The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1909-05-06
(Coutinued.l

The fathers instinct was protective
too. and his action was quick In the
instant without turning his face, he
shut the door behind him and put his
heel against it,
Quick daughter quicki'' he said in
a whisper. low but so fierce that it
cut the air like a knife. Get into that
room and dress yourself. And, get out
if you can. by another way without
, being. noticed" AS he spoke he point
ed towards the open door through
which in the darkened room the bed
with clothing in disarray could be
dimly seen. JOY fled incontinently
The movements of a young woman can
be of extraordinary Quickness, but
never quicker than when fear lends
her wings. 1t seemed to Athlyne that
she made but one jump from where
she stood through the doorway. He
could remember afterwards the flash
of her bare heels as she turned in
closing the door behind her.
Now Sir!" Colonel Ogi1Vie's voice
was stern to deadliness as he spoke.
Athlyne realized its import. He felt
that he was bound hand and foot, and
knew that his part of the coming
struggle would have to be passive. He
braced himself to endure. Still. the
CoionePs question had to be answered
The onus of beginning the explanation
had been thrust upon him. 1t was
due to joy that there should be nc
, delay on his part in her vindication
Almost sick at heart with apprehen-
sion he began:
There has been no fault on Joys
parti" The instant he had spoken, the
look OF bitter haughtiness which came
on Colonel Ogilvie's face warned him
that he had made a mistake. To set
the error right. he must know what he
had to meet; and SO he waited
We had better. think. leave Miss
Ogilyfe,s name out of our conversa-
ton. And I may perhaps remind
you. sir. that I am the best judge of
my daughters conduct When I have
said anything to my daughters detri-
ment 1t will be quite time for a strang
er TO interfere on her behalf. 1t
Is OF your conduct, sir, that I ask
demand explanation!''
Athayne would have liked to meet
speech OF this kind with a blow. In,
the case OF any other man he would
nave done so: but this man was Joys
father. and in all circumstances must
be treated as such. He felt in a vague
sort OF way-a background of thought
rather than thought ftself-that his
1nanhood YEAS being tested. and by
fiery test Come what might, he must
be calm. or at least be master of him
self: or else bitter woe would come to
Joy. OF course it would come-per-
haps had come already to himself; but
to that he was already braced.
Colonel Ogilvie was skilled in the
deadly preliminaries to lethal quarrel
More than once when a foe had been
marked down forevengeance had he
led him on to force the duel himself
In no previous quarrel Of his life had
he ever had the good cause that he
had now. and be sure that he used
that knowledge to the full. There was
in his nature something of that stoical
quality Of the Red Indian which en-
0b1es him to enjoy the torture of his
Zoe. though the doing so entails a keen
anguish to himself. Perhaps the very
air OF the dark and bloody ground
of Kentucky was so impregnated with
the passions of those who made it so
1f tone
had imbued the jewellers with some of
the odd Indian spirit. AS Athlyne stood
face to face with him, watching for
every sign OF intention as a fencer
watches his opponent, he realized that
there would be for him no pity no
mercy, not even understanding. He
would have to fight an uphill contest
if Joy was to be saved even a single
pang. What he could do he would:
sacrifice himself in any way that a
man can accomplish it. Life and hap
piness had for him passed by! One
of his greatest difficulties would be
he felt. that Of so controlling himself
that he would not of necessity shut
behind him. by anything which he
might say or do. the door of concilia-
ton He began at once, therefore, to
practice soft answering:
MY conduct, sir, has been bad-so
Tar as doing an indiscreet thing, and
In not showing to you that respect
which Is your due in any matter in
which Miss Ogilvie may be concerned"
Tor some reason which he could not
at the moment understand this seemed
to infuriate the Colonel more than
over. In quite a violent way be burst
ont:
so am to take it that no respect
IS due to me in my own person. Such
gather from your words. You hint
Il you do not say that respect is only
At the risk of further offense Athlyne
interrupted him, 1t would not do for
him to accept this monstrous reading
of what he meant for courtesy:
mot so, sir. Ny respect is to Won
always and for all causes. I did but
put it In that way as it is only in con-
nection with your daughter that I
dared to speak at ALL" Even this paci-
dc explanation seemed to add fuel to |
the old mans choler:
Let me tell you. sir. that this has |
nothing whatever to do with my
daughter. Miss Ogilvie is NV care |
Her defence. if any be required, is my |
duty-my privilege. And I quite know |
how TO exercise-and to defend-both'
Quite so. sir. I realize that, and ] |
have no wish to arrogate to myself |
which 7 myself should be proud tc |
d1e!" Athlyne's voice and manner |
were so suave and deferential that |
Colonel Ogilyie began to have an idea |
that he was a poltroon; and in this |
belief the bully that was in him began |
TO manifest itself. He spoke harshly |
1nIend1nS 70 convey this idea, though |
as he did so his heart Smote him Even
as he spoke there rose before his blood
shot eyes the vision of river SHIN
mering with gold as the sunset fell on |
it, and projected against it the figure
of a frightened woman tugging at the
rein6 Of a runaway mare; whilst close |
behind her rode a valiant man guiding
with left hand splendid black horse
to her side, his right hand stretched |
out to drag her to his saddle. Before
them both lay deadly chasm. In the
pause Athlyne took the opportunity of
putting on his outer clothing |
But even that touching vision did not
check the fathers rage. His eyes were
bloodshot and even such visionary
not linger in them. 1t
passed, leaving in its place only a, red
splotch-as of blood; the emotion which
the thought had Quickened had be-
come divergent in its own crooked
way. But in the pause Athlyne had
time to get in word:
Sir, whatever fault that has been