Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1912-07-18

change She put out her hand in turn
There" she said time meuds very
much Let lis hope Then saw
her throat work oddly, and her words
stop.
No man may know the speech with
which women exchange thought. |
saw the two pass few PAGES apart,
saw Grace sheraton stoop and whis,
per something.
II was her last desperate resource
1t wen, rs courage should, or at least
as much as lie may win at any time,
Tor II was bitter. daring, desperate
shaming lie she whispered to Ellen,
As Ellen's face turned toward me
again saw n slow, deep scoru invade
II, If were free" she said 10 me
'1f YOU were the last man ON earth,
would not look At you again. You dc.
ceiNN me. hut that was only broken
word and not Il broken life, This girl
indeed she may ask what will be-
come of her.
Il am tired OF all these riddles"
broke out, my own anger now arising
anu myself not caring 10 In made thus
sport OF petticoats.
Your duty is clear" went on my
new accuSer, flashing out ut me. III
you have Il trace of manhood left. then
let the marriage be ut once tomorrow.
How dare YOU delay ~ long," She
choked in her own anger. humiliation.
scorn know not what. bluShed in her
own shame,
Orme was right. have always been
a stupid ass. 1t took me moments to
grasp the amazing truth. to understand
the daring stroke 10y which Grace Sher-
alton had Won her game. Ii had cost
her much, | saw her standing there
trembling, fearful, suffering, her eyes
wet She turned to me, waiting for
me to save her or leave her damned
| could not declare against the wo-
man who had thus sworn against me.
With horror saw what grotesque in
Justice was done to me. l broke out
into horrible laughter
had said that had come for my
punishment and here 1t was for me to
take. had told Ormc that one day
would pay him for my life. Here, now,
was Orme'S price to he paid Ii this
girl had not sinned with me she had
done so by reason of me. II was my
fault, and Il gentleman pays for hia
fault in one way or another There
seemed to me, | say, but one way in
| I ,it Il,
and slow OF wit. !. John Cowlcs with
out thinking SO far rs the swift conse-
quenCcS, must now act as the shield of
the girl who stood there trembling, the
girl who had confessed to her rival her
own bitter sin. but who had lied as to
her accomplice in her sin.
ut is true" | said, turning to Ellen.
II am guilty. told you l deserved
no mercy. and | ask none. have not
asked Miss Sheraton to release me
from my engagement. l SHAH feel
honOred If she will now accept my
hand. shah be glad If she will set
the date early as may be-"
Night was now coming swiftly from
the hills.
Ellen turned to pass back toward
the door. Your pardonr' | exclaimed
to Grace Sheraton. and sprang after
Ellen
"Goodby," l said, and held out my
hand to her. Let us end all these
heroics and do our best. Where is
your husband? l want to congratu-
late him"
"My husbandr' she said in wonder.
What do you meanY'
"Belknap"- l began.
"Ah" she said bitterly, "You rate
me low. as low ms ! do you"
But your father told me himself
you two were to be married. ! broke
out, surprise. wonder, dread, rebellion,
now in every fiber of my body and
soul
My father loves me dearly" she re-
piled slowly "'But he cannot marry
me until | wish. No. am not mar
ried. and never will be. Goodby!"
did not see Colonel Meriwcther.
He passed on through TO his seat in
AlbemarIe without stopping in orr val
ley longer than overnight. Part Of
the next morning ] spent In writing a
letter to my agents at Huntington,
with the request that they should in
form Colonel Meriwether at once on
the business situation since now he
was in touch by mail. The alternative
was offered him OF taking over my IA
theirs interests through these creditors,
accepting them as partners or purchas-
ing their rights or Of doing what my
father had planned to do for him,
which was to care individually for the
joint account and then to aIlot each
partner a dividend interest. carrying
q clear title
All these matters | explained to my
mother. Then | told her fully what
had occurred ut the village the night
previous bet ween Ellen Meriwether and
my fancec She sat silent.
In any case | concluded, lit would
suit me better If you and could leave
this place forever and begin again
somewhere else"