The Washington times., 1910-12-01

in her apartment. to (which she had
fed to escape the man who forced his
way into her presence He must have
taken IT at that time I can account
his possession Of II in no other way
Then you know ~-nO wrote the
anonymous letter" CarIa exclaimed.
Certainly II was written. doubt
less, by the man wlc called upon you
I later-Chapman. Shall / tell you the
istOry2"
'.No. It is unnecessary that you
should" the girl answered Tell me,
rather. about Miss Ortega What re-
lation does she bear to your
She is, in a sense. my ward, Lath-
rop made the statement with evident
an that It is permitted me TO tell. at
the present time For the rest. you
must have faith in me, dearest"
Faith Is spontaneous, Morris the
girl retorted- 1T cannot be compelled
by the will As for Jnat. I have faith
now. MOTriS-aC least, I think I have
II know that I do not wish TO lose IL
Whether I am TO do so or not rests
yours no reIatives-nO faith er. no moth
er. no friendS2'
at present" was the answer. "she
has no one besides myself
NO one besides yourseIfr'' CarIa re-
paated- inCredulOusIy- Then. pray.
what IS your relation to her2 You
have charge OF her fortune perhaps
For she has an income Of her own. I
suppose
She has an income-yes," Lathrop
declared hastily.
Something in the manner Of the
young mans reply provoked h-s nan
Who provides that income2~ she
inquired. crisply- Is il YOU Morris -
"She believes 1t comes from property
left TO her by her father was the
evasion
But the girl refused TO be content
by this indirectness-
Norris she said. gravely persistent,
{. ''is this income Of Miss Ortesa's really
paid 10 her out OF money provided for
that purpose by yOuy
Before such tenacity OF purpose Lath-
rop found himself helpless, and he bow
ed his head IN assent AtteTWa ara, Tor
a little time, there vas silence between
the two But presently the lover spoke
again, softly pleadingly-
CARA, Is II necessary 10 go into these
detaiIs2"
The answer was rigidly uncompromis-
ing;
Il regard it-as quite necessary. VIII
you tell me how long this condition Of
things has eXiSted2
For. several years-about four. II you
wiz listen, I VIII tell you all that can
be tOld-now.'
The obligation came 10 me in a
strange manner, and accepted a duty.
fully realizing what / was underta king
but convinced there was no other course
for me TO pursue At that time ClaTita
Ortega could not SPEAK a word Of Eng
ISl. but II G-n-IEhL her here TO New
York and found 3 companion for her
an elderly lady, EhO has since died I
invested some money in Government
bonds in her name; 50 that in case Of
accident TO me she would be above
want. So far as it has been possible.
have watched over and cared for her
ever since 7 shall continue 10 do so as
long as necessity exists 7 can assure
YOU that she i in every way worthy Of
your respect, even OF your love More
than this ] cannot tell You now You
must not-aSk me The truth concerning
her I have no right 10 reveal, even 70
you. CaTla- Will YOU 60 with me 10
call on her2'
Norris The girls tone was one of
indignant remOnstranCe-
'-WelI2 Is that not the best proof
that 7 could give YOU OF my sincerity
Lathrop had been holding the photo
graph III his hand during the converse
riou. Now he placed II. face upward,
on q chair near him. and, rising,
stepped forward and stood where he