Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-01-21
CHAPTER XIV. Continued

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| CHAPTER XIV (Continued.)
well, It is granted in advance i
| said, smiling.
Il do not wish the doctor to send
that poor fellow away. | want you to
use y. ur influence, and protect him.
she said.
81 will do so. Now, Marcadian, give
me some PLAUSIBLE reasons why you
wish to break off this marriage"
Both Marcadian and Evelyne looked
confused.
ut is impossible to tell YOU he
said. "You would not understand
'That which do most certainly un.
derstand is that for some foolish rea
son, of no Importance. you are trying
to separate two young people who
love each other William loves Eve
lyme, and Eveylne loves William. What
else is there to say. | should like to
know. That Is all that is necessary
'lSo, that is not all. insisted Marca,
dian II was to blame in bringing
about this marriage. was SO pleased
to think that Eveleyn's future was
settled that I put aside all thought OF
the terrible tragedy that made her an
orphan. I think it better that Evelyne
should not marry"
Then" said, quickly, "then there
! is something else, and you are not
frank with me-"
Marcadian looked at me with his old
piercing look: his sharp ferret eyes
4f To IN r.
headed lawyer, who feared that I. a
stranger had begun to lift the veil of
their family secret.
Eyes, there is something else" he
said, coldly. 'but If l were frank with
you l should betray others. Believe
me, Mr.. Douglass, that am loath to
renounce such an excellent marriage
for my niece, and she, poor girl. is
broken-hearted at this last blow which
fate has dealt her. But 1t is impossible
for DR.. ngsley to marry my niece. .
I got up and began to walk up and
down the room.
''It has something to do with =, =
/ said, after silence. 1T can only be
something about that idiot q"
The lawyer and his niece turned
pale, and did not reply.
"Oh" said carelessly, as | walked
my back. II don't care about your
family secrets, have no wish what
ever to pry into them. ! am giving
Ave hundred thousand francs as a we'd
ding present to William and Evelyne.
Then, after my death, William will
have ten million dollars, and he will
inherit the same amount from Mr..
Kingsley. do not understand how
you can let your scruples stand in the
way of such an excellent match.
shall love Evelyne as though she were
my own daughter; she Is just the girl
whom should like to see Williams
wife. don't care rap about your
secrets l. feel sure there is some
thing about =, and If 1t is about
that poor creature, do not wish you
to tell me- Because OF mere scruple,
do not think you should mar the
future of this young couple. Evelyne
is letting herself be influenced by
fancies, and you, Marcadian-all can
say Is, that you are absolutely ridicu-
lous. =, you amuse me with
your -! If you desire 1t, will
send away from the asylum, or II
you perfer, we will keep him forever;
r give you my word, forever, I'll do
more; I'll give you another proof of
my friendship, and Of my influence
|o.;-er William"
Marcadian looked at me wonder
ingly.
"You know that he has kept this
Door idiot contrary to all regulations,
and that he might get into trouble
about 1t if it were known. He told
me this only yesterday. Well. !,
Charles Douglass, swear to take this
poor idiot in my charge. It is who
viii place him under the care of the
alientist. Dr.. William Kingsley. 1t
lis who will have him confined to the
asylum, if you wish it so. | hold my
self responsible for this youth. | Will
avert all questioning from the govern
ment. And from this asylum .
shall never go without my consent,
and my consent will depend entirely
upon your wish. Can say more! Can
i do anything more?"
It would be impossible to paint the
establishment and the Joy which lit up
Marcadians face and shone from Eve
lyne's sparkling eyes.
Marcadian grabbed my right hand,
and Eyelyne pressed by left. They
both spoke at once, their words ex-
pressive of deep emotion.
"Ah, Monsieur, you cannot imagine
conviction. The confessions of Hollis