The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-04-17

| vi tANNAlhS W W Ill ulCaIlo, VIC
are so prone. She rose, preened
like a bird before the mirror, and
sat down to think. The voices of
her uncle and aunt and Mr.. SLIDER
berg came to her ears from the
main salon. Opening her window
for air, she noted that the roar of
the wind from the earth had ceased,
and knew that they had reached
the calm area, of which Willett had
spoken, in the middle Of the low"
They would probably have an easy
landing in Chicago. And then?
One thing was certain: she would
not live longer with the 'Shaynes.
They were too sordid, too hard, too
cruel. They looked upon her too
much as an animal to be sold. They
had insulted-some one. They had
insulted her by acting as if she
could care anything for the young
fellow who had saved her. And she
would hot stay with-them -
any longer!
These words she emphasized by
rhythmically clenching and opening
her hands. She was quite fiercely
resolved. She would leave them
and teach school or paint minia-
| tures-or something.
Oh! If she only had just one rela
tive in the world, save Aunt Maria!
Stay! The thought struck her of
her mothers fathers people, some
where in the south. Her mother
had been disowned by her family
for a preversely contracted mar
riage; but they were southerners,
and they would not see an orphan
girl of their kin go homeless. Her
grandfather was long since dead;
and just who might represent the
family now, she had no idea; but
she would nevertheless find out
where they lived, and go to them.
She would asked to be cared for I'M
til she could find employment. She
would not humiliate herself by stay
ing with the Shaynes and the Sill
berbergs longer. She would leave
Aunt Marie note of thanks for all
her many kindnesses, take her real
ly. truly own belongings, and fly
south. So there!
So resolving, she became quite
calm, and walked into the main
salon in very matter-of-fact way.
Aunt Marie gave shrill scream
and tainted Silberberg said that
he would be-tormented. Mr.
Shayne stared blankly and reached
automatically for his wifes smell
ing salts, which he applied, at first,
to the swollen nose of his guest.
nWell," said Virginia, do you
think am a ghost?'
ooh child" gasped Aunt Marie,
"where have you been with him?"
Virginia stood still, her eyes
ablaze. her cheeks burning. The
Rod was coming into the Chicago
garage on the roof of the Aerostatic
Power building, in a most beautiful
landing; but none of the party
knew it. Silberberg was gazing at
the enraged Virginia in unbounded
admiration-her splendid anger had
won him back. Shayne spoke in
foolish agreement with his wife,
half believing for the moment that
there was something questionable
IN Virginia absence.
with a beggar!" said he.
"A bandit" said Aunt Marie, "ar
assassin"
"A beggar." repeated Virginia
in lofty scorn, why, even if he
were one, in rags and a hovel, he'd
be worth a million like you! An
assassin Why, he's the purest,
! tn p-nrlIf hp
ever draws a weapon, it's against a
society that has driven him out
from it by it's vileness. A. bandit,
And if he is, what are you? You
rob by syndicate, assassinate by
general managers and superintend-
ents, and make beggars by votes OF
shares. | loathe you, and | /
admire him as much as | loathe
you. As between bandits like you
and bandits like him, give me the
brave man rather than the
coward"
Mrs. Shayne, restored, rose
stood, and was advancing upon Vir'
ginia with reproof in her mien
when Willett interrupted the scene
by announcing their successful
landing. They passed constrained
ly into the tower, went down to the
street. and to Shannes's Chicago
hotel in a motor car, all in silence
Virginia bowed and retired. Sill
berberg shook hands solemnly with
his host and hostess, as in the pres
ence of an affliction too great fol-
words. and left them.
In the morning two letters were
taken TO the Shayne apartments
one for Mr.. Shayne from SLIDER
berg. saying that under all the cir
cumstances' he thought it better
to leave them and go to New York
where his business really required
his presence.
The other was a short, tear stain
ed missive of gratitude, penitence
and farewell from Virginia to hel
aunt.
You have been as kind to me,
it ran, "as any woman can be to &
person she can not love. You have
never loved me, Aunt Marie, anC
you will never see me again.
blush to be obliged by your unjust
suspicious to say one thing more
ann not going to any one. YoJ
have misjudged me terribly. | don
even know where he Is. | shall
never know"
And so il was, that while Carson
stayed on with Mr., Craighead at the
Institute, Virginia, with flutterins
heart but steadfast purpose, flee
southwark to kinsmen whose very
existence she was obliged to as
sumo, Young Mr.. Carson, pris
oner of the perfect system of tn.
Slattery Institute, had caused al
this, and knew nothing OF It, SO |
} has ever been since knights-aye
and pages, too-rode through tn,
, land and left trouble behind tn,
easements from which beame(