The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-09-25

Jewels. he has lot down In the cell
lar. l have never seen them, you
know" added Sylvia, looking at her
lover, nor have Deborah or Bart But
they are there. Bart and Deborah say
So"
Has your father ever said SOP
mo. He won't speak Of his business
In the cellar When the shop is closed
at Z he sends Bart away home and
locks Deborah and me in the house
That is" she explained anxiously lest
Paul should think her father q tyrant.
"he locks the door which leads to the
shop. We can walk all over the house
But there we stop till next morning.
when father unlocks the door at
and Bart takes down the shutters. We
have lived like that for years. On
Sunday evenings, however, father does
not go to the cellar, but takes me to
church He has supper with me up
stairs and then locks the door at TO-"
But he sleeps upstairs?"
mo. He sleeps in the cellar
Impossible. There is no accommo-
dalton for sleeping there"
Sylvia explained. There IS another
cellar-a smaller one-off the large
place be has the safes in. The door is
in a dark corner almost under the
street line. This smaller cellar is fitted
up as a bedroom, and my father has
slept there all his life. | suppose he
is afraid of his jewels being stolen.
don't think it is good for his health"
hn crtrI IN,
the morning he looks i'll and his hands
shake"
sylvia. does your father drink al
cohol?"
"Oh, no, PAUL. He is a teetotaler
and is very angry at those who drink
to excess"
He either drinks or smokes opium"
thought Paul on hearing Sylvia's de-
NAL But be said nothing to her Of
this.
II must go home now" she said. ris-
ing.
"Oh, no, not yet" he implored.
"Well. then, I'll stay for few min
utes longer, because I have something
to say" she remarked and sat down
0Sulu adAs 0o JOA tAiAh IL 10 AuANO
honorable for you and me to be en-
gagged without the consent of my ia
therP"
We'll" hesitated Beecot, "T don't
think 1t is as 1t should be. Were
we'll Off l should not fear to tell your
father everything. but rs l am a pau
per be would forbid my seeing you
hn la had r0iSad
to you But If you like I'll speak.
though it may mean our parting for
ever"
Paul" she laid a firm, small hand
on his arm, mot all the fathers in the
world will keep me from you. Often
have intended to tell ALL but my ia
ther is so strange. Sometimes he goes
whole days without speaking to me.
and at times be speaks harshly, though
do nothing TO deserve rebuke. 1 am
afraid OF my father" said the girl,
with q SILVER. az said so before and
/ say so again. He is a strange man.
and l don't understand him at all
wish | could marry you and go away
altogether"
well, let US marry If you like.
though we will be poor"
NO" said Sylvia sorrowfully. aft
er ALL strange and harsh though my
father is. he is still my father. and at
times he is kind. / must stay with him
to the end"
What end?
Sylvia shook her head still more sor-
rowfully. who knows2 Paul. my
father is afraid of dying suddenly"
by violence?" asked Beecot, think
ing of Deborah's talk
"I can't say. But every day after
6 he goes to church and prays all
alone Deborah told me. as often she
has seen him leave the church. Then
he is afraid of every stranger who
enters the shop. l don't understand
it." cried the girl passionately. Il
dou't like it. l wish you would marry
me and take me away. Paul; but, oh,
how selfish I ami"
MY own, l wish I could. But the
money
"Oh. never mind the money. 1 must
get away from that house. If 1t was
uOk lOE DoUOIdu i hOUIu DG sun AOAC
afraid. l often think my father is
mad. But there" Sylvia rose and
shook out her skirts, ~ have no right
10 talk so and only do so to you
that you may know what I feel. III
speak to my father myself and say we
are engaged. If he forbids our mar
riage shall run away with you. Paul.
said poor Sylvia. the tears in her eyes
Paul was SO enchanted with this
speech that he would have deied pub
&c opinion by embracing her there and
then, but Sylvia walked away rapidly
down Gwynne street and shook hel
head with g pursed up mouth wher
Paul took a few steps after her Rec
ognizing that it would be wise no
to follow her 10 the shop lest the sus
alcious old man should be looking out
Beecot went on his homeward way.
When he drew near his Bloomsbury
garnet he met GrpNon Hay who wa!