Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1911-10-19
CHATTER I.-tcOntInued.,

sweet and questioning, and frowned
slightly, wishing he had held his ton
que, though aware that he could not
have, caring the way he did.
why not tell me? I'm waiting,
Garrett"
We'll. :" 1t was difficult: an
impertinence; Incredible, besides But
now that he had committed himself.
ne stiffened resolve and plunged. at
was said that your engagement to this
man Blackstock would be announced
before long"
That out bluntly, he caught long
breath and divided between fear and
faith, sat watching her.
The seconds of her silence spun for
him an hour of anguish
Katherine :"
She turned. "Yes?"
Have you nothing to say?" he
asked involuntarily, and at once re-
GREETED 1t.
What do you wish me to say?" Her
tone was dull. as If she spoke me-
chemically, with a mind detached.
Either affirm or deny You owe me
that, at least"
DO II" She seemed surprised
''But what" she pursued, rousing
-'does this man Blackstock'-"
You know don't like him. Katll-
crime. | can't"
But can and do, Garrett"
There was simplicity in that, almost
confessional. His fears assailed him
more mperiously.
Then it's true? Don't tell me that!'
what does Mr.. Blackstock say?"
81 haven't interviewed him. of
course. seemed too absurd"
''Why?"
The only report he had at command
was pitifully inadequate; Because |
love you"
rs that any reason why Mr.. Black
stock should not?"
There are reasons why you
shouldn't let your name be coupled
with his"
And they are"
She put 1t crisply. His heart sank,
foreseeing defeat. He veered at a
tangent, evasive. you haven't an
swered me. Is there any truth In this
rumor?"
Not yet"
you mean It may be true-later?'
TITS possible" she affirmed quietly.
"Mr. Blackstock has asked me to
marry him; he hasn't as yet had my
answer"
katherine! You can't real
iy-care for him?"
I'm trying to be sure, Garrett, be-
fore | tell him so-or you"
"But-but you mustn't! The
things impossible. YOU"
you'll tell me why?"
Her composure was SOLDERING. He
got himself more in hand: she was
not to be moved by storming, he
knew Reason, logic, an appeal to her
intelligence: she would require these
of him. Yet when put to 1t he could
not bring himself to tell what he knew
of the man by hearsay, If very cred
IDLY Personal defects, lack of breed
ing, and the like were all unstable OBJ
jections. . In the end the best
he could do, since some sort of an an
swer was essential, was to frame a
halting, inconclusive: He's not the
sort. ~.
She misinterpreted his confusion.
81 know what you're thinking: that
he's not a spoke in our particular so
cial wheel; an outsider. Must con.
denim him for that? Are there no
right men, Garrett, but yourself and
others of our 'set?' | know he has
his lacks; fancy you'd call him
crude, II you we're candid with me-
But men of his genius, his upbringing
Not that concede any
crudity In him; it's hardly that: he
merely something-difficult to
name 1t; not cultivation. not sensible
ty but, I'd say. friends"
He has many. :"
So she cared enough to fight fol
himl There was bitterness, surpass
ing the bitterness of aloes. in that dis
covery,
81 mean the right kind, yourself for
instance; friends to bring him out
He's quick. adaptable, of good fami
ly-if not wealthy one
Coast fell back upon the one men
tionable objection of which he had
certain knowledge. He's got a vii
famous temper"
Friends would teach him to contro
It. And there are excuses for that;
his sight-his eyes are In bad way