The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1908-04-15


ship, Miss lands. | should have LET
your question pass, however keenly II
touched me. had 1t not also touched
him. Now l am going to say some
things which lie within the straight
and narrow bounds l spoke Of. l new
er knew a man l cared for as much
as 1 care for Mr.. Slward. l know
why too. He is disinterested. l do
not believe he wastes very many
thoughts on me- Perhaps he will.
want him to like me if it's possible
But one thing you and l may be sure
Off he does not care to return the
friendship offer him he will never
accept anything else from me, though
he might give at my request, and that
is the sort of man he is, and that is
why he is every inch a man, and so
like him. Miss Lands. Do you Won
der?"
She did not reply.
do you wonder?' he repeated
sharply.
mo" she said.
Then He Strengthened up, and
the silent significance of his waiting
attitude was plain enough to her.
But she shook her head impatiently,
saying: Il don't know whose dance it
is, and don't care. Please go on. 1t
isis pleasant. / like Mr.. Siward;
like to hear men speak of him as you
do. l like you for doing it. If you
should ever come to care for my
friendship that is the best passport to
it-your loyalty to Mr.. Siward."
mo man can truthfully speak other
wise than | have spoken" he said
gravely.
"No, not of these things. But you
know w-what isis usually said when
his name comes up among men"
do you mean about his habits?" he
asked simply.
Yes Is it not an outrage to drag
in that sort of thing? 1t angers me
intensely, Mr.. Plank. Why do they
do il? Is there single one among
them qualified to criticise Mr.. Siward
And, besides. it is not true any more.
is it, what was once said Of him with
with some truth? Is it,"
The dull red blood mautled Plank's
heavy visage The silence grew grim
as he did his slow, laborious thinking.
the while his eyes, expressionless and
almost opaque i'm the dim light, never
left hers until under the unchanging.
mercilesS inspection the mask dropped
for an instant from her anxious face.
and he saw what he saw.
He was no fool What he had come
to believe she mt last had only con
drmed. And now the question became
simple. Was she worth enlightening;
And by what title did she demand his
confidence
"You ask me if it is true any more
You mean about his habits If answer
you, it is because | cannot be indif-
ferent to what concerns him. But be
fore | answer | ask you this. Would
your interest in his fortunes matter to
him?'
She waited. head bent. then:
81 don't know Mr. Plank" very low
Did your interest in his fortunes
ever concern him|
Yes, once"
He looked at her sternly, his jaw
squaring unil his heavy under lip pro
jected. within my definition Of friend
ship, is he your friend?"
you mean he
"No: ] mean you ! can answer for
him. How is it with you? DO you
return what he gives-if there is really
friendship between you. or do you take
what ne offers, Offering nothing in re
turn"
She had turned rather white under
the direct impact Of the questions
The Earring repetition Of his voice it.
self was ike the dull echo of distant
blows. Set it never occurred to her TO
resent it nor his attitude nor his self
assumed privilege. She did not care.
She no longer cared what he said to
her or thought about her, nor did she
care that her mask had fallen at last
1t was not what he was saying, but
what her own heart repeated so heav-
Uv that drove the color from her face.
Not ne. but she herself had become the
pftilcss attorney for the prosecution;
not his voice. but the clamoring con
science within her demanded by what
right she used the name of friendship
TO characterize the late relations be-
tween her and the man to whom she
.senied herself.