The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-07-18

AAOSSs
"You do not understand" she cried
impatiently. my fathers interests
are involved in this marriage"
Howe" said he.
"Oh, you will drive me crazyT she
exclaimed DO you expect me to
stand here in the road discOursing OF
nv personal affairs with a tramp"
son 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 l hope might have had the grace
to try. And now / see you plunging
straight at the gulf Of moral degrade
ton, and you ask me to give you
push. No; won't do tit"
SIS it morally degrading to go to my
friends house"
Answer me this" said he. ''Will
your running away help your father|
81 should think not"
"Wir it help the man you're engaged
TOT"
81 don't care whether 1t does or not.
But it won't"
"Do you love somebody else?"
"Yesw she cried, half frantic with
Impotence.
Twill this fight help himT
"I don't know. l never thought of It,
Do you wish me to say that l thought
only of myself? Well, l did. was
uncomfortable to the verge of distrac-
ton, and l wanted to get away"
what made you uncomfortable|
GIVE told youths wretched en-
gagement."
"Why not break it?" The fellows
manner was as bland as 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 I meant
when 1 used the term. And, by the
way. did you leave any word behind
your"
mo; l intended to telephone from
my friends house"
"And break the engagement
"Not necessarily said she-"that
is, not Immediately. 1 hoped to tenn
porize."
'For your fathers sakew
eyes" said she, with hesitation. 81
hoped it might do him some small
good"
''This gentleman you're engaged to
is rich, isn't hep"
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
badgered witness in court. She no
i 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.'' ---~-'s.'uS'~,s Il sssasssiritasA4aA,s
"And Mr.. Waldo Kennard gives your
father that opportunity because Of his
affection for you?"
''Yes. How did you know his manner
81 have heard 1t spoken. Did you
ever care for him?"
81 was fascinated. The man has an
extraordinary power"
"And his WEALTH."
sit may have tempted me. But all
that is at an end.
1.-THE man you really love is poorT
HE is not rich. But surely / am
going mad! Why-why on earth do
stand here babbling like this? You
have made me do it. There is 8
shrewdness in you that is more thar
human You have twisted me around
your finger. You are no tramp What
are you?"
EDO you wish to go to your friends
house?'
II think not" said she. mo; not
now No one who had talked witt
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 L
you can mend the car will go home.
And break the engagement"
yes, tonight. l will end it."
Il He gave her his hand to assist hel
into the car s-"---------"-'---$ .--s~
= "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 offerins
, 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 ,
blind to account for the price at which
he offers the
shares. He has |
wrecked those
banks. They - "
stand upon the EN NJ
i brink of ruin, ~
and now he is InH
peddling his EdkH
: stock to country kN