Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-22
CHAPTER XIV.
The Warning Voice.

So14 4SA &AAvs
The Warning Voice.
Meet me under the big cedar. down by
the river, in half an hour Myra wh,s
pered to me. as she followed me out OF
the breakfast room next morning.
Very well.'' replied. and we parted.
kept the tryst as promised. The tree
she indicated was a large and very old
cedar OF Lebanon. the spreading branches
Of which stretched out afar on either
side. while around the huge black trunk
was an old wooden seat In an advanced
stage of decay. An ideal spot for meet
daughters of the Stapletons had no doubt
been wooed and won there. Close by
ran the calm. broad river. glistening in
the bright morning sunshine. while all
around was a stretch of smooth, we'll kept
lawn. 1t was a portion of the grounds to
which no guest ever came except for en-
barkation in the boat moored close by.
and as sat with cigarette. awaiting my
friends well beloved. ] wondered why
she had invited me there.
Very soon. indeed almost punctually to
the minute. she came-all in white. with
a sun bonnet Of pink cotton tied beneath
her chin with charming effect.
ITS awfully good OF you to come. Mr..
Ralston,' she said hurriedly as she met
me. But I'm so very afraid that he'll
follow me-
"Garshore:"
Yes. Let's get into the boat and go
down stream she suggested.
Therefore I handed her in unmoored
the boat. and taking the SOULS pushed
out into the river, and allowed it to
drift slowly away and down behind
belt of willows. so that my fellow guest
would not be able to discover us, even
though he came in search.
Il thought you and he intended to
motor into York; I said.
Not until this afternoon" was her re-
ply. as she took the rudder lines and set
tied herself among the cushions in the
stern. "Of course you'll come with us.
Dad will come also"
IF you wish,'' I replied, and as
gazed into her face / saw that she had
met me with some distinct and definite
purpose and that purpose was certainly
not to invite me to go for a motor
run.
For a few minutes we were both ST.
lent. The sun was already hot. and at
last 1 suggested that we should pull
across into the shadow. where some will
lows overhung until their branches
swept the water. To which she readily
assented.
In her pink sun bonnet made on the
model of those used by milkmaids Of the
last century, she looked particularly
sweet. 1t suited her fair complexion and
piauant features.
When I had pulled up under the trees.
shipped my oars and tied the boat up
to an old root in the bank. she suddenly
summoned courage to speak. saying
Mr.. Ralston, I've come to you this
morning to- mean to ask you to tell
me all about Granny"
ITO tell you about him. l echoed,
pretending to be astonished at her re-
quest. What can l tell you more than
you already know? You are well ac-
auainted with him. Myra.' I added in a
deep. earnest voice. land. II you'll per-
you with the most intense DEVOTION
II know-I know all that" she ex-
claimed. with a choking sob. her cheeks
flushing slightly as she spoke. "He has
already told me SO. But you. Mr.. Raj
ston. are his best and most intimate
friend. You know more about him than
do
Il hardly think that" was my reply.
.'He Is my very dear friend. it is true
But while am only a friend, he is your
lover
Il know he loves me. feel confident
of that. But and she paused In
hesitation
But what? If you are convinced Of
"Ah! Mr.. Ralston. you don't know"
she cried in agitation. You don't UNI
derstand.'
II suppose that man has been uttering
some of his COMPOUNDED ISLANDERS concern
ing Granny-eh?"
IF they were only ISLANDERS I would not
mind. for / would not listen to them.''
she said. But. alas! they appear to be
the actual truth. He declares that Gram
ny is an adventurer!
course, never allowed the truth to leak
out to Myra or her father. He loved her,
and used often to say to me that he
would be wealthy one day. for one Of his
turn UP trumps. Therefore why should
he confess the ugly truth to her?
I had agreed with him. I had been an
accessory to a fraud upon the girl. which
l now bitterly regretted.
Il hope. Myra. that YOU don't believe
this man. I said in all seriousness. look
ing straight into her face. He is here
apparently in order to besmirch Granny's
honor. for not only does he allege that
my friend Cough is an ADVENTURE, but
that he is an assassin
Have you yet spoken to him concern
ing his allegations?"
Not yet. But when do l shall speak
out very straight" I said. Granny is
one Of my best friends. and he'll have to
answer TO me for these calumnies."
But you won't make a scene here. Mr..
Ralston. will you?" she asked, bending
forward anxiously Dad would never
forgive me for repeating to you what Mr..
Garshore has told me-
Then he has spoken to your father"
II think so-that's the worst of it,
why do YOU believe he has?''
Because only this morning when ]
CHANGED to mention Mr.. Cough casually
while he and were in the library alone,
he snapped ont something about hoping
that man would never dare to show his
face again at Stapleton."
l bit my lip. for ! saw that Garshore
had been mischief making and that the
seeds of suspicion he had sown would
take a good deal Of uprooting. For
moment l said nothing. | was trying to
see some solution of the great difficulty
now presenting itself
so he has been endeavoring to poison
your fathers mind-eh? For what rea-
son. wonder?'' asked. Perhaps,
Myra. he has aspirations to your hand.
and is trying to take Granny's place in
your heart
Take Granny's place." she cried re-
sentfully. "He will not do that-never
fear: I love Granny far too much. He
only man l have ever loved she added
in a low. earnest tone. gazing at me with
those wonderful blue-gray eyes that al
ways held even myself. prosaic bachelor
that was. in a kind of fascination.
But | thought you said you liked Car
shore?" ] remarked
Il did. when we first met. But l can
now see that in telling dad these extraor-
binary stories concerning my lover he has
some distinct Interior motive"
Which is certain to be in favor of
himself" ! assured her. II happen to
know something of this man. Myra. and
| warn you against him. / cannot tell
you all until Granny permits me. but l
can assure you that Ralph Garshore is his
most bitter enemy The dear old chap