The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1910-05-05

The flasco had helped Murgatroyd
Infinitely more than II had, hurt him.
rhorne felt in his inmost soul.
One evening a few weeks later. while
Murgatroyd was dressing to dine at
his club. his servant handed him a
note II was but seldom that square
white envelope came at this time. and
with pardonable look Of surprise and
curiosity on his face Murgatroyd
opened It and read:
l must see you. VIII you come TO the
house tonight? s. II. 3.
An hour more and he was In Mrs.
BloodgoOd's drawing room. waiting
more uervously than he would have
cared to acknowledge to himself for
the daughter Of the house to appear.
/ II was the first time that she had ever
sent for him to go to her. and he was
conscious Of some degree of anxiety
as to her motive. The sound of a
light step on the threshold of the room
checked his disturbing speculations,
and he looked up TO see Shirley Blood
good entering the room.
Something very urgent made me
send for you. Mr. Murgatroyd." she
began, though her lips trembled. Il
want to talk with you"
An instinct told Murgatroyd that II
would be a grievous mistake no, to
accept without protesting word the
note of aloofness that was In her tone.
Rightly he told himself that the slight
est advance on his part would result
In adding to her distress; that, how
ever much he would like TO break
down the barrier that had arisen be
tween them. he must bide his time and
trust to her emotional nature TO ac-
complish that And he was not mis-
taken, for presently an impulse to
speak her mind at any cost took pos
session of her. and she burst forth:
BILLY. why did you take this mon
ey? Why?"
Murgatroyd essayed to speak, but
she interrupted him.
"Don't'-covering her ears with her
hands-"don't tell me! | know you did
it-because I-I-oh. why did you lis
ten to mel thought | knew what |
was talking about" she went on. while
he sought control Of himself by look.
ing away from her But | knew
nothing OF conditions--of men.
thought that man-that you could
accomplish anything you really want
ed to do But you were right. There
! N tunnnccihilitia1 I nnHnrc cfn nd
now that it's too late. have had
my lesson. Only a few months ago
you were honest, and now you are cor.
rupt. and alone am responsibler
"You must not blame yourself''-he
was neither admitting nor denying the
Experimentation anything ! may
have DONE"
"But l do. dor she cried bitterly
"And you must blame me"
Abruptly Shirley's mood changed
Her voice rang with a scorn that be-
fore she ceased seemed to include him
as well as herself.
What do l care for success or fail.
ure? | could cut my tongue out fol
telling you that my father was fail
ure! A failure! Why. ] know that
not only was he not failure, but that
he was really great-a man In the
highest sense of the word-and that's
all want you to he. ! don't care an
iota that you should be a senator-l
don't want you to be senator.
have sent for you tonight to tell you
soto stop for good and all the thing
set In motion" She was silent for an
instant 81 want you to come back
come backp'
In turn he murmured words that
sounded to her like ito you"
Shirley shook her head as though
that were a thing out Of the question
mo. to your honest self" she said
earnestly. but kindly; Ito the Billy
Murgatroyd that was"
For a moment they looked steadily
into each others eyes. Unknown tc
himself. there was an air Of appeal
not wholly free from anxiety even
for her face was again showing signs
Of hardness as he spoke:
II can hardly do that. l cannot stop
And, II should, where is the induce
ment7 You are beyond my reach"
And as If to disprove his own words
an impulse Of alteration too power
full to be checked seized him, and h'
caught her hand and pressed 1t.
A brief moment only Shirley allowed
1t to rest In his, then slowly withdrew
1t, and her action told him palmer thar
words that there was to be nothing
further between them; she was througI
with him; she must despise him.
Shirley felt that there could be NJ
compromise Murgatroyd must purg'
himself. even though 1t involved If
of shame. And. after he had yielde'
up his shameless gains. what then
Shirley did not know; she could no
tell.
"And II ] am out Of your reach it,
, your own fault. II you had been hal
the man | thought. you would neve
have listened to me. But you neve