT from Mr..
Ryder"
she ala not answer. and Oakley. fax
ing her silence for assent. continued.
don't suppose it was told Won oil.
uueF mat he was pardoned because ~
uh act OF conspicuous heroism. that -,
the FISK OF his own life he saved ~,
i'es OF several nurses and patients IN
the hospital ward OF the prison w,,..o
Ne was confined He looked innuyr.
'us'S NJ Constance. but she was s,rI
Ss'eh' Miss Emory, my father cnm,
10 me 10 all lutenis an nbsolut. s,r.,
ger WHY, even feared him for p,
aiah hho" the Kind Of man Ia. vos
pu' ! nave come 10 have a great MOO.
non "hd regard for him r.sn.c,
MN loo. most thoroughly Their. i,
oot ~ bouf Of the day when IA. -,