The Washington times., 1907-03-31
CHAPTER x tcOutinued.)

Judge and Stott went Tor stroll
after dinner and left her to take care
OF the house. They had wanted Shlr-
ley to go, too, but she pleaded faIlgue-
The truth was that she wanted TO be
alone so she could ponder unuisturbed
over her plans. 1t was a clear stafiit
night with no moon, and Shirley sal
on the porch listening to the Chirpin6
OF the crickets and idly watching the
flashes Of the mysterious firetiies. She
was IN no mood for reading and sat for
q long time rocking herself engrOssed
In her thoughts. Suddenly she heard
some one lmfasten the garden gate. II
was too soon for the return OF the
promenaders; Il must be a visitor.
Through the uncertain penumbra or
the garden she discerned approaching
a form which looked familiar Yes,
now there was no doubt possible. II
was, indeed, Jefferson Ryder.
She hurried down the porch to greet
him No matter what the father had
done, she could never think any the
less Of the son. He took her hand and
for several moments neither one spoke,
There are times when silence is more
eloquent than speech and this was one
or them. The gentle grip of his big
strong hand expressed more tenderiy
than any words the sympathy that
Law IN his heart for the woman he
loved. Shirley said quietly:
Y on have como at last JeHerSon.
II came as soon as j could he re-
piled gently. Il saw father only yes
you need not tell me what he said, %
Shirley FASTENED 10 say.
Jefferson made no reply, He under
stood what she meant he hung his
head and hit VICiOusly with MS walking
stick at the pebbles that lay al his
feet. She went on.
II know everything now II was
foolish Of me TO think that AR Ryder
would ever help US"
Il can't help it in any way" blurted
out Jefferson. y have not the slight
est influence over him. His business
methods I consider disgrac
understand that, don't you, ShiFley?'
The girl laid her hand on his arm
"Of course, JEFF. we know that.
Come up and sit down
He followed her on the porch and
drew I'D a rocker beside her.
They are all out for awalk,' she
I'm glad" he said frankly. 7
wanted a quiet talk with you. / did
not care TO meet anyone. NY name
must be odious TO your people.
Both were silent. feeling a certain
awkwardness. They seemed 10 have
drifted apart in some way since those
delightful days in Paris and on the
ship. Then he said.
I'm going away, but 7 couldn't go
until saw you.
you are going away eNclalIueu
Shirley, surprised
'TYss." he said. Il cannot stand it
any more At home. ] had hos .t'N
with my father yesterday ABOUT oh-
tn ng and another. he ana uoH
chin we'll together Besides this mat
ter Of your fathers impeachment mas
completely discouraged me. All the
wealth In the world could never recon- recon,
Gle me TO such methods! I ~ ashamed
Of the role my own flesh and blood mas
played in that miserable aualr- L
can't express what / feel about II
Yes" sighed Shirley, 1T is hard
to believe that you are the son or thal
How is your father?'' inquired JEFF
ferson. How does he take II.
"Oh. his heart beats and he can
see and hear and speak, replied Shlr-
lev sadly, but he is only a SHADOW
of what he once was II the trial goes
AGAINST him. / don't think he'll sur
vive IT,.
ITO think that my father should be
responsible for this thing
1--WE are still hoping for the pest
added Shirley, but the OUTLOOK Is
But what are you going to do7"
he asked These surroundings are
not FOR you" BE looked around az
the cheap furnishings which he coqld
see through the open WINDOW ana MS
face showed real concern.
~ shall teach or write. or go out
as gOveTness,' replied Shirley with a.
tfnee Of bitterness. Then smiling sad
Nv She added: Poverty is easy; II IS
unmerited disgrace which IS nara.
The young man drew mis- chair closer
and took hold Of the hand that lay N
her lap. She made no resistance
shirley" he said, do you TeIheih-
Der that talk we had on the SNIP l
asked YOU TO be my wife Y OF leQ me
to believe that you were not lhulI
rr-n-
marry me. Give me the right 70 take
care Of YOU and yours. i am the son
of the worlds richest man, OUT Jon
want his money. i have earned q COM
r,afeucp of my OWn-enOugh TO i've on
Comfortably. We will go away where
you and YOUR father and mother VIII
make their home with us 10 not 5st
the sins Of the fathers emolIleI INC
Ii,-as Of the children
ilt ..lIiD oa 5 -5s not sinned. said Shirley
D1 ii wish 1 could say the. same Of
mine" replied Jefferson. II IS pc
causa the clouds are dark about you
that ] want TO come INTO your 'llS ~
The The girl Shook her head.
..No, Jenrson, the circuIls Ii 81 I1eI.
make sucn a marriage Impossible;
Vo,1r family and everybody else Woulu
say that I had inveigled you INTO IL.
II is even more Impossible now man
I thought II was wlen spoke 70 YOU
The Snlp. 1ACn 4 was WI - '-D~-'-
nv fathers trouble and could give no
Thought to anything else. Now II Is
difarent Your fathers action mas
made our union impossible forever
tbanlz YOU for the honor you nave
Eone me. I do like you. 1 hhe YOU
well enough to be your wife, but / VIII
not accent this sacrifice on your part
your offer. coming at such a critical
time is dictated only by your noble,
generous nature, by your sympathy
fos our misfortune AfJerWard, you
might regret Il. If my father were
convicted and driven from the 6ench
and you found YOU had married the
daughter of a disSraced man you
would be ashamed of US all. and II
/ saw that 1t would break my heart
Emotion stopped her utterance ana
she buried her face in her hands
weeping silently
Shirley said Jefferson gently
you are wrong. i love you Tor your
self, not because OF your trouble You
Know that. I shall never love any
other woman but you. II you viii not
say yes now. I shall go away as l
told my father 7 would and one day
/ shall came back. and then If you are
stfll single ] shall ask you again 10 be
my wife"
ct shall travel for a year and then,
in Paris, studying at the BeauX Arts
Then 1 may go to Rome If I am TO
PaGe Sly