Evening star., 1909-05-04
CHAPTER Xxx.
knowledge Of Law.

| All three stood still. Not a sound was
heard except faint. quick breathing. Ath-
lyme tried to think. but his brain seemed
numb. He knew that now was crisis II
not the crisis Of the whole affair. 1t
chilled him with a deathly chill to think
that Joy must have heard all the con-
yersation between her father and himself
What a remembrance for her in all the
empty years to come. What sorrow,
what pain: Presently he heard behind
him as he stood facing her sound which
was rather a groan,than~ an ejaculation
a groan endowed with artculated utter
ance: .s.
Good Cod" Unconsciously he re-
peated the word under his breath:
| Good God,''
Joy. with fixed high-strung look.
stepped down into the room. She stood
beside Athlyne, who. as she came close TO
him, turned with her 50 that together
they faced her father. Col. Ogilvie said,
in slow whisper, the words dropping
out one by one:
"Have-you-been- Observation-Disclosures time?
Did-you-hear-all-w She an
swered boldly:
YES! 1 was there and heard every
thing" Again long pause OF silence,
ended by Col. Ogilvie's next question:
why did you stay?" Jo5 answered at
once: her quick speech following the SLOW
tension sounded almost voluble.
| II could not get away. wanted TO-
but there is no other door to the room:
That is why I came out here when
woke - I could not get my boots
and I wanted to get away as quickly as
possible. And. father. being there,
though had to move about dressing my
self. l could not help hearing every
thing" Her father had evidently eX-
pected that she would say something
more, for as she stopped there he looked
at her eNpectantly. There was sort OF
dry sob in his throat. Athlyne stood still
lest he should unintentionally thwart
joys purpose. For with all his instincts
he realized that she had a purpose lie
knew that she understood her father
to deal with him: and knowing this ne
felt that the best thing he could do would
be to leave her quite free and unham-
pered to take her own course He kept MS
eyes on her face, gazing at her unwink-
lingly. Her face was fixed-not stern.
but set TO purpose. Somehow at that
moment he began to realize how we'll he
understood her. Without more help than
his eyes could give him. he seemed to
follow the workings OF her mind. For
her mind was changing. At the first her
depression was OF f1inty fixedness: but as
she continued to look at the old man II
softened. and with the softening her In
lten;ioned silence gave way. Her lovers
thoughts translated thus:
II will protect my-him against my
father. He has threatened him: he Is
forcing him to death. l shall not help
him by sparine him pans. an awkward,
man-and my father! That white hair
demands respect He is angTy-hard and
untender now; but his life has been
| tender one to me-and he is my father!
| lover-my husband. l need not in the do
ing cause that white head to sink in
shame: can spare him the pang Of what
he may think ingratitude in me. And.
after ALL he has what must seem to him
just cause Of offense. He cannot
will not understand. He is trave
and proud, and has a code of honor
which Is more than a religion. Ana ne
my lover-my husband. is brave too. And
as unyielding as my father. And he Is
willing to die-for me. To die for me
| my honor my happiness. Though his
dying Is worse-far worse than death to
me- But he is dying bravely-and -
| that was 10 have been his wife-rnust die
bravely. worthily. too II he can suffer
and die in silence, so. too, must l.
| 1t seemed g. natural sequence OF thought
when she said to her father:
Daddy. do YOU know you have not
said word to me Yet. What have
ever done in my life that you should not
trust me nowo Have I ever lied to YOU
that you cannot trust me to answer truly
when you ask me-ask me anything. why
things do not look well. ] realize that
YOU must have heen shocked when YOU
came into the room. But. daddy. dear
there are few things in the world that
| cannot be explained--at any rate. in
part Don't forget that I am Wom-n
now i am no longer a child whose ig-
norance ie her innocence. Speak 10 me!
Ask me what you will. and I will answer
listen to one dying. For indeed It is SO
II you carry out your Intention as
have heard 1t expressed. shall no longer
1--we: there will be nothing for me to
live for"
"Do you mean that you will commit
suicidc?" said her father.
"Oh. no. I hope I have pluck enough
to live-if ] can. Do not fear Tor -:e.
daddy. shall play the game full. as he
finger at Athlyne. She fel. now. and
for the first time. acnteIy that she did
not know what to call him before third
person-even her father Athlyne looked
relieved by her words When she spoke
Of dying he had grown sadly white; he
shared her fathers apprehension. Col.
Ogilvie saw the change In his look and
took it ILL.,. AS may be surmised. part
OF his anger toward Athlyne arose from
upon the scene his little girl was his
alone: no other man shared in her af-
lection. AS she was an only child all his
parental affection had been centered In
/
pared to see her mate with man of his
own choosing-or at any rate OF his ac-
ceptance. he was jealous OF the man VINO
had stepped in. unaccredited and wanting
In difference to himself. It must have
been a tinKe of this jealousy which
prompted his next question. turning
with bitter formality to Athlyne he
said:
Il suppose you are satisfied. now. sir.
Whatever may come. my daughter Is
estranged from me: and 1t is your do
ing!' In answer JOY and Athlyne spoke
together. Said the latter:
| ooh sir!' There he stopped: he feared
! to say more lest his anger should master
him. But the protest was effectiye the
Iold man fiushed--over forehead and ears
and neck. Joy spoke In different vein:
"There is no estrangement. daddy. dear:
and therefore 1t can he no ones doing
Least Of all could such a thing come
from this man who loves me. and
and whom I love-" AS she spoke she
blushed divinely. and taking her lovers
right hand between both her hands held
| II tight This seemed for some reason
to infuriate her father afresh. He strode
forward toward Athlyne as though about
| TO strike him. But at the instant there
came a quick rap on the door. In
stinctively he drew away. and. having
called out Comet" stood expecttngly
slightly and the voice OF the sheriff was
heard:
.May I come in? am Alexander Fen
wick. sheriff Of Galloway As he was
speaking he entered the room with n for
! NAL bow to each In turn He continued
to speak to Col. Ogilvie:
You will pardon this intrusion. l hope.