Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1906-08-23
Copyright. ,9o4, The Bobbs.Merrill Company.
CHAPTER XVII.-CoNTINUED.

gather from bits recently dropped
by Warburton.
Good God, Karloff, what net you
have sprung about mel" said the
colonel, despairingly.
My dear Colonel you have only to
step out of it. 1t is the eleventh hour;
1t is not too late" But Karloff
watched the colonel eagerly.
How in Gods name can l step out
of it?"
Simply reimburse me for that 500 900
| advanced to you in good faith, and
nothing more need be said" The
counts Slavonic eyes were half-lidded.
TO give you back that amount will
leave me a beggar, an absolute beggar,
without a roof to shelter me- | am too
old for service, and besides, l 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 l am in no need of
money"
What a wretch | ami"
Karloff raised his shoulders resign
edly
"My daughter"
"Or my ducats," whimiscally quoted
the count Come, Colonel: do not
waste time in useless retrospect. He
stumbles who looks back | have been
thinking of your daughter. l love her,
deeply, eternally."
you love herr"
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
one stroke of the pen"
The colonel's haggard face grew light
VIII sudden hopefulness.
81 have been." the count went on,
studying the ash of his cigar, till
dhis night what the world and my own
conscience consider an honorable man.
n have never wronged man or woman
personally What | have done on the
order of duty does not agitate my con-
science. | am simply a machine. The
moral responsibility rests with the
cZar 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 conscientiously make love to
your daughter and at the same time"
KarOff left the sentence incomplete.
"And Betty ?"-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?'
Karloff 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.
Il demand to know how you intend
TO accomplish this end" the colonel
said My daughter shall not be
dragged into this trap"
Tomorrow night | shall explain ev-
erythng; tonight, nothing "-imper-
turbaby
"Karloff, tonight | stand ruined
and dishonored man. My head, once
held 50 proudly before my fellow-men,
IS bowed with shame. The country l
have fought and bled for have in part
betrayed But not for my gain, not for
M, cain. No, no! Thank God that l
oan say that! Personal greed has not
tainted me- Alone, [ should have gone
serenely into some poorhouse and eked
ont an existence on my half-pay. But
this child of mine, whom | love doubly,
for her mothers sake and her own,-
rorld gladly cut off both arms to
grsre Ter a single pain, to keep her
I'm me luxury which she still believes
risbtfllly to be hers. When the fever
of ,aaing possessed me, | should have
toIJ her. / did not; therein lies my
roi,tose, the mistake which has
brongb me to this horrible end. Vir-
ainm. sacrificed his child to save her;
u+l acrifice my honor to save mine
r. overly Force her to wed a
mo, ..e does not love? No. To-mor-
g,n, ,sht we shall complete this dis
,,,J4l bargain. The plans are all
a,,ad but one. Now leave me;
wslo be alone"
&c. it is my deep regret"
olr there is nothing more to be
said
r..aff withdrew. He went soberly
vas nothing sneering nor con-
Gus in his attitude. Indeed,
u gas frown of pity on his face.
u, 9gnized that circumstances had
49,. down a noble man; that
[ra. had tricked him Of his honor.
nv hated his own evil plan! He
rI.1,