Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1907-04-26

...rtiye. Constance. however. was
!, 10 be propitiated, but she kept hel
q =, Sic was apprehensive lest Oak
- go would do something more startling
"a novel If she attempted to cut short
he interview.
che stole a glance at him from under
=, long Iashes. He was studying the
Il srnet apparently quite lost to the
.nrmitv of his conduct You have
s..rd their side of the story, Miss EN-
- want you to hear mine. It's
.,lv fair. isn't It? You have heard
sat nv father is an ex-convictT'
Eyes" with a tinge of regret.
1Tbat he is murderer?" plunging
lead mercilessly.
yes"
aApd this is influencing you?"
I suppose it is, helplessly "It
roud naturally. 1t was a great shock
cus all.
.Yes," agreed Dan, 81 can under
sand, think, just how you must look
Iait"
aWe are very, very sorry for you,
J Mr. oakley. | want to explain my
4 manner last night The whole situa.
don was so excessively awkward. |
am sure you must have felt it."
1did," shortly.
"Oh, dear, hope you didn't think me
cnkind"
NO" Then he added, trife weari-
/ II: It's taken me all this time to real
lie my position. l suppose | owe you
some sort Of an apology. You must
have thought me fearfully thick skin
ned" He hoped she would say no,
but he was disappointed. Her con-
science had been troubling her. and
she was perfectly willing to share her
emOrse with him since he was so
ready to assume part of it. She was
conventional as extreme respecta-
blity could make her, but she had new
er liked oakley half so well. She ad-
mlred his courage. He didn't whine.
His very stupidity was in its way ad-
mrable, but 1t was certainly too bad
be could not see just how impossible
hs was under the circumstances.
Dan raised his eyes to hers. Miss
Emory the only time l remember to
have seen my father until he came
here few weeks ago was through the
grating Of his cell door. My mother
took me there as little boy. When
she died / came west, where no one
knew me. had already learned that,
because of him, was somehow judged
and condemned too. 1t has always
been hanging over me. i have always
feared exposure. suppose | can
hush 1t up after awhile, but there will
always be some one to tell it to who
ever will listen. 1t is no longer Sc
eret"
'Was it fair to your friends, Mr..
Oakley, that it was secretW
II can't see what business it was Of
theirs. 1t is nothing l have done, and,
anyhow, l have never had any friends
until now cared especially about"
"OhP' and Miss Emory lowered her
eyes. So long as he was merely de-
and stupid he was safe, but
should he become sentimental it might
De embarrassing for them both.
You have seen my father. Do you
hinly from what it11 fr.Oy,N
appearances that he would kill man
n cold blood? 1t was only after years
" insult that 1t came to that, and then |
he other man was the aggressor. |
What my father did he did in self de-
ense, but | am pretty sure you were
lot told this"
He was swayed by sense of duty |
oward his father and desire to vindi- |
ate him-he was so passive and en-
Turing. The intimacy of their relation |
lad begotten warmth and sympathy. |
They had been drawn nearer and near
r each other. The cianniShness of his |
Hood and race asserted itself. 1t was |
point of honor with him to stand up |
or his friends and to stand up for his |
ather most of all. Could he, he would .
ave ground his heel into Ryder's face
or his part in circulating the garblel .
erSlon of the old convict's history |
ome one should suffer as he had been .
made to suffer.
"Of course Mr.. Ryder did not know
that you have told me-" Constance
aid hastily. She could not have told
'hy but she had the uneasy feeling
bat Grif required a champion. that
e was responsible.
Then you did hear it from Mr..
'yder?"
She did not answer. and Oakley, TAX
K her silence for assent. continues:
Galt suppose it was told you eli
Ter hat he was pnrdOned because of
D 'ot OF conspicuous heroism, that at
ie risk of his own life he saved the
'y7 Of several nurses and patients In
le hospital ward of the prison where
Vas confined" lie loo&ed<inQuir-
1919 ut Constance. but she Was still
lent Miss Emory, my father came
lie TO all intents an absolute stran-
er Why, l even feared him. for
uni know the kind of man he was