Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1910-02-04

cOulQ 10 W0af you ave done against
my father. against my family"-her
voice began to break again-"against
me, l would not have believed 1t. And
you have, not told me that 0 will
cease your attack"
Brand thought to palliate her. He
seated himself On a corner of the
aging editors desk aud bent toward
her as she sat in a chair near him.
Now. Judith. let lie try to explain"
he said entreatingly. Il think l can
make you understand. You see. the
Lansing Iron company owned a lot of
valuable properties-ore ranges. ma
chinery, railroad trackage. etc. If it
had been managed halfway it would
now be a wealth producing business,
but some of our spectators down.
town were trying to get hold of 1t to
gamble with. They wanted to milk
it. as the saying is. by watering it.
They did have a stock market battle
or two. which profited nobody but the
lawyers on both sides. But they final
ly got it by juggling it into a receiv-
ership. which they never could have
lone If a United States judge had not
been willing to exceed his functions.
That judge was your father.
Since the works shut down." he
went on strongly, the men are out of
employment. and the gamblers have
got rich because the company's gone
broke. That's just what happened,
and that's all | said"
but 1t wasn't your facts, l tell you
II xuoo xour ncip1afiou fhaf WAS
false
Not ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS"
but it wasn't true-it wasn't true"
"Oh. yes, 1t was true, and more"
Judith verged on the hysterical
again.
IF you loved me as you pretend to,
no matter il you thought it true or not.
you could not have written that arti-
Gle"
Cant you see hat | wasn't writing
about your father, but about a United
States judge who"-
She moved farther away from aim.
That's splitting hairs. Wheeler"
He walked to her side.
judith. please-please don't let's
quarrel about this"
The girl turned to him impulsively.
"Oh, Wheeler. we were on the
verge of 1t. weren't we?" He cast
his arms around her. You're sorry.
aren't your She looked fondly into
his face. And you will take back
that article. won't you"
You mustn't ask me to do that; I
can't looking at her earnestly.
You can'tY'
"No."
Judith drew away from him a step
or two. She surveyed him coldly.
Wheeler, l came here thinking only
of my father, but | suddenly find my
self facing a much more serious ques-
tion-not what kind of a man he is,
but what kind of a man are you"
Brand was deeply cut by her manner
and her information.
judith. If you only knew the truth,
all of 1t, things l can't tell you, you'd
be with me heart and soul in what I'm
trying to do"
'Whatever I've done or whatever
! may do l love you," he insisted pas
ST nately.
judith showed equal fervor as she
said:
And you're more to me than my
father, but for my sake you mustn't
work against him. How could we
ever be happy together If you did,
You'll do this for me. Wheeler. just
this? | want you to carry out your
ideals and live up to your high pur-
poses in every other way. but you
must not attack him. Promise me
that you'll never do it again. Won't
you promise me that? And you'll re-
tract that article you had this morn
ing. You'll do this for me, just thisY'
"Judith-it's the truth-and, knowing
that, would you have me retract til"
"Yes."
81 can't"
Judith began to take off the engage
ment ring Brand had given her.
"You don't mean to do that!' he
cried in amaZement.
81 most certainly dol"
He was almost frantic. He grasped
her hand.
81 won't let you mean it. can't let
you go without your ring. You may
be Judge Bartelmy's daughter. but you
are going to be my wife. You've worn
my ring for a month. and you must
wear it forever"
The girl passed his passionate APP
peal by without needing it. She tossed
back her pretty head deiantly, snatch
ed the ring from her finger and threw
it on the managing EDITORS desk.
"I'll not wear it again. she exclaim-
ed resolutely, ''unless-until you come
to your senses" So expressing herself.
she stalked majestically across the
room.
Judith called Brand in despera-
ton, fearing that she was about to
leave him..
evil you do what l askT" she