Evening star., 1909-05-02

the dwelling of some generations had Inn
bued the dwellers with some OF the old
Indian spirit. AS Athlyne stood face to
face with him. watching for every sign
Of intention as a fencer watches his OPP
pOnent. he realized that there would be
for him no pity. no mercy not even un-
derstanding. He would have to fight an
uphill contest-if Joy was to be saved
would: sacrifice himself in any way that
a man can accomplish 1T. Life and hap
piness had for him passed by! One OF
his greatest difficulties would be. he felt.
that of so controlling himself that he
would not of necessity SHUT behind him.
by anything which he might say or do.
the door of conciiation. He began at
once, therefore. to practice soft answer
ing:
MY conduct, sir. has been bad-so far
as doing an indiscreet thing. and In not
showing to you that respect which 10
your due In any matter In which Miss
reason which he could not at the mo-
ment understand this seemed to infuriate
the colonel more than ever. In quite
violent way he burst out:
$50 / am to take 1t that no respect 10
due to me in my own person! Such
gather from your words. You hint IL you
do not say that respect Is only my due
on my daughters account At the risk
him. It would not do for him to accept
this monstrous reading Of what he meant
for courtesy:
mot so. sir. My respect is to you al
ways and for all causes. ] did but put
It in that way as 1t is only In connec-
tion with your daughter that I dared to
speak at ALL" Even this pacific explana.
tion seemed to add fuel to the old mans
choler:
LET me tell you, sir. that this has
nothing whatever to do with my daugh-
ter Miss Ogilvie is my care. Her de-
fense, if any be required Is my duty.
my privilege. And / quite know how to
exercise-and TO defend-both."
quite so. sir. ! realize that, and ]
have no wish 10 arrogate tc myself your
right or your duty; for either OF which
myself should be proud to dte!" Ath-
lyne's voice and manner were so suave
ard deferential that Col. Ogilvie began
to have an idea that he was a poltroon;
and in this belief the bully that was In
him began to manifest itself. He spoke
harshly. intending to convey this Idea,
though as he did so bis heart smote him.
Even he spoke there rose before his
bIoodshot eyes the vision OF q river shinl-
mering with gold as the sunset fell on II.
and projected against it the figure OF q
frightened woman tugSing at the reins or
d runaway mare: while close behind her
rcde a valiant man guiding with left hand
a splendid black horse to her side, his
right hand stretched oU. to drag her to
his saddle Before them both lay dead
ly chasm. In the pause Athlyne took the
opportunity of hurriedly putting on his
outer clothing.
But even that touching vision did not
check the fathers rage. His eyes were
bloodshot and even such visionary vi
sion-could not linger In them. 1t passed.
leaving in it's place only a red splotch-as
of blood: the emotion which the thought
had qufckened had become divergent In
it's own crooked way. But in the pause
Athlyne had time 70 get I'm word:
Sir whatever fault there has been w.s
mine entirely | acted foolishly perhaps,
and unthinkingly. l: placed displaced
me in such position that every accident
multiplied possibilities OF misunderstand-
ing | cannot undo that now-I don't
even say that l would IL 4 could. But
whatever may be my fate-in the result
that may follow my acts--I snail accept
tinuance ard development Of your own
suggestion that no other name should be
mentioned in whatever has to be spoken
of between u.s." As he finished he un-
consciously stood upon his dignity draw
ing himself up to his full height and
standing in soldierly attitude. This had
a strange effect on Col. Ogilvie. Really
Ing that he could rely implicitly on the
dignity of the man before him. he al
lowed himself a further latitude He
could afford. he felt, to be unrestrained
in such a presence; and SO proceeded to
behave as though he were stark, staring
raving mad. AthIyne saw the change
Ing than his reason, realized that the
change might later have some beneflcert
effect. More than ever did he feel now
the need for his own absolute self-contrui
1t was well that he had made up Ills
mind to this. for ii WAS bitterly tested In
Col. Ogilvie's mad outpour:
(To be continued tomorrow