The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-07-16

uEt luVOtNeu III LulS U1dTTldBe.
"How?" said he.
"Oh, you will drive me crazy!' she
exclaimed. do you expect me to
stand here in the road discoursing of
my personal affairs with a trampT'
"On the other hand" said he gently,
''do you expect me to assist you in an
act Of arrant cowardice? Why, look
here! Suppose you'd been in danger
in the car. You'd have expected me to
save you at the risk Of my own neck,
and hope might have had the grace
to try. And now l see you plunging
straight at the gulf Of moral degrada-
tion, and you ask me to give you
push. No; / won't do it!''
"Is 1t morally degrading to go to my
friends houseT
Answer me this" said he. "Will
your running away help your father?'
II should think notv'
"Will it help the man you're engaged
tot"
"I don't care whether it does or not.
But 1t WON'T
'Do you love somebody else?
"Yesw she cried, half frantic with
impatience.
"Will this fight help him?'
81 don't know. never thought of 1t.
Do you wish me to say that thought
only of myself? Well, l did. 1 was
uncomfortable to the verge Of distrac-
ton, and l wanted to get away"
what made you uncomfortable?"
"I've told you-this wretched en-
gagement."
"Why not break itT' The fellows
manner was as bland as q May morn
ing. ITO run away, letting this en-
| gagement stand even for the few
hours that must elapse before you can
communicate with your home, is NOR
al degradation. That's what 1 meant
when l used the term. And, by the
way did you leave any word behind
you"
"No; intended to telephone from
my friends house."
"And break the engagement
"Not necessarily" said she-"that
porize."
| For your fatnerS Sake|
"Yes," said she, with hesitation. II
hoped it might do him some small
good"
"This gentleman you're engaged to
is rich, isn't he?"
} Eyes"
"From New York;"
"Yes."
"What is he going to do for your
father?"
By this time Miss Leigh had fallen
into the trance that sometimes engulfs
a badgered witness in court. She no
longer had the strength or the sense
to refuse an answer.
"It's something about banks" said
she. "My father gets large interest
in several. 1t will make him very
rich"
"And Mr.. Waldo Kennard gives your
father that opportunity because of his
affection for your"
"Yes. How did you know his name"
II have heard it spoken. Did you
ever care for him?"
II was fascinated. The man has an
extraordinary power"
"And his wealth"
ut may have tempted me. But all
that is at an end"
'The man you really love is poor?"
"He is not rich. But surely l am
going mad! Why-why on earth do I
stand here babbling like this? You
have made me do it. There is a
shrewdness in you that is more than
human. You have twisted me around
your finger. You are no tramp. What
are you?"
"Do you wish to 60 to your friends
house?"
II think not" said she. "No; not
now. No one who had talked with
you for half an hour could do anything
in hot blood. There is dire calmness
about you that is contagious. And
will do you justice too. You have in
spired me with a certain courage. If
you can mend the car will go home"
"And break the engagement"
"Yes, tonight. 1 will end it,"
He gave her his hand to assist her
into the car.
Your father Will not be poorer"
said he, "but think he will be wiser"
"What do you mean by that?"
II mean," said he, 'that in offering
certain bank stock to your father Mr..
Kennard is consulting his own inter-
ests solely. His desire for your hand,
if you will pardon me, is merely a
blind to account for the price at which
he offers the
shares. He has
wrecked those
banks. They ~ 1"
stand upon the s.H ~
brink of ruin, H~N
and now he is N
peddling his E,tkH
stock to country Ky
capitalists wi h E%
city ambitions. ES.NN
Your father W
would have lost ~
every penny that