The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1906-11-02
Lavender
CreightOn's
Lovers
BY OLIVIA B. STROHM
{ Copyright, 1905, by Olivia B. strohml
CHARTER XVI.-CoNTINUBD.

CnAE l. EN- N l.-SON llNODO'
Before Gerald could speak the naughty
denial, his companion added: "Ther
since you did not, Mr.. Winslow mus
have. The old mans blood is on his
head. This, and his presence in the
forest, for which he could not, prob
ably, give a satisfactory reason-surely
all this is condemnation enough? One
other love affair, more or less-what
does it matter? And you-it would
distress your sister to know you were
mixed up in this murder" Gerald
WINGED at the ugly word. "And you
would much prefer not to beknowninit. u
But Mr.. Winslow-he will explain
some day."
Some day, perhaps" Gonzaga re-
piled. For the present" There was
artful suggestion in the unfinished SEN
tence, in the insinuating smile, the lift
ed brows which, even in the darkness,
was not lost upon Gerald. He hest
tated, then, without reply, walked slow
ly toward the inn.
The Spaniard followed in satisfied 81
lence; the leaven of temptation was set
that it would work he had little doubt.
Lavender greeted her brother, with
hands outstretched. Gerald! Let us
go, and quickly"
The Spaniard assisted him with the
boat, then waved farewells as he
watched them skim the water, the man
rowing with long, impetuous strokes,
his sister dropping in the stern, crushed
beyond her usual endurance.
For some time they went on in ST.
lence, the silence of the river at night
broken only by the dip of oars, the
cry of qua bird or the startled retreat
of deer that had come down to the
water to drink.
What ails you. lavender" Gerald
said, suddenly, the thongs of his self
disgust descending upon her innocent
head
Meekly she answered: I'm tired, and
1t is late"
Tired he echoed, petulantly. You're
a tender-hearted creature, a grateful
girl, indeed! Your friend is wounded,
dying, maybe, and you have no com
ments, give no aid, are merely in the
doldrums. tired forsooth!"
The injustice reused her you are
mistaken, Gerald, as we'll as unkind.
/ did inquire of the woman at the tav-
ern if there were anything we could do.
But Mr. Winslow is out of danger, she
thinks, and does not need our help.
am most distressed at the accident, but
can say nothing more-I will say moth
ing more. do not forget what we owe
to Mr.. Winslow. 1t is because am not
ungrateful that l am silent now"
Silent about WHAT" he demanded.
irritated by her unsatisfactory atti-
tude. If he intended shielding himself,
her silence was his best protection;
by it he was called upon neither to ex-
cuse nor condemn. But his purpose
wavered between two plans. Lacking |
courage to confess his own connection
with the affair, he lacked, too, boldness in |
the dishonest course. Thus, while cow
ardice held him back, native honesty !
Bpurred him into negative champion
ship. He talked fast in time to violent |
rowing. "Senor Gonzaga told me of |
the scandal, so-called, and intimated
that you were upset over it."
A faint, sarcastic smile was her only
response to this remark.
What, in Heavens name, has the
man done?" Gerald burst out at last.
Can't one have a love-affair without
gossip? Can't he meet a girl without
his neighbors as to how,
and when, and where?"
Gerald spoke with the unconscious
eloquence of one pleading his own
cause. His eyes flashed, his voice rang
defiance to unseen accusers. For the
first time Lavender sat bolt upright,
her spirit on fire with all the pent-up
feelings of the night.
1T is, perhaps, true, that Mr.. Wins
lows morals are not our affair, but. if
so, then Mr.. Winslow's lines in life
are not cast with us. The man into whose
morals we may not look may be our
creditor, may load us with benefits: in.
return he wins our gratitude, our pity
Ing silence, but our friendship, our es-
TEEN, never"
''You are talking nonsense" Gerald
retorted. Il have always been proud
of you, Lavvy, because your look on
life is less restricted than custom die
tates for women. You are usually less
narrow, less"
She interrupted him scornfully:
. Narrow You call it narrow to lose
reverence for man who kills his fell
owman? Who lies to us about his ar
rest in st. Louis. that he may be the
better rid of us, and live his own life un-
.rammeled? Let him live it," She
flung herself back in the stern, and
gazed at the sky, her face white and
fearless.
Gerald tugged at the oars in des-
perate, wondering silence. OF the
nights occurrences he had confused
-~-c11ooffov. he /