The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-01-29

4 J0nE had sStGaTsG GOaUnStUtrs.
 ca6anest light, and be destroyed his ( Footprints in those of the past more conpletely than ever. David Cable was disposed to be agreeable when they met, and Rigby's manner had lost the touch of aloofness. Altogether the situation did not look so dark as il had on the night of the blizzard.
 He guessed at Mrs. Cables frame of < mind during the three days just past by the tenor of her message over the telephone, She did no more than to ask him to drop in before 5 for cup of tea, but lie saw beyond the depth of her invitation.
 Ha went and had a few minutes alone with her because he was shrewd enough to drop in, before 5. No one else came until after that hour had struck. He was studiously reserved and considerate. There was nothing in his manner to indicate that he was there as anything more than the most casual slipper of the beverage that so- ciety brews. It was left for her to make the advances.
 We must come to an understand ing. she said abruptly. "I cannot en- dure the suspense. the uncertainty''-
 a 1semer raised his brows with lnyc condescension
 Then you have not confessed to Mir. tableT he asked, with perfect uncon- cern. DO you know was rather hop ing that you would have saved me the trouble of doing so."
 1t means so much to''-
 Ah, see you find it hard to lose the
 Dund you have gained socially" He fired his tea steadily.
 1t isn't that. I don't care for that It's fnr Jane and David. can only o2'er 10 buy your silence. nothing more she said with hurried words. IT own shares in the railroad They're worth $2o,000. Will you take them ?"
 My dear.' he said, leaning quite close to her. T am not seeking to blackmail you as you seem to imagine, I have only tried to tell you that love youD
 'Ohr' she exclaimed. with shudder of disgust. His face was quite close to hers. She could feel his warm breath on her cheek, and she drew away Itickly. His hand lowered close to lfeis as it lay in her lap.
 sfe was an eyewitness 10 this sin gle picture in the brief scene Jane had started downstairs. From the upper sseps she could look into the draMing room below. She could not hep seeing Bansemer's fervent atti- tude. She heard nothing that he saitl. The girl paused in surprise. A feeling as of dread-she could not explain crept over her. A chill struck into her heart.
 It was as if she had awakened from a sweet sleep to look out upon bleak. llorrid morning.
 Involuntarily she shrank back. quite beyond the actual vision. but not free from t. She stood straight and tense and silent at the top of the stairs. her hand Clasping the rail. She could hear her heart throbs plainly. There was no nistaking the picture as 1t had burst upon her unsuSpecting eyes. A great fear. dark uncertainty, welled up in her heart.
 It was not until the butler admitted other callers that she found the cour- age to turn her eyes toward the draw ing room. Although she succeeded in hiding the fact, it was difficult to ap- prOach and greet James Bansemer with the naturalness of the unsuspecting. His manner was beyond reproach. and yet for the first time she saw the real light In his black eyes. She talked to him as if nothing had happened to make her distrustful, but no self con- tr0l in the world could have checked the growth of that remorseless thing called suspicion. For her own sake. for her mothers, for Graydon's. she tried to put it down. Instead it grew greater and stronger as she looked into hin eyes, for in them she saw the light that heretofore had escaped her notice.
 And this was the father of the man whom she was to marry. tho one whom ehe loved with all her heart and soul!