Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-02-01
cHApIERlW
SEVEN KS
(Continued.)

| SlW8ru tuEIeu anu COhSiAhSN h'S
writing. And when the little sheaf OF
checks was ready he counted them
laid them aside and, drawing ma,
| packet Of fresh bank notes from MS
| portfolio, counted out the tips expect
| ed of him below stairs. These arrang
ed for. he Strengthened up and glanced
over his shoulder at Sylvia, but she
was apparently absorbed In counting
something on the ends Of her fingers
so he turned smilingly to his desk anG
| wrote long letter to his mother-the
same tender. affectionately boyish let
ter he had always written her. full OF
condolences, full Of humor, gayly antic
| ipating his own return to her on the
| heels Of the letter.
| In his first letter to her from Shot
over he had spoken casually of Miss
| Lands. 1t seemed the name was ia
miliar enough to his mother, who ask
ed about her, and he had replied In
another letter or two. trifie EN-
phutic In his praise Of her, because
| from his mothers letters 1t was quite
evident that she knew good deal con
corning the very unconventional af
fairs Of Sylvia's family.
or his swift and somewhat equivo
cal courtship he had had nothing tt
say in his letters In fact, recently he
| had nothing to say about Sylvia at all
reserving that vital confidence for the
clear sympathy and understanding
which he looked forward to when he
should see her and which. through
through struggle and defeat by his
master vice. had never failed him yet
never faltered for an instant
So he brought his letter to close
with tender and uneasy inquiry
concerning her health, which. she haG
ry, and for that reason she had open
ed the house in town in order to bt
near DR. Grisby, their family doctor.
Sealing and directing the letter. he
looked up to see Sylvia standing at his
elbow. She dropped light hand or
bis shoulder for second, barely
touching nina fugitive caress. deli
cate as the smile lowering on her lips
as the shy tenderness In her eyes.
more letters to your sweetheart? 2
she asked, abandoning her hand t.
him.
Zone more, the last before see her
wish you could see her, Sylvia"
II wish SO, too" she answered sim
| ply, seating herself on the arm of hi.
chair as though 1t were sidesaddle.
would she care for me, do yol
think?' asked the girl in low voice
II think so, for your real self"
II know She could only feel con
tempt for me as am"
"She is old fashioned" he said rev
erently.
'"That means all that is best In wo
mantle old fashion Of truth ant
faith, the old fashion of honor ant
faith in honor the old, old fashion O
love. All that is best. Stephen: all tina
is worth the love of a man. Some day
somebody will revive those fashions"
"Will you?"
Dear. they would not become me.
she said, the tenderness in her eye
deepening little, and she touched hi!
head lightly in humorous caress.
what shall we do with the wanin,
daylight she asked ut is my las
day with you. told Howard it wal
my last day with you and l did no
care to be disturbed"
"You probably didn't say it tina
L -
II did"
GLOW much of that sort of thing /!
he prepared to stand?" asked Siwarl
curiously.
"How much? l don't know. don
believe he cares. 1t is my uncle, Ma
| jor Belwether, who is making things
unpleasant for me. l had to tell How
ard, you know"
What" exclaimed Siward incredu
.ously.
Certainly. Do you think my con
duct has passed without protest?'
you told Quarrierm he repeated.
did you imagine l could do other
wise?' she asked coolly. II have tina
much decency left. Certainly l tolt
him. Do you suppose that after wha
we did, what admitted to you, tina
I could meet him as usual? Do 20,
think am afraid of himY'
Il thought you were afraid of losing
him." muttered Siward.
81 was dreadfully And the morning
after you and I had been impruden
enough to sit up until nearly daylight
and do what we did made him take {
long walk with me, and told him plain
ly that cared for you, that was TOT
selfish and cowardly to marry you, ant
that If lie couldn't endure the news b,
was at liberty to terminate the engage
ment without notice.
"What did he say?" stammered 81
ward.
II was informed that he held m,
strictly and precisely to my promise
that he would never release me volun
tarily, though l was, of course, at lib
erty to do what chose. My poo
friend, he cares no more for love thar
do I! I happen to be the one woman
in New York whom he considers abso
lutely suitable for him-by race, by
breeding, by virtue of appearance and
presence eminently fitted to complete
the material portion of his fortune and
| estate
Her voice had hardened as she spoke
Now it rang Il little at the end, and she