The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1907-09-07

on in a very kind voice. i told the
madam It would be all right, that my
little girl never deceived me in her
life, and she would not begin at this
age. Is it some girlish frolic or Sc
cret? Was il a l,ttl1 harmless adyen-
ture? You know, Margaret, how fully
I trust you. You have ever been q
loving, dutiful child"
She looked up into his face, that
face so grave and |sorrowful, SO noble
in outline, so trustful and fatherly.
"Oh, uncle" she had been all her
life used to call him uncle, please
don't ask me-" she said, with piteous
accents. Indeed, l have done moth
ing wrong, but l cannot tell, rel
you"
MY dear!' he exclaimed, with mild
surprise. Then what shall l say to
the madam? She insists upon an ex-
PLANTATION. You see, it touches the
honor of her school, which is every
thing to her. She is very indignant
and indeed, you defed her authority
in breaking the rules. l have no ex-
cuse to offer, unless you give me one.
Come, you owe something to her"
Indeed, uncle, | am so sorry!" said
Margaret, earnestly, the tears raining
from her eyes, which we're now softly
luminous. But you must trust me
if she does not. Please don't insist
upon my telling you, for-I-cannot.'
She had come forward and taken
one of his hands in both of hers. Now
she bent her head upon it, sobbing.
His heart was full of pity for her, but
he was at the same time astonished
and a little indignant. How could he
distrust her? Still, what could he say
to the madam, who had every reason
to receive her confidence?
Then, l am not to be answered.
he asked, more sternly than he had
ever spoken before.
"Oh, uncle, won't you forgive me
and trust meY / cannot tell you,
cannot" was the sobbing reply.
Very we'll" he returned coldly, and
resumed the reading of his newspaper
with a panied face.
Uncle! you do believe in me! Yor
do trust mel" she said, frightened a
his cold, constrained manner,
II do not know what to think, wha.
to believe" was his answe Il mus
have time to think. You can go tt
your room"
Almost broken-hearted, Margare
returned to her room and threw her
self On the bed in an agony of grief
That evening the professor of math
ematics sat in his room brooding owe
the events of the day. He had no
seer Margaret since he had ordereI
her to her room in a manner so dill
ferent from his usual loving solici
tude, and his heart ached for her. He
father had been his dearest friend
and he loved the child who was tina
friends living image.
, Il dare say it is all right" he sale
signing YEARLY, "but it looks a
wrong, only
Just then the door burst open, an
a haggard face, with wild, restles
dark eyes, tangled hair and a glar
as of maniacy, looked in upon him,
+ The professor put up both hand.
+ as if warding off a blow, and groaT
ing, staggered backward and fell int
a chair. His face lost all color, hi
! body all motion. He could only star
q helplcssly, while his breath cam
shorter and harder.
why, father, you're not glad to Sc
me, are you? I'm not exactly a plea.
ant sight, eh?"
a "You-are-not," said the profei
sor, the words seeming to be jerke
r from his lips by some inward fore,
/. not because he wanted to speak, an
he shook his head like a man in d,
spair.
- but had to come"
The man could not have been niue
r over 20 or 20 but his face was marke
!" by deeply cut lines of dissipation, an
A his manner was reckless to defanc,
81 have come here to tell you som,
= thing, something for which you WI
. hate and despise me, and which"
Don't, Tom, for Gods sake, don't
and the professor put up both hand
again. Haven't you broken heart
enough? Your poor mother"
stop father!" said the young ma
! with almost a sob, don't say l broh
. her heart, or l will kill myself, b
fore you"
He deliberately took a pistol froI
his pocket and placed it on the tabl
Il don't know but l shall, anyhow"
His father half sprang from h
a chair. sit still, father!" said h
son, in firm, hard tones, I'm not g
ing to harm you. l wouldn't touch
hair of your head, God knows, but
want to tell you all my miserab
: story. I've been bad enough, Heave
knows, but | eve blamed you fl
V disowning me. I've tried to keep no
est all financial transactions, till no'
. | haven't even cheated at cards. b
y the other day. stole some none
vns stole II and it's known IN m