Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1911-05-26
CHAPTER X.-tContlnued.)

in the house would no longer De wei
coined or tolerated"
Warrington looked at her in abso-
lutte amaZement.
well, Of all the nerve, Why the
deuce didn't John punch his head?'
savagely.
Mr.. McQade is not a gentleman;
John IS" simply. But Mr.. McQuade
hasn't forgotten: not he. He pays no
attention to n of us: but that is no
sign that he does not think a COCO
deal. To his mind / can see that ne
considers himself badly affronted; and
from what i know Of his history. he
never let's an affront pass withou
striking back in some
What do you think? He Is SO
anxious to get me out of the political
arena that he has sent g ms down to
New York to look into my past. Isn't
Patty stopped again to the hshlng
Patty stopped again to the fishing
tackle.
such men as McQuade can invent.
! should be careful IL / were you. Your
own conscience may prove you guiltless
OF scandal. but there are certain people
who would rather believe bad than
good-scandal han truth; and these
are always I'm majority. DOM laugh
but watch. That's my advice to you.
II may not have lived as clearly as
/ might have" he said soberly. Il have
been knocked about so much. There
were times when i grew tired Of fight
ing. But l have never done anything
that will not stand daylight. There was
q time, Patty, when l came near making
a fool of myself"
His head was urned away, but she
could see the muscles in the Jaws
harden.
"You will never go back to those
days, l am sure, Richard"
That she had at last pronounced his
given name did not stir him; in fact it
passed owe his head and hearing. Like
a dragon-brood, he saw in fancy his
past follies springing up about him.
Your brothers wife brought me to
my Senses he said. What / am to-
day she In part has made. That is
why l think SO much of her; that is
why I am happy to see that she is
happy and has realized her hearts
making you my confessor." He turned
his face toward her now, and his
smile vas rather sad "When l recall
the worry l ave given my poor old
aunt, who loves me SO, / feel like a
contemplate scoundrel. How many
countless sacrifices has she made for
me, in the days when we had nothing!
But she shall nave all the comforts
now, and all the love n kindness I
am capable OF giving her. 1 shall never
leave her again"
There We're tears in Patty's eyes.
ut is never too late to mend; and
when a man Is penitent. truly and hon.
estly penitent, much shall be forgiven
him. 1t Is only those who are by ma
ture coarse who do not eventually sur
mount temptation. What you have
told me 1 have known this long while"
You have known?" he cried with
sinking heart.
Yes. We live in a city where gossip
travels quickly and thoroughly. Mrs.
Franklin Haldene was telling mother
one afternoon that you drank. / sup
pose she felt il iier duty"
He shrugged expressively. II ought
to have known"
The two entered the house. War
rington, having arrived at the writing
desk, bade her sit down. He had an
idea. Patty sat down.
II want you to write something for
me-" he said, pushing the pen and tab
let toward her.
What's the matter with your hand ~
she demanded.
Nothing"
Then why do you want me to
writer"
II have never seen your handwriting.
Tn something of an expert in that line.
I'll e your future"
But / don't want my future read"
re~belliously.
We'll, then, your past"
Much less my past. Come; you are
only beating about the bush. What Is
it you want?"
IT want to know" h said quietly.
why you have kept me in ignorance
all this while" He laid the letter on
the desk, and placed q finger on the
water-mark. 1T wasn't fair to let me
compose panegyrics owe 1t all the while
you were laughing In your sleeve. All,
I've caught you. You can't get away
this time. Patty.
II haven't the slightest idea what you
are talking about" But she looked at
the letter and not at him.
do you see those water-marks Z" he
demanded.
Eyes. You will find them in a thou
sand tablets like this. I bought a
dozen OF them in New York; cheap and
handy"
warrington's confidence in his dis
covery began to shake. HS braced him.
self and took a bold course.
Patty, o wrote that letter; you
know you did. You wrete IL In New
York. the day Tou bought the tablets"
"I?"
Eyes. Confess
my dear Mr.. Warrington, you must
| prove IL, hSutiy. II WOuIQ not De
proper for me to admit that / had been
so foolish as to write a letter like that
But you've praised it,"
Simply because praising Ii would
please you; for no other reason"
did you. or did you not write it?"
Find out. You must prove that
wrote IT. Certainly l have nothing TO
confess"
You will not answer me one way or
the other?"
NO"
IF you had not written 1t you
would"
II don't believe / shall sing thhs
morning" rising.
"And I have wondered a thousand
| times who could have written II. And
all the time Ii was YOU"
Nor play billiards." went on Patty.
"If only / were all you hitherto be-
lieved me to bel"
mol fish tomorrow morning"
This letter has been like an anchor
Immediately upon receiving It I began
TO try TO live better"
Nor fish the day after tomorrow"
And I had forgotten ali about Jacks
having a sister,"
Something / shall neither forget nor
forgive. And IL you persist In accus-
| ing me of writing that letter. i prOmfae