Evening star., 1909-06-18
CHAPTER XIII-Continued.

| You see how 1t is, don't you? I'm in t.
win If l ever. was to give UP a fight.
could never win another. It'd take th'
win out of me. for keeps. Please don
make me do it, Dey."
IAN right!'' she sighed in comic de
spair, It's only for your own sake ant
| because / care for you"
IF it's goin' to make you unhappy o1
ashamed of me, I'll give it up" he salt
with slow resignation.
| No. she forbade. You needn't fee
that way about it. 1t doesn't make ms
unhappy, except on your account. And
| couldn't be ashamed Of you if l triet
| all day. You know / couldn't
| Your re the dandiest, littlest, pretties
| girl there is!' he said gratefully. An
those big eyes of yours kind of make me
| feel like [ was In church. Now I'll chase
| home an give you chance to do some
sleepin'., Say" as he started to go
what do you think of Miss Standsh?'
| Why. she answered. perplexed. -
never thought much about her. She's
very nice-and pretty. too; isn't she?"
Looks a little like rabbit, DOM
| she?" he ventured.
| The girls quick laugh flashed out an6
she clasped her hands together
| "Reautiful'' she cried How did you
| ever think of it?''
Struck me the first time I saw her. >
| he replied. flattered.
Il told her about it tonight at dinner ;
''Caleb, You didn't
Honest. l did, he reiterated. L
What did she sayi'
'Oh, she didn't seem to mind. Got sor,
| o red an grinned. / guess she liked it
Hern me didn't get on so bad together
| takin' all into account. I guess we'll pull
together first rate when were better ac-
quainted."
You seem pretty certain of being
| better acquainted" she mocked; albeit
| there was a little tug at her heart.
Il am" lie answered, coolly. THE fact
S, Dey, I'm thinkin' of maxim it case
of marry
For a moment she did not answer. The
footballs of pedestrian sounded rhyth-
mically distinct in the silence that fell
| between the man and the girl Then
Desiree observed with slight restraint
that sat strangely upon her:
4 don't think that is a very nice joke.
" Tisn't joke at ALL" Caleb assured
her. II mean it. I'd a-talked 1t over with
you before, only the idee never came
Gear to me. till tonight Here's how ii
is
"You-you care for herr" asked Desiree.
very quietly. Caleb. full as he was of his
own aspirations, noticed how dull and
lfeless her voice had all at once grown.
You're tired out,' he cried, all re-
morse. Here I keep you up, sistenin'
to my fool talk, when you ought to be
sound asleep. Nice sort of guardian
am. I'm goin'-''
NO. watt" she ordered, with pitt
full shadow Of her wonted daily imperi-
BUSINESS. I'm not tired. Tell me. Are you
in love with her?'
"In love with her?" scoffed Caleb
with that little rabbit-faced bunch OF
81 illness? Not me! But she comes OF
about the biggest family here. She's pop
lar everywhere. If / was to marry heI
! I'd get with the best crowd in Granite
My placed be as sure as yours'll be when
you marry that gold-shirt chap-whoever
he turns out to be-that We was talkin
about the other day. I was speakin' OF
| the idee to Caine only tonight, an he
says"
"Oh"
The furious monosyllab,e snapped
through bis ramb ing talk like a pistol
shot Caleb paused in amaze. The girl
had risen. Her tiny fists were clenched
her face hard as a statues. The moon
light gave back cold fire from her great
eyes.
How dare your she painted. How
| dare you! You speak of marrying Lefty
| Standish as you would speak of buying q
| horse, You even talk 1t over with the
man she has promised to marry! But
| suppose you chuckled to yourself over
| your barroom cunning in getting ar
| opinion from him without letting him
know it was his sweetheart you planned
| to steal. You sneer at her as rabbit.
faced little bunch Of Stiffness and yet
you speak in the same breath Of making
| her your wife. Do you realize you are
not only insulting her by such a thought
but you are insulting me by speaking sc
In my presence"
| ''DeyH' gasped the bewidered man
You must be crazy, child. l never saw
you like
BE still"' she commanded. her silver
voice ringing harshly. II forbid you to
speak to me. now or any time. A man
| who can plan what you are planning
and who can boast of it. isn't fit to speak
as guest-and you asked mems opinions
| In the smoking room"
| 'It was the dressin room. Dey." he
pleaded. 'An' it was only me an
Cane-"
| "You ask mems opinion" blazed or
Desree. unheeding las to whether you
are likely to gain anything In a socia
way by wrecking an innocent girls life
| You sit by her at dinner-at her own ia
ther's table-and plan in SNUG compla.
she really loves-and to compel her te
| marry YOU Why, you aren't fit to mar
ry her chambermaid. There isn't groom
in her stable that hasn't higher, holiel
ideals. Now go. This is the last time
want to see you as long as live.''
/ swirl of soft skirts. the sharp slam
| of door. and Caleb Conover, aghast
wordless with dismay, stood alone on The
little moon-lit porch.
| For a full minute he stood there dunn.
| founded. Then from somewhere In the
| darkness beyond the closed door came
! family the sound of sobbing-rending
| heartbroken sobs that brought a lump
| TO his own throat.
"Dey"" he called, frantically miser-
! able; ''Dey!
He tried the locked door, and raped
as loudly as he dared upon It's panels
The sobbing died away For an hour
Conover waited, alternately whispering
the girls name and tapping appealingly
for admittance. But the house remained
silent AT length with a despairing
growI he turned away.
Now what in blazes could a made
her act like that?" he pondered, half
aloud. Gee. but I'd rather be horse
whipped than make that kid cry! An
! s'pose.' he went on as he passed out
ut the gate. II spose bout this time
Lefty Standish an Caine are sayin' good
night, all slushy like. an grinnin at
each other, like couple Of measly
love BIRDS
He looked back once more at the dark
house. sighed nosily and started home
ward. \ passing policeman recognized
him. and. in Difference to the Fight err s
fast growing political power, far un-
bent AS to say:
Good evenin', Mr.. Conover. Fine
night. amt it? Are--
"Oh. go to hell!' snarIed Caleb.
CHAPTER XIV.