Willmar tribune., 1906-10-31

she alluded 81 some sssnysterious. way
TO the night of his, struggle in \ the
wood. How much did she know? IT
could scarcely bes less than Ills own
knowledge Of; the AFFAIR, and 80 he told
her. 5z"ISpresume you are speaking Of
the night when was attacked, but I
did not see you. ! In fact - !" and he
, shrugged his shoulders, "I'm afraid my
wits We're wool-gathering, for saw no..
body, until the man sprang at me-"
With quick impulse to shield her
dead, she said: Father did not know it
was YOU"
Horror and surprise were blended in
his tone: "Your father? Then it
Susan Miller lowered her head un-
til the sunbonnet, hid her face. Mis-
understanding her silence and shrink
ing, Winslow spoke lightly: THAT
need not prevent your accepting cour-
tesy at my hands. I, bear no ill-will,
I assure you.'
Her eyes dilated with scorn, and she
seemed woman now, as she faced
him proudly: "You can talk so calmly
about it; you who killed him!"
Her words cut the air like knife,
and his wound panied afresh with the
sting Of It. Steadying himself with
an effort: I'm afraid don't under
stand you," he said. ''Your father
was my assailant in the forest, and you
say killed him.
Her silence gave consent, and he
continued, quietly: There is some
mistake; did not kill him."
She repeated his words slowly, as
if learning lesson. "You did not kill
him." There was more conviction
than query in her tone, for she believed
him already. And then, as belief in
him came, another suspicion fastened
upon her like a nightmare.
She listened, stock still, while he
told her all he knew, adding: MY only
weapon was pistol, which I could not
reach, had I wished to use it. You
heard no shot fred?"
She shook her head, and he went on:
"You must believe me, then. The
last sight I recall was the flash of
steel in your fathers hand"
He stood in deep thought for a mo-
ment, then: "They all think me guilty,
I suppose?"
She bowed, but before he could speak
hastened to say: "You need not be
alarmed, sir. None will think the less
of you; my poor father had no friends"
There was bitter shame and sorrow
in the short sentence, and Winslow's
heart stirred with pity. There were
many things he wanted to ask-why
her father had assaulted him, harm
less stranger, how she happened to be
present, and other questions which
might bring light upon the coil of un-
certainty. But he would not further
hurt this orphan girl, "It is no won
der you shrank from a hand you
thought stained with your fathers
blood, but" and he leaned gently
toward her, "but you will take it now."
She laid her soft palm in his with
out a word. Through her simple mind
ran a thousand thoughts which her
tongue had no power to utter. She
saw his generosity, and was grateful
for this mama of kindness in her
starved life. j, But only. the pressure of
her hand revealed her feelings only
the look in, her eyes, that, like the
fawn's of her own wild wood, told
much for lack of speech.
1T is growing late; do you live
far?"
"Yonder at the end of the lane.
'Then let us haste, or see, Charles
Vain will be there before US"
On they went through the sweet
scented night; the narrow way seemed
hemmed in by tree and bush and
creeping ivy that begrudged to man
even this tiny path.
Little was said by either. Sues
thoughts were busy. She was sad
dened by the brooding fear, that had
oppressed her since first she knew this
man was not her fathers murderer.
For if not he, who? None other was
near except-and an agony tugged at
her heart as she realized that Gerald,
too, was there! Her lover, who had
been threatened, provoked, perhaps,
beyond endurance. Had his, then,
been the murderous knife or arrow
(for none had known, nor cared to find
out which weapon had ended so
worthless ife)? ,..
: Was it, then, her promised husband
whose blow had locked her fathers
lips while yeta curse contorted them?
Winslow interrupted her quiet rev.
erie with a laugh. "Do you know that
I hope soon to be a landowner? I
am going to take up a thousand arp
ents, but have not yet decided upon
the location. You see, / intend to take
plenty of time to fulfill every require
ment of these erratic laws. The toma-
hawk mode Of adjustment is too primi-
tive: y Time was when primitive, and
honest went together, but I'm afraid
that. day is past y: A.: .;: 49,.
= Sue was grieved BY the reminiscence
which the strangers words conjured.
Though in different + language they ex-
pressed the same fear that sJabez had
been prey to. ,e:s: = II # >s5 = IA =5s.S ".
:Winslow was saying: 1T must give
quite a. feeling Of - impo'rt rtance this
landed proprietorship Can you not
imagine that beyond that clump 81
trees stands q lodge. with ancestral
halls at the end OF the drive? The
park and deer are here, we only need