Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1907-08-02
CHAPTER XXI

bly, insignificant looking weapon as a
modern revolver, otherwise | should have
feared that he shot l heard had Seen
fired by him, and that Sir Henry was
fit. l attributed tho shot rather to poacfi-
ers in Sir Henry's preserves, and his 40
scnce to the ~T1Irsuit of them. All doubt
as to his safety was removed by his com
ing over to the cottage the following
morning.
He was quite self-possessed his man
ner, indeed, WAS almost ~apathetic as he
gave me his hand. and then dropped into
the seat on the lawn The only trace OF
that agitation which had unnamed him
the previous night was in the haggard,
o and old expression Of his face; he
locked like a gambler vino has played
long and lost all.
There was a shot in the park last
night" he began. rYou may have heard
it. I thought my daughter might be
alarmed and 50 went in. Quite as well,
yna win say, seeing that was not moro
fit to be at large han a maniac. She
knew what was the matter with me, and
brought me FOUND as only she cam he
repeated slowly, "as only she can One
Of these days, Mr.. Thorne, you maj know
the value of my daughter Ethel then,
should you be threatened with the loss Of
her, you will understand my feeling. Ban
cy. II a man came iDsolently to you and
sRid he loved your wife ana meant to
tax her from you if he could, bow you
would feel toward that man. and II, in
addition to that, your wife admitted the
probability Of being taken from you, how
would you feel toward the whole woridT'
"You are speaking now of the love OF
q man for his wife"
We'll. sir" he returned sharply, may
not the love Of a father for his daugh-
ter be al deep and strong as that OF a
husband for his wife? The love / bore
her mother is centereG in my daughter
all the love of my heart"
Hs turned his back upon me for q mo-
ment then, glancing round the garden,
he asked
Where rs she--that other unloved
soul7"
I explained how she slept during the
day, being unable to endure the light al
ter living SO ,ong in darkness.
Twelve years without light or love-
he said, visibly moved "A month would
kill me. She loves you, Ethel tolls me-"
THAT is only natural, as she knows
none but mo-
~ AZ uSVST OCCuETtO !" yOu Hthdt oiS
might be your wifeT'
"How could il occur to me, loving your
daughter as I ao?"
He knitted mis- brows as he buried his
face in his hand, his elbow resting on
his knee. Raising his head after a min
ute's silence, he said
ut isn't right that the girl should live
here alone with you. / am not speaking
from any conventional consideration Of
propriety, but with regard to the girls
future. You are strengthening the tie Of
affection which presently is to be snap
ped You ought to weaken it, so that
when the shock comes it may not break
her heart"
II hope to find her family or friends
until then she must STAY with me-
Mot necessarily" he said, his eye
Frightening. Let her come to us. Ethel
is deeply interested in her. Let her dan
gerous affection for you he replaced by a
sisters love-"
with all my heart! / can wish
Psyche no greater happiness than to live
with. your daughter
sit would he a healthier life for her"
he continued, with growing excitement.
.She would gat to know the world she
m to live in. We could take her abroad
while you are locking for her friends"
He looked eagerly into my eyes while
he made this proposition There was a
wonderful change in the expression Of his
face apathy had changed 10 keen inter-
est. 1t was still al gamblers face, but
il wore the o of one who sees the
way to retrieve a fortune by %poaching a
pigeon. For the first time doubt Of his
honesty rose in my mind. I believe he
saw it, for his eye quailed before mine,
and he rose. muttering something in a
deep self-deprecatory tone that l could
not catch. He paced across the lawn
with his head lent. and when he returned
the evil look was gon. from his face. As
he reseated himself again beside me he
said:
SIT wouldn't Go, Tkorne. I understand
and sympathize with the girls feelings
more than goa can believe. She must
leave ycu at once like this. What
you dome toward finding her fam
TYP
I told him Of the advertisement I had
published and the answer l received.
srYSu I'D no other answer?o he asked.
.N~s
and what 20 you propose to do nowr' |
Advertise again, If / find no further
notice taken Of the last. There nay Be
1 letter 1T the postofice nov. I shall 80
over preaeafly and zee"
.sY0, it's not unlikely. Some sharp
lawyer may re his way to making money
It. The man who got rid Of the
child would be only too glad, one may
suppose to claim her and put her out Of
the way more securely. Have you thought
OF that1
Eyes. I an not certain that I have
already played into the hands Of that
mar Or his asents."
II dare say you have" he replied,
cheerily. AT any rate, You see the dan
ger Of advertising in that way. It would
DO far safer 70 put the affair into the
hard Of = good solicitor. Do you know
cnef'
"Only your solicitor. Mr.. Andrews, at
Bonport."
"A rood man, but not at all suited to
investigation of this kind. You had
better leave it 70 me. I will see An
drewn and AK him who is the best man
In the profession to employ. IL you like
accepted tho ofFcr at once.
Then you will take no further steps
~ pxesentT'
II shall Be very happy to leave It co.
tirsly in your hands,
s0ood." he seemed pleased with MY
ranawed confidence in him. He was
leaning forward, with his elbows on his
knees. looking on the ground. After a
nr-~aHs- Nsra~ ~;thc,@ .ns~so~ hi Ir-1