Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1906-08-15
CHAPTER XvIII.-CoNrlNuEp.


study. What passed between them
gather from bits recently dropped
by Warburton.
Good God, Karlof, what a net you
have sprung about met" said the
colonel, despairngly
My dear Colonel, you have only to
step out of it. 1t is the eleventh hour:
II is not too late" But Karloff
watched the colonel eagerly.
''IIow in Gods name can | step out
OF it?"
Simply reimburse me for that $40 900
I advanced to you in good faith, and
nothing more need he said" The
counts Slavonic eyes were half-lidded
ITO give YOU back that amount will
leave me begsar. an absolute beggar,
without roof to shelter me. | am too
old for service. and besides, | am
physically incapacitated. If you should
force me, | could not meet my note
save by selling the house my child was
born in. Have you discounted it?"
mo. Why should | present it at the
bank? 1t does not mature till next
Monday, and | am in no need of
money"
What a wretch am"
Karloff raised his shoulders resign
Idly.
MY daughter"
Or my ducats," whimiscally quoted
The count. Come, Colonel: do not
waste time in useless retrospect He
Gtumbles who looks back. | have been
thinking of your daughter. | love her,
deeply. eternally."
You love her."
Yes. | love her because she appeals
TO all that is young and good in me;
because she represents the highest type
of womanhood With her as my wife,
why, ! should be willing to renounce
my country, and your Indebtedness
would be crossed out of existence with
Dne stroke of the pen"
The colonel's hoggard face grew light
with sudden hopefulness.
Il have been" the count went on
studying the ash of his cigar, till
this night what the world and my own
conscience consider an honorable man.
have never wrOnged a man or woman
personally. What | have done on the
order of duty does not aeitate my con-
science ! am simply a machine. The
moral responsibility rests with the
:Zar. When | saw your daughter.
deeply regretted that YOU were her
father"
The colonel grew rigid in his chair.
do not misunderstood me Before
| saw her. you were but the key TO
what | desired AS her father the mat
ter took on a personal side. | could
not very conscicntiousIy make love to
POUR daughter and at the same time"
karloff left the sentence incomplete.
and Botty?"-in half a whisper.
Has refused me,''-quietly But |
have not given her up; no, | have not
given her up"
What do you mean to do"
got up and walked about the
room. Make her my wife simply.
He stopped and studied the titles of
some of the books in the cases He
turned to find that the colonel had
risen and was facing him with fam
Ing eyes
4 demand to know how you intend
10 accomplish this end" the colonel
said MY daughter shall not be
dragged into this trap"
Tomorrow night shall explain ev-
Irything; tonight. nothing. "-imper-
Lurbably
"Karlon. tonight I stand a ruined
and dshonorcd man M head. once
held so proudly before my fellow men.
is bowed with shame The country I
have fought and bled for I have in part
betrayed But not for my gain. not for
ny gain. No, no, Thank God that
can say that! Personal greed has not
tainted me. Alone should have gone
serenely into some pOOrnOuso and etcd
out an existence on my half-pay. But
this child Of mine. whom I love dOubly
for her mothers sake and her own
I would GLADLY cut OF both arms to
spare her a single pain 10 Keep her
~ the luxury which she still believes
:jehuully 10 be hers. When the fever
OF gaming possessed me. / should have
told ner. I did not therein lies nay
mistake, the mstaie which has
brought me TO this horrible end. Vir-
ginius sacrificed his child to save her;
I will sacrifice my honor TO save mine
from poverty. Force her 10 wed a
man she does not love? no To-mor-
row night we shall complete Jis dis
graceful bargain. The plans are all
finished but one Now leave me,
wish TO be alone"
"Sir, 3 is my deep regret"
GO. there Is nothing more 10 be
said"
Karsoh withdrew lie went soberly
There was nothing sneering nor con-
terpStuous - his attitude. Indeed,
snere was frown Of pity on his face.
He recognized thar circumstances had
dragged dow o noble man; that
chance had tricked him OF his honoE
How he hated his own evil plan! lie
$50. "A, ehouf9ora determined onca