The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1910-08-19
CHAPTER xvu-Ccontinued)

4 bltls AaoNt 10 oAtA NAt
Il was never further from making
fun Of things in my life. / mean II
with every drop OF blood IN me. You
said you didn't want to lind mo chang
ed; I'm not changed in that, at least
you ridiculous boy!" she said; but
that was only a stop p-gap, and Long
fellow added another by coming to a
stand opposite a vast obstruction Of
building material half damming the
white road, What are you doing here
building more additlons2" she asked.
No said Tom. 1T Is a new plant
a pipe foundry"
Don't tell me we are going TO have
more neighbors IN Paradise" she said,
IN mock concern.
III tell YOU something that may
shock you worse than that: the owner
of this new plant has camped down
right next door to Deer Trace"
How dreadful! You don't mean
that!"
oh, but I do. He's a young man, Of
poor but honest parentage. with large
eye for the main chance. / shouldn't
be surprised If he took every opportu-
nifty TO make love to you"
How absurd you can be- Toni Who
is he?"
He is Mr.. Caleb Gordon's son. I
think you think you know hom. but
you don't; nobody does"
Really, Tom? Have you gone into
business for yourself? / thought you
had another year at Boston"
Il have another year coming to me,
but l don't know when I shall get IT,
And l am In business for myself;
though perhaps / should be modest and
call 1t frm-Gordon & Gordon. 1
built this new firm, and 1t is all that
has kept Chlawassee from going into
the sheriff's hands any time during the
past six months. Duxbury Farley and
his son had deliberately wrecked the
company"
You must not say such things OF
MI Farley and-and his son to me. II
you do, can't listen"
You don't believe what I saw"
I believe you have convinced your
self But you are vindlctive; you know
you are. And mean to be fair and
just"
Tell me one thing, Ardea, and may
be it will shut my mouth. What IS
Vincent Farley to you-anything moro
than Evas brother?"
Another young woman might have
claimed her undoubted right to evade
such pointed question. But Ardea
saw safety only in instant frankness.
he has asked me to be his wife.
Tom"
And you have consented?"
I wonder If have" she said. half
muslngly.
Don't you know?" he demanded.
And then, "Ardea, I'd rather see You
dead and in your coffin! You don't
know Vint Farley"
Don't 1? My opportunities have
been very much better than yours.
she retorted
That may be, but I say you don't
know him. He Is a whited sepulche-."
But you can not partlcularize," she
insisted And the evidence is all the
other way"
The evidence isn't all one-sided,"
he asserted. If you were a man. I
could convince you in two minutes that
both of the Farleys are rascals and |
hypocrites"
Yet they are your fathers business
associates,@ she reminded him.
He saw the hopelessness Of any ar. |
gument on that side, and was silent |
again, this time until they had passed |
the Deer Trace gates and he had cut .
the buggy before the great Greek-pn- !
Jared portico Of the manor-housc. |
When he had helped her out she
thanked him and gave him her hand .
quite in the old way; and he held i.
while he asked a single blunt ques-
tion.
Tell me one thing more. Ardea: do
you love Vincent Farley?"
Her swift blush answered him. and
he did not wait for her word.
That settles is; you needn't say # in
so many words, ! love you-Iove Won
as this man never will, never could
And with half his chance, l could nav-
made you love me-"
Don't Toni please don't" she beg
ged, trying to free her hand.
81 must, for this once; then wen ouit
and so back to the former things. Yog-
said a while ago that I was vindictivr.
ri show you that l am not When the
time comes for me to put my foot on
Vint Farley's neck, I'm going to snare
him for your sake, Then youll know
what it means to have a mans love
5ood-by; I'm coming over for a few
minutes this evening IL you'H let me"