The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1908-09-19

night. Doesn't it seem heartleSsT'
1T does. indeed. And yet l dare say
you've been scolding them bitterly all
evening. One seldom thinks it worth
while to be merciful when the tele-
phone refuses to obey. It's only a true
philanthropist who can forgive the tel
ephone. However, | am grateful to the
blizzard and happy. Fair weather
would have deprived me of pleasure"
Il am sorry Mr.. Gable is not at
home" she said quickly.
"I doubt II l shall miss him greatly"
said he.
"He expects to leave early. He isn't
WELL" she hastened to say. Don't you
want to smoker"
"A cigarette If you don't mind. BY
the way, where is my future daughter
in-lawi Surely l may see her tonight"
"She is at the theater-with Fern
mores. Graydon is one Of the party.
Didn't you known she asked sud
denly.
II do remember it now. He left the
apartment quite early. Then / have
Fernmore to thank fOr-we are alone"
He leaned forward in his chair and
flicked the cigarette ashes into the fire,
his black eyes looking into hers with
unmistakable intentness.
"You assured me today that you
would be fair" she said, with strange
calmness, meeting his gaze unfinch-
ingly.
81 am fair. What more can you
ashhF" with a light laugh.
"Why did you say today that l had
nothing to fear from your" she de.
manded.
lyon have nothing to fear. Why
should you fear me? For twenty years
your face has not been out of ny
memory. Why should / seek to hurt
you, then? Why should l not rejoice
in the tie that binds our interests-our
lives, for that matter? Come, / ask if
l am not falr?"
Her face became pale, her heart cold.
She understood. The mask was of.
He yelled his threat in the simplest
words possible. The purpose looked
through with greedy disdain for
grace.
81 can offer no more than l offered
today" she said.
"Do you suppose l would accept
money in payment for my sons peace
of mind?" declared Bansemer, with
finely assumed scorn. you offered
me $4,000. You will never know how
that hurt me, coming from you. Mon
ey7 What is money to me in an affair
like this? l care more for one tender
touch of your fingers than all the mon.
ey in the world! You and you alone
can mold every impulse in me. For
half my life l have been hated. No
n has given me a grain of love,
must have II. For years you have not
been out of my mind-I have not been
out Of yours"
'Stop!' she cried angrily. You
have no right to say such things to
me. You have been in my mind all
these years, but, oh, how | have hated
you"
Like a fash his manner changed.
He had her in his power, and it was
not in his nature to permit his sub
jects to dictate to him. Craft and CO
erclon always had been his ally. Craft
could not win a woman's heart, but
coercion might crush it into submis-
sion. 1t was not like James Banse-
mer to play a waiting game after 1t
had been fairly started.
"Now listen to me-" he said distinct
ly. you cannot afford to talk like
that You cannot afford to make an
enemy Of me-. | mean what r.
what would you doT she cried.
"You have promised that nothing shall
happen to mar the lives Of our chill
dren. You have given me your pledge.
Is 1t worthless? Is it,
81 wouldn't speak SO loud If l were
you" said he slowly. "The walls have
ears. You have much to lose If ears
other than those in the wall should
hear what could be said. 1t would
/ mean disaster. l know at least that
you do not love David Cable
what II worship my husbandg'
she cried, her eyes flashing, her bosom
heaving. 81 love him better than any
thing else In all the world. How dare
you say that to mel'
Control yourself" he cautioned
calmly. Permit me to say you love
the position he has given you. You
love the pedestal on which you stand
so insecurity. You would rather hear
his curse than to see the hand Of so
cial ostracism raised against you.
Waitl A word from me and not only
David Gable, but the whole world
would turn against you"
Il have committed no crime" she
Hared back at him. Il have deceived
my husband, but ! have not dishon.
ored him. Tell the world everything
IL you will"
1T would be a luscious tale" he said
with an evil laugh. The world, which
is wicked, might forget the fact thai
Jane is not David's daughter, but pa
vid would not forget that she is yours.
what do you meanT' starting from
her chair. "she is not my child. You
know she isn't You know the entirs
Ia. wa