Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-10-01

affluence and Miss Norman in poverty.
So propose to allow her five hundred
year on conditions. VIII she accept,
| do you think, Mr.. Beecot"
Il should think her acceptance would
depend upon the conditions"
"They are very simple" said Mrs.
| Krill in her deep tones and looking
| very straight at Paul ''She is to marry
| you and go to America"
Beecot's face did not change, since
| her hard eyes were on it. But he was
| puzzled under his mask of Indifference.
| Why did this woman want Sylvia to
marry him and go Into exile? He tenn
porized. With regard to your wish
that Miss Norman should marry me-"
| said he quietly, lit is of course very
| good of you to interest yourself in the
matter. l fail to understand your rea-
son, however,
yet the reason is patent" rejoined
Mrs Krill just as quietly and quite as
watchful as before. Sylvia Norman
is young girl without much charac-
| ter
''In that l disagree with you"
"Well, let lis admit she has char.
acter, but she certainly has no expert
ence In the world she is exposed to
much trouble and perhaps maybe to
| temptation. Since her position is the
fault of her father and she is entirely
| innocent l want her to have a happy
life For that reason l wish her to
marry YOU"
Paul bowed, not believing a word OF
|
say it is good of you" said he. with
some irony, but even were l out OF
the way her nurse, Deborah Tawsey,
would look after her. AS matters
stand. however, she will certainly be-
come my wife as soon as we can af
ford home
you can afford 1t tomorrow" said
Mrs. Krill eagerly, IF you will accept
my offer"
"A home in American said Paul.
"And Why"
Il should think both of you would
like to be away from n place where
you have seen such q tragedy"
Indeed" Paul committed himself
to no opinion. "And supposing we ac-
cept your offer, which l admit is a
generous one, you suggest we should
go to the States"
"Or to Canada or Australia or, in
fact. you can so anywhere so long as
you leave England. l tell you, Mr..
Beecot. even at the risk of hurting
your feelings, that L want that girl
away from London. My husband treat
ed me very badly-he was a brute
| ol, 7 hot 20 haf III
before my eyes"
Yet she is innocent"
"Eave l not said that a dozen
times?" rejoined Mrs. Krill impatient
ly. What is the use of further dis
cussion? Do you accept my offer?'
Il will convey it to Miss Norman. 1t
is for her to decide
But you have the right since you
are to be her husband"
Pardon me, no. l would never take
| such responsibility on me. l shall
tell Miss Norman what you say and
convey her answer to you"
THANK you" said Mrs. Krill gra-
ciously. But she was annoyed that
her golden bait had not been taken
Immediately, and in spite of her suavi
ty Paul could see that she was an
noyed, the more SO when she began
to explain. ''Of course you under
stand my feelings"
Il confess l don't quite. Naturally
the fact that you are connected with
the murder in the public eyes
Pardon me-" said the woman swift
ly, "but L am not. The name of Kril
/. l., ,1.,l, 4.
know that Aaron Norman was muir
dered No one talks of Lemuel Kril
or thinks that 1 am the widow of the
murdered man. Possibly / may come
across some people who will connec
the two names and look askance at me
but the majority of people-such q:
Lord George there"-she pointed will
her fan--'do not think of me in tn,
way you say. AS he did, they viii
think they remember the name
: "Did Lord George say that to your
said Paul swiftly.
mo. But he did to Mr.. Hay, VIII,
told me,' rejoined Mrs. Krill quite a
= swiftly.
"To-night?' asked Beecot, remember
> ing that Hay had not spoken privatel.
o to Mrs. Krill since they came in from
the dining room.
/, "Oh, noon another occasion. LORI
George has several times said that b
has fuint recollection. Of my name
: Possibly the connection between IN
and the murder may occur to his mind
= but he is really so very stupid that
hope he will forget all about the mai
ter
. IT worder you don't change you
] name," said Paul, looking at her.
d Certainly not, unless public opinio
!. forces ma to change it," she sale dc
family. "My life has always been pei
fectly open and aboyeboard, not lik
that of m:r husband"
why cid he change his namei
:. asked Bescot eagerly-too eagerly, 4
i fact. for sine drew back.
y why d, you ask?" she inquire
q coldly.
y | parI oh t,{c sborllarc "a