The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1910-09-16
cHAPTER XXII-lcontlnuedl.


sat up and pushed the papers away
when his son entered,
Have you seen this morning Trlb-
une?" asked Tom taking the paper
from his pocket
NO; ! don't maps out to find much
time for II before get home o. nights"
said Caleb. Anything doln'2"
Yes; they are having a hot time IN
Chicago and Pullman. The strike is
spreading an over the country on sym
pathy lines"
Reckon itll get down 10 us In any
Wayy' queried the iron master.
You can't tell. ia be a little easy
with Ludlow and his outfit on that
wage scale. II / were you. We don't
want row on our hands just now
Farley might make capital out OF IT.
Tom took an electric car for the foot
or Lebanon on the line connecting with
the Inclined railway running up the
mountain 10 Crestcllne Inn. He had
not seen Ardea since the mldwnter
night OF soul-awakenings; and Alecto's
finger was stln pressing on the wound
inflicted by the closed doors OF Noun
tain View avenue and 'his fathers dis
directed sympathy.
lie found Major Dabney on the hotel
veranda, and his welcome was not
scanted here, at least The moment
being auspiclous Tom sounded the
master OF the Deer Trace coal lands on
the reorganization scheme. and found
nothing but complaisance. Whatever
Encouragement commended itself to
Tom and his father and to Colonel
Duxbury Farley. would be acceptable |
to the Major.
raclr,, -
my ve'y good friend, youh fatheh. 10 |
watch out for Ardea's little fo'tune' |
was the way he put IT, Il had planned |
TO give her a little surprise on her |
wedding day: suppose you have the /
lawyehs make out that block Of new |
stock TO Mistress Vincent Farley in |
stead Of to me2"
"Of course, Major Dabney II you say /
so. But wouldn't It be more prudent I
TO make II over in trust for her and /
her children before she becomes Mrs
Farley?"
Tell me, Tom, have you had youh
suspicious in that qua'teh. too? I'm
speaking in confidence to a family
friend, suh."
1T is lust as well to be on the safe
side" said Tom, evaslvely. There was
enough Of the uplift left to make him
reluctant to strike his enemy in the
dark
NO. sub, that isn't what I mean.
You've had youh suspicious aroused.
Tell me, suh what they are"
Suppose you tell me yours, Major"
smiled the younger man.
Major Dabney became refiectively
reminiscent Il don't know. Tom, and
that's the plain fact Looking back
oveh ouh acquaintance, thah's nothing
In that young man for me to put fin
geh on; but Tom, l tell you in conf
dence, sub, I'd give five yeahs of my
old life, II the good Lord has that many
mo- in His book for me, II the blood
Of the Dabneys didn't have to be-uh-
mingled with that of these heah Yam
KEGS. I would, for a fact. sub"
Then you'll let me place your third ]
Of the new stock in trust for her and I
her children?" he said. That will be
best on all accounts. BY the way, :
where shall l find Miss Ardea?"
she's about the place, somewhahs,"
was the reply; and Tom passed on 10 +
the electric-lighted lobby to send his
card in search of her. :
Chance saved him the trouble. Some q
one was playing in the music room and I
he recognized her touch and turned
aside to stand under the looped por-
there's, She was alone, and again, as
many times before, it came on him with c
the sense of discovery that she was t
radiantly beautifulA-that for him she 4
had no peer among women. There b
was no greeting, no welcoming light In t
the slate blue eyes; and she did not n
seem to see when he came nearer and S
offered to shake hands. c
"Tve been talking to your grandfath- h
er for an hour or more" he began. "and a
/ was just going to send my card after
you Haven't you a word of welcome s
for me, Ardea?" v
DO you think you deserve a velcom. -
from any self-respecting woman?" she
asked, in low tones. h
why shouldn't II" he demanded o
what have I done to make every b
woman meet look at me as IL 1 were
a leper?" Ii
You know very well what you have c.
done" she said evenly. IF you had
spark of manhood left in you, Won "
would know what dastardly thing Won b
are doing now in coming here to see S
me-" n
We'll don't" he returned, logged h
". And another thing: I'm not to be
put off with hard words. 1 ask YOU st
again what has happened? Who has lie
been lying about me this timer"
You were intending to walk down 10
The valley?" she asked. sc
He nodded. Y
II will walk with you to the cliH 7
edge" te
1t was a short hundred yards. au.
here were many abroad in the gray a'
lied walks: lovers in pairs, and groups de
If young people pensive or chattering.
So it was not until they stood on the az
'ery battlements of the western cliff te
hat they were measurably alone. CO
Has no one told you what happen ha
ID last March-on the day of the Ice &c
torm?" she asked. coldly.
mo" ne
II used to think I knew you" she &c
aid, faltering, but I don't why don't
ou despise hypocrisy and double deal to
ng as you used to?" f
II do; more heartily than ever" tW
Tom, it is a terrible thing to say mi
nd your punishment will be terrible
'ut you must marry Nancy!" yo
He was standing on the brink of the er
lift, looking down on Paradise Valley, tic
pread like a silver-etched may far Da
Glow In the moonlight The flare and he
ough OF the furnace at the iron works 70
anne and went with regular intermit- tc
ency; and just beyond the group Of
'hiawassee stacks tiny orange spot Nc
ppeared and disappeared like a will TO
the wisp He was staring down at
ne curious spot when he said: toe