The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-11-14
CHAPTER VIII.-Continued


hard with me If don't succeed. Dear
love, If truth and constancy can con
quer fate, l ought to be able to win
YOU There is no enc else, is there
Violet?" he asked, falteringly, with his
eyes fixed upon her downcast face
Can you not see how empty life is?'
she asked, with bitter laugh. NO
there is no one else l stand quite
alone Death took my father from me
Your friend has robbed me of my
mother. My old playfellow, Roderick
Vawdrey, belongs to his cousin. + be-
long to nobody"
Let me have you, then, Violet. All
IL you knew how / would cherish you!
You should be loved so well that you
would fancy yourself in the center OF
the universe, and that all the planets
revolved in the skies only to please
you"
Il would not wrong you so much as
to marry you without loving you. and
I shall not love any more" said Vixen
with a sad steadfastness that was
more dispiriting than the most vehe-
ment protestation.
why not?"
Because l spent al my store of
love while / was child. 1 loved my
father-ah! l cannot tell you how
fondly- ! do not think there arc many
fathers who are loved as he was. /
poured out all my treasures of affec-
ton at his feet ! have no love left
for a husband"
What, Violet. not II your old friend
Roderick Vawdrey were pleading"
said Lord Mallow.
1t was an unlucky speech If Lord
Mallow had had a chance-which he
had not-that speech would have
spoiled it. Violet started to her feet,
her cheeks crimson, here eyes
flashing.
1T is shameful, abominable, of you
to say such thing" she cried, her
voice tremulous with indignation. Il
will never forgive you for that das-
tardly speech. Come, Argus"
She had mounted the broad oak
stairs with light, swift feet before Lord
Mallow could apologize. he was ter
ribly crestfallen.
When Vixen came down to break
fast next morning she found the table
laid only for three.
What has become of Lord Mallow 81
she asked Forbes, when he brought
IN the urn.
He left by an early train, ma'am.
Captain Carmichael drove him to
Lyndhurst"
The old servants of the Abbey
House had not yet brought themselves
to speak of their new lord as mas
ter" He was always Captain Car
michael"
The captain came in while Violet
knelt by the fire playing with Argus,
whom even the new rule had not ban
ished wholly from the family sitting
rooms
The servants filed in for morning
prayers. which Captain Carmichael de-
iivered in cold, hard voice His man
ual of family worship was of concise
and business-like form, and the whole
ceremony lasted about seven minutes.
Then the household dispersed quick
ly. and Forbes brought in his tray of
covered dishes
You can pour out the tea, Violet
Your mother Is feeling a little tired
and will breakfast in her room"
Then / think, If you'll excuse me,
III have my breakfast with her." said
Vixen She'll be glad of my company,
/ dare say"
''She has headache and will be bet
ter alone. Stop where you are, if you
please, Violet have something seri-
Gus to say to you"
Vixen left OF pouring out the tea,
clasped her hands in her lap, and
looked at Captain Carmichael with the
most resolute expression he had ever
seen in a woman's face.
Are you going TO talk to me about
Lord Mallow?" she asked.
yes"
Then spare yourself the trouble. 1t
would be useless"
II e-nnot conceive why you should
be so besotted as to refuse a man who
offers so much. A man who has
wealth, rank. youth. good looks"
Spare me the catalogue of your
friends merits ! think him a most
estimable person / acknowledge his
rank and wealth. But have refused
him."
You will live to repent your folly,
then, Miss Tempest; and all / hope is
that your remorse may be keen. 1t
is not one woman in a thousand who
gets such a chance. What are you
that you should throw it away?"
Il am a woman who would sooner
cut nv throat than marry a man
cannot honestly love-" answered Vixen,
with unblenching firmness.
CT think I understand our motive"
said Captain Carmichael. Lord Nal.
low never had a chance with yon. The
ground was occupied before he came.
You are very foolish girl to reject
80 good an OFFER for the sake of an
other woman's sweetheart"
How dare you say that to me?"
cried Vixen. You have usurped my
fathers place; you have robbed me of
my mothers heart Is not that cause
enough for me to hate you? / have
only one friend left In the world,
Roderick vawdrey. And you would
SANDER me because ] cling to that old
friendship. the last remnant OF my
happy childhood"
you might have a dozen such
friends If friendship is all You want.
and be LADY, Mallow into the bargain"
retorted Captain Carmichael. scorn-
fully.
MY father would not have asked me
to marry a man / did not love-" an
swered Vixen, proudly, her eyes cloud
ing with tears even at the thought Of
her beloved dead; land he would have
valued Lord Mallow's rank and fortune
no more than / do. But you are so
fond of a bargain" she added, her eye
kindling and her lip curving with bit
terest scorn. You sold Bullfinch and