The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1906-11-15
CHAPTER XXI,

| mousse Tor supper. With only Mrs.
Il Hallam for auditor, Hallam
wished to tell the young man all that
had occurred, for Duncan had not been
permitted to know aught Of it, since
Hallam had turned him out Of his room
in order that the conference with Dick
Temple might be strictly private one
Nor had Duncan seemed very great
~ concerned to inquire. He had
not expected Hallam and Temple to
succeed in accomplishing anything,
and at this time his fate was at crisis
in another and, to him, dearer way
His interview with Barbara had been
held, as we know, at the precise time
when Hallam and Temple were in con-
sultation with regard to the matter of
Tandy's accusation. In some degree
at least the painful character Of that in
terview with Barbara and it's unsat-
isfactory result had dulled his mind to
the other trouble. In view Of Bar
bara's seemingly final rejection of his
wooing he was not sure that he greatly
cared what might become Of his repu-
tation or his career. He was too strong
man in his moral character, however,
to remain long in a state Of such indif-
ference, but for the time being he found
matter Of much consequence now that
Barbara refused to share that future
with him.
"There is still one more chance" he
reflected, zone more interview with
Barbara, one more hope that may
win her. If that fails, the other thing
won't matter much. I'll horsewhip
Tandy and then go away. No; I won't
go away. I won't desert in the pres
ence Of the enemy. won't-oh, don't
know what will or won't do! All that
must wait till I know my fate with
Barbara
! This was on the morning after his
evening with Barbara-the morning on
which Temple first made acquaintance
with Tandy. Duncan was sitting idly
in his Office, mechanically toying with
a paper cutter. Presently he over
turned the inkstand, splitting it's con-
tents over some legal papers that he
had drawn up the day before.
'That's fortunatev he calculated as
with blotting pads he sought to save
what he could of the documents 1T
gives me something better to do than
sit here idly incoming. Those papers
must go off by the afternoon mail. and
must rewrite them first
| He set to work at once, and close ap-
plication to the task for several hours
brought him into healthier condition
OF mind. When he had finished the
task and had taken the papers to the
postoflce he realized that his state of
mind had been a morbid one He real
lied, too, that he must end the sus-
pense as quickly as possible in order
that he might take up work and grow
sound of soul again.
Returning to his Office, he sent note
to Barbara:
| shall go to see you tonight, unless you
forbid. I must hear what more you have
| to tell me, and I must in my turn tell
you something of myself. When that is
done shall renew my efforts to win you
| to myself. Please send me word that I
may come. ="
For answer he got the single word
Come" written in the middle of a
page, without address or signature
Thus it came about that while Temple
was sitting in his hotel room in nego-
tiation with Tandy over a matter that
involved Duncan's future more vitality
than any other event had ever done,
Duncan himself sat with Barbara, try
ing to adjust another matter which
seemed to him of even greater conse-
quence
Barbara had her emotions in leash
now. Without hesitation and with a
bravely controlled utterance she went
at once to the marrow Of the matter.
II told you,'' she began, .'that am
the daughter Of thief. MY father
was trusted absolutely by my grand
father. He betrayed the trust. He
made use of his authority as a member
of the banking house not only to wreck
it in speculation, but also to rob all
the people who had intrusted their
money to it. I don't understand such
matters very well; but, at any rate, my
father ruined the firm and robbed it's
customers. At a single stroke he re-
duced his father to poverty and for
ever disgraced his honorable name.
When he found that the facts must be-
come known at once my. father went
home and blew his brains out. l was
born that day, and my mother died Of
shock and grief within the hour. My
poor grandfather lived for a month,
without speaking word to anybody;
then he quit living"
1T is terribly sad story" said Dun
can. II should not have let you tell it,
poor child"
"Oh, but was obliged to tell you,"
she interrupted. ut was my duty.
You see-well, you have been so good
to me, and am obliged to say mo- to
what you asked me before you knew
this horrible thing. It wouldn't hav
been fair just to say mo- and not tell
you of thing that explains, thing
that must make you wish you hadn't
asked mo TINT