Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-14
CHAPTER I.
Cast Iron John Petherby.


Il love Eva and she loves me. That's
my answer. Mr.. Petherby." and Don
Stuarts handsome. frank features flush
ed as he looked Evas father in the
face. the fearless self dependence Of the
tone emphasized by the proud outstanding
poise of the tall, powerful frame.
John Petherby's eyes were like f1ints.
his face as a mask Of chilled steel. his
voice icy and deliberate. 'Cast-iron
JOHN they called him in the huge manu-
factory he had founded and developed
into enormous prosperity. He looked the
character now.
You love my daughter and she loves
YOU. Umph. And that's your reason for
turning thief.
MIR. Petherby.''
Hadn't you persuaded her to elope
when caught your What is it but theft
to try and steal her away from her home.
and with her, the money YOU calculate TO
GET
Not a. penny. 1 don't want your
Mr. Pethcrby paused. Il don't believe,
you. l believe your fathers son is as
capable of lying as he is himself.
Don't insult my father, sir, cried Don,
Indignantly
81 know your father better than you.
For twenty years he tried to steal my
business from me. using every shift ana
every lie, and every fraud that dion
bring him inside the criminal law. And
now you try by the same means to steal
my child
II asked your consent openly at flrst
Not quite like your father that, per-
haps, but l told you then that l would
rather see her dead than disgraced and
scnemed and lied until you won her from
her obedience to me to run away with
you. That was your fathers son. Anu
now you chatter like a fool about your
love. If l were to have you horse
whipped by my stablemen. it would be
no more than your deserts
''They would a deal sooner horsewhip
you cried Don, red-hot with anger.
But the taunt made no impression. The
cold. stony eyes fixed on the boys face
never even fiickered. Now understand,
if your father is in this
"He is not" was the impulsive inter-
ruption.
IF your father is in this, it will spell
shall write him that unless You get out
of the country and leave my child at
peace to forget YOU"
'She will never do that. / shall never
81 shall crush your father as l crush
this" and he crumpled a sheet OF paper
in his strong white hand.
II am not one of your workgirls to be
hectored and bullied by you, Mr. Pether-
by / shall not give up Eva"
Mr. Petherby rang the bell.
"Gregson, tell Miss Eva to come to
me, and tell Roberts and Pilkington !
shall want them in five minutes-when
ring
There was wait of some few minutes,
but not a word was said.
Then the door was opened and slight
girl of about eighteen fair as picture
and sweet as May flowers. came in tim
how f~r hn c
but sadly shaken by tempest she was
now. her eyes terror-filled. the lids still
dewed with recent tears. her cheeks
flushed in agitation and her heart beat
under the stress of a trouble which
threatened wreck and ruin to her young
happiness.
Her lover caught his breath at sight of
her and stepped forward fmpulsiveiy.
Eva,
"Evangeline." came the iron-bound
command at the same moment.
For an instant she hesitated, and stood
trembling and casting fleet frightened
glances at each in turn. Then the habit
of her love. She shrank to her fathers
side
John Petherby's f1inty eyes seemed to
light for an instant with CLEAN of
triumph as he looked at the discounted
Don, but his voice was the same hard,
uncompromising. slow monotone. Evan
geline. you will tell this young man
that you will never see him again"
Eva's only answer was smothered
moan of pain.
"Eva," cried Don with eager pleading:
Never again. Evangeline,' declared
the stern old man.
Father" she walled.
do you dare to disobey me?" The
tone even colder in it's implacable stern
ness.
She dropped into chair and burst into
wild sobbing.
The tears drove Don mad "Have you no
mercy?" he cried. Cant you see what
she suffers? Do you want to break her
hearth
Evangeline.''
Eva
Again the appeal from both came al
most simultaneously.
Its no use, Don. It's no use. Go
away, please" she cried. her voice quiy-
ering.. and her words broken and scarcely
audible for her Sobs.
You will never see him again. Evange-
line? Tell him So" said her father. hold
ing to his purpose with the relentless te-
nacity which had given him his great
wealth.
Eva The appeal eager and passionate
now and eloquent of the pain of impend
ing defeat
Don't. Don, Don't. 1 can never see
you again."
The instant the Words were past her
lips. Mr. Petherby rang his bell.
EVA. do you see what you are do
ing? Will you send me from you without
word of hope? I will not give you up
I swear it. / cannot. Come with me now
dearest and he pushed forward 10 go
to her.
Mr.. Petherby blocked his way. and the
two stood glaring at each other-the one
hot emotional, resentful; the other cold
hard, resolute-a rock of steadiness
against which the young mans passion
beat itself in vain.
The two servants entered.
Turn this man out of the house. you
two; and if he ever presumes to set
foot inside the manor again. my orders
are that he be thrown out"
A gasp of pain from the shrinking girl
behind her father: a start of fiery anger
and clenching of fists from her lover;
smothered cry of rage. and then father
and daughter were alone.
The instant the door was closed She
jumped up and rushed toward it. Don,
Don, come back!
Mr.. Petherby put himself before her.
"Evangeline! How dare you?"
Love and despair lent her f1eeting cour-
age. and she met her fathers eyes. But
in moment it fed. and. falling on her
knees. she chung to him. Father. Ia
Their. bring him back to me- l love him
SO! I love him so! oh, my heart is
breaking!'
The tempest of her agony, like the
storm of her lovers anger. broke in vain
against the rugged rock of his compo-
sure. He unclasped her hands raised.
and then released her. THE day will
come when you will thank me for this
more than for any act of my life 10 you
Dry your tears: go to your room and re-
main there until the day after tomorrow.
BY that time this presumptuous young
scoundrel will have left the country
Her face was gray with suffering. She