Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1910-12-16
CHAPTER XvII.-(Continued.)

Don't make fun of such things,
Tom. Love is sacred"
L was never further from making
fun of things in my life. l mean it
with every drop of blood in me. You
said you didn't want to find me chang
ed; I'm not changed in that, at least"
You ridiculous boyl" she said; but
that was only stop gap. and Long
ieilow added another by coming to
stand opposite a vast obstruction Of
building material half damming the
white road. What are you doing here
building more additions?" 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 l do. He's a young man, of
poor but honest parentage, with a large
eye for the main chance. l shouldn't
be surprised If he took every opportu-
nifty to make love to YOU"
How absurd you can be, Tom! Who
Is he?"
He is Mr.. Caleb Gordon's son.
think you think you know hom, but
you don't; nobody does"
Really, Tom? Have you gone into
business for yourself? I thought you
mad another year at Boston"
Il have another year coming to me,
put l don't know when l shall get It.
And l am in business for myself;
though perhaps should be modest and
call 1t firm-Gordon & Gordon.
built this new firm, and it is all that
has kept Chiawassee 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
Mr. Farley and-and his son to me. II
you do. l can't listen"
You don't believe what I say?"
Il believe you have convinced YOUR
SELF But you are vindictive; you know
you are. And 1 mean to be fair and
just"
Tell me one thing. Ardea, and may
be 1t will shut my mouth What Is
Vincent Farley to you-anything more
than Eva's brother?"
Another young woman might have
claimed her uhdoubted right to evade
such a pointed question. But Ardea
saw safety only in instant frankness.
He has asked me to be his wife,
Tom"
And you have consented?"
Il wonder If l have" she said. half
musingly.
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 sepulcher."
But you can not particularize, she
insisted. And the evidence is all the
other way"
THE evidence isn't all one sided"
he asserted. IF you were a man,
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 pill
Jared portico of the manor house.
When he had helped her out, she
thanked him and gave him her hand
quite in the old way; and he held it
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 1t in
so many words. l love you-love you
as this man never will, never could
And with half his chance, could have
made you love me-"
Don't Tom! please don't" she beg
ged, trying to free her hand.
Il must, for this once; then We'll quit
and go back to the former things. You
said a while ago that 1 was vindictive;
I'll show you that am not. When the |
time comes for me to put my foot on
Vinr Farleys neck, I'm going to spare |
him for your sake. Then you'll know
what 1t means to have a mans love- |
Good-by; I'm coming over for a few
minutes this evening If you'll let me-"