The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1908-07-02
cHApErR xvn fcontinued) .

last Il wish this made perfectly clear,
and for all time. I met Miss ellis
s7rst through pure accident. She i'm
pressed me strongly then. and con
Eess have since grown more deeply
Interested in her personality. / have
seasons TO suppose my presence not
.altogether distasteful to her, and she
mas certainly shown that she reposes
"a prss an ..lusmom y isn't lIgM..
confidence in me. Not until late last
night did I ever suspect she was the
you out on the desert. n came to
ere from her own lips and was a total
surprise. She revealed her identity
IN order 10 justify her proposed clan
dsStine meeting with you
And hence you request this pleas
ant conference" broke in Hampton.
cOoiiy. TO inform me, from your calm
eFninenee Of responsibility that | was
no nc companion for such a young and
Innocent person. and TO warn me that
you were prepared to act as her pro-
tector"
Brant slightly Inclined his head
\ may have had something of that
nature in my mind"
Wen. Lieut. Brant." and the older
man rose to his feet, his eyes still
smiling. some might be impolite
enough to say that IL was the con-
casssion of cad. but whatever it was,
1hs tables have unexpectedly turned.
Wilhout further reference to my own
.pe-sonai interests In the young lady.
which are, however. considerable.
sthere rcmafn other weighty reasons
thst am not at liberty to discuss.
which make II simply impossible for
yo1 90 sustain any relationship to
Miss Giiiis other than that OF ordinary
vocal friendship"
'fou-yod claim the right"
Il distinctly claim the right. for
Sae reason that possess the right. and
TOO one has ever yet known me to
'reii1quIsh hold once fairly gained
u.ieut. Brant, II | am any judge of
faces, you are fighting man by ma
sure as well as profession. but there
w. NO opportunity for your doing any
lighting here. This matter Is IRE
:vocabiy settled-Naids ellis is not
Cor you"
Rrant was breathing hard do you
suesn TO insinuate that there is an I'M
Outstanding, an engagement between
your he faltered. scarcelr knowing
hog best to resent such utterance.
You may place your own construc-
<ion upon what | have said" was the
9niet answer. "The special relations
existing between Miss ellis and my
self chance TO be no business of yours.
However. | will consent to say this
7 do enjoy a relationship to her that
lgivcs me complete authority to say
.rhst ] have said TO you. regret hav-
Ing been obliged by your persistence
tn speak with such plainness. but this
xaB Wedge should prove sufficient to
control the actions of a gentleman"
For n moment the soldier did not
answer. his emotions far too strong to
pergnit o{ calm uttcrance. his Fps
tightly shut. He felt utterly defeat
ed. Your language is sufficiently ex-
plicit.- ne acknowledged at last. Il
ask pardon for my unwarrantsd intfu-
sion
Al the door he paused and glanced
back toward that motionless figure yet
,staBdiug with one hand grasping the
back OF the chair.
~ttefore 1 go. permit -Be to ask a
sineis question" he said, frankly. II
was a Friend of old Ren ellis. and
he WIS a friend OF mf father before
me Have sou any reason TO suspect
tina. he was not Nadia ellis fathery'
Hampton took one hasty step for
ward What do yor mean?' he en-
sIsined herceiy. his eyes twa Goals Of
are.