Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-03-03

hNd lidFfOfN ADouEttS a 9ltJANc VA heA-
er knew a man cared for as much
as care for Mr.. Siward. l know
why too. He Is disinterested. | do
not believe he wastes very many
thoughts on me. Perhaps he win.
want him to like me If it's possible
But one thing you and 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 wonderT' he repeated
sharply.
NO" 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. 81 don't know whose dance 1t
Is, and don't care. Please go on. 1t
isis pleasant like Mr.. Siward; |
ike To nGuE luG1 opium vi IAN 10 W.
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
grayely
"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 habits2' he
asked simply.
Eyes. Is 1t not an outrage to drag
| In that sort of thing? 1t angers me
intensely, Mr. Plank, Why do they
do it? Is there single one among
them qualified to criticise Mr.. Siwardi
| And. besides, 1t Is not true any more
is 1t, what was once said of him with
with some truth? Is itY'
The dull red blood mantled Plank's
heavy visage The silence grew grin
| as he did bis slow, laborious thinking
the while his eyes, expressionless anc
almost Opaque In the dim light, nevel
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 at last had only con
firmed And now the question became
simple, Was she worth enlightening'
And by what title did she demand biz
confidence? -t
"You ask me if it is true any more
You mean about his habits. If | answe
1 you, 1t Is because cannot be indif
ferent to what concerns him, But be
fore | answer | ask you this, Would
your interest In his fortunes matter t
him?"
She waited, head bent, then:
81 don't know, Mr.. Plank" very low
did your interest in his fortune
ever concern himf"
"Yes, once"
He looked at her sternly, his jaw
squaring until his heavy under lip pre-
Jected. within my definition of friend
ship, is he your friends"
you mean he"-
mo; l mean you. can answer TO
him. How is 1t with you? Do yo
return what he gives-if shere is reall
friendship between you, or do you TAX
what he offers. offering nothing in n
tnrn?'
She had turned rather white unde
the direct impact of the questions
J The jarring repetition of his voice i
self was like the duh echo of distan
blows. Yet 1t never occurred to her I
resent it nor his attitude nor his gel
assumed privilege. she did not carr
She no longer cared what he said I
her or thought about her, nor did sh
care that her mask had fallen at las
1t was not what he was saying, bu
what her own heart repeated SO hea'
fly that drove the color from her fac
Not he, but she herself had become tn
pitiless attorney for the prosecution
not his voice, but the clamoring col
science within her demanded by wha
right she used the name of friendshl
to characterize the late relations b
tween her and the man to whom sh
had denied herself.
?