Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1911-01-24
CHAPTER XXI.


81 1.1lHY not?' the girl asked. III
M Is nothing to you. You have
IV lived. and so have |. made
mistakes-what girl doesn't
who has to fight her way alone: Blu,
my past is my own. 1t concerns no
body but me-" She saw the change in
his face. and her reckless spirit rose
"Oh. I've shocked you! You think all
women should be like Miss Wayland
Have you ever stopped to think that
even you are not the same man you
we're when you came fresh from col
lege? You know the world now: you
have tasted its wickedness. Would
you change your knowledge for your
earlier innocence? You know you
would not. and you have no right to
Judge me by separate code. What
difference does 1t make who l am or
what have done? didn't ask your
record when gave you the chance to
win Miss Wayland. and neither you
nor she have any right to challenge
NINE"
o6ACo '" Nu yON az SAuS.
II came away from the mining
camps because Of wagging tongues.
because was forever misjudged.
Whatever | may have been. l have at
least played fair With that girl. 1t
hurts me now to be accused by her. J
saw your love for her. and l never
tried to rob her. Oh. don't look as II
| couldn't have done differently II I
had tried. could have injured her
very easily II had been the sort she
thinks me. But I helped you in every
way I could. made sacrifices. did
things she would never have DONE"
She stopped on the verge Of tears.
why did you do all this?" he
asked.
Don't you known Cherry gazed at
him with a faint smile.
Then. for the first time. the whole
truth burst upon him. The surprise Of
it almost deprived him Of speech. and
he stammered:
mo. II Then he fell silent.
What little did l did because I
love you" said the girl in a tired
voice. "You may as we'll know. for
it makes no difference now"
I'll am sorry" he said. gripped by
strong emotion that made him go
hot and cold. II have been fool"
mo: you were merely wrapped up In
your own affairs. You see. ! had been
living my own life and was fairly con
tented till you came. Then everything
changed. For long time hoped you
might grow to love me as lo,c.i sou.
but ! found II was no use. When 1
saw you SO honest and unseltiSh In
your devotion to that other girl
1t was my chance to do some
thing unselfish In my turn. II was
hard. but did my best. think I
must love you In the same way you
love her. Boyd. for there Is nothing IN
all the world l would not do to maxe
you happy"
The girl stood for moment with her
eyes turned toward the river. Then
she said:
II must think. IL want to 20
away. Goodby."
"Goodby." he returned and stood
her rs she hurried away.
half suspecting the tears that we're
amid her lashes
1t was not until supper time that
Boyd saw "Fingerless" fraser and
questioned him about his quest for an
heiress.
Nothing doing in the heircss bust
ness" replied the adventurer. II
couldn't stand the exposure"
'They were cold. eh?'
Yep! They weathered me out"
did you really meet any of those
Sure: l met 'em all. but I didn't
'atch their names. made one be-
ore I'd gone mile-tall. slim party
With cracked Ice in her voice."
Boyd looked up quickly. Ibid you
Introduce yourself?"
las CLANCY De Bcnville. that's all.
low Is that for drawing room mon-
lker? She fell for the name oil right.
'ut there must have been something
'hony about the clothes. That's the
rouble with this park harness. II I'd
wore my soup and fish and my two
:allon evening hat Id have passed for
gentleman sure. I'm strong for those
vening toys. see another one later
J little maduro colored skirt with a
at nose."
Miss Berry"
"1'm glad to meet her. I onlced
Ter out of rowboat and told her
vas Mr.. Yonkers Of New York. We
vas breezing along on the bit till Clyde
roke 1t up. He called me Fraser, and
was cold in q minute. Fraser is u
heap name anyhow. I'm sorry l
ook it."
do you mean to say It isn't your
cal name?" asked his companion In
enuine bewilderment