The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1908-07-28

All, 70 De sure! You were away
Christmas eve, when those vandals
broke In. Bates merely mentioned it
In u last report / got from him in
New York. That was all right. l as
sumed, of course. that you had gone
Off somewhere to get a little Christ
mas cheer; don't care anything
about it,
But l had followed her-I went to
Cincinnati to see her-don't you I'M
derstand? She dared me to comet
was trick, a part of the conspiracy
to steal your property"
The old gentleman smiled. It was
an old trick of his to grow calm as
other people waxed angry.
She dared you to come, did she!
That is quite like Marian; but you
didn't have to go, did you, Jack?"
of course not; of course l didn't
have to go, but
stammered, faltered and ceased.
Memory threw open her portals with
a challenge. I saw Marian on the
stairway at the Armstrong;; 1 heard
her low, soft laughter; felt the mock
cry of her voice and eyes; 1 knew
again the exquisite delight of being
near her. My heart told me well
enough why 1 had followed her!
Jack, Pm glad I'm not buried up
there in that Vermont graveyard with
nobody to exercise the right of guar
dlanship over you. I've had my mis-
givings about you; used to think you
were born tramp; and you disap-
pointed me In turning your back on
enthusiastically poblest of all pro
fessions; but this performance of
yours really beats them all. Don't
you know that girl like Marian De-
vereux isn't likely to become the agent
OF any rascal? Do you really believe
for a minute that she tempted you to
follow her so you might forfeit your
rights to my property"
But why was she trying to find
those notes of his? Why did she
come back I'm Cincinnati with his
party? cellld answer me those
'Ihgngs' maybe I'd admit that I'm
fool. Pickering, imagine, is a pretty
plausible fellow where women are con-
ceFned."
For Gods sake, Jack, don't speak
of that girl as women l put her in |
that will of mine just to pique your
curiosity, knowing that if there was a |
penalty on yolf' marrying her YOU
would be wholly likely to do it,-for
that's the way human beings are
made. But you've mixed it all up now
and insulted her in the grossest way
possible for fellow who is really a
gentleman. And-I don't want to lose
you; l want you here with me! These
rich Americans, who go to England to
live, don't appreciate the beauty of
their own country. This landscape is
worthy of the best that man can do.
And 1 didn't undertake to build a
crazy house out here but one that
should have some dignity and charac-
ter. That passage around the chin
ney is an indulgence, Jack,-Tll admit
It's 9 little bizarre,-you see that
isn't so big outside as it is
ln!"-and he laughed and rubbed his
kne9@- "and my bringing foreign
- here was really to make it
easier to4 sea,cnlngS, done my way.
Wait till yRl have seen the May-apples
blossom ana heard the robin sing in
he summer t#ilight,-help me to
inish the house,-then if you want
o leave I'll bid you Godspeed."
The feeling in his tone, the display
II sentiment so at variance with my
I'D notion of him, touched me in spite
# myself. There was a characteristic D.,
lobility and dignity in his plan; it
vas worthy of him. And l had never ,
owed him as now, when he finished :
his appeal, andAturned away to the :
window, gazing - upon the somber !
Woodland
Mr.. Donovan AAready to go, SIR"
Bates at the door, and we :
rent into the library, where Larry and !,
toddard were waiting.
CHAPTER XVI.