The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-03-31

what was tne 1ooo' OF heATSh'
try not to think OF you unkindly. But
YOU must promise ME solemnly not to
make any attempt against your life"
81 promise nothing" muttered I'm
derwood doggedly.
"But you must" she insisted ut
would be a terrible crime. not only
against yourself, but against others
You must give me your word"
Underwood shook his head
II promise nothing"
But you must" persisted Alicia u
won't stir from here until have your
promise"
He looked at her Curiously.
III my life has no interest for you,
why should you care?" he asked.
There was note Of scorn in his
voice which aroused his visitors
| wrath Crumpling up his letter in her
hand, she confronted him angrily.
shall tell you why care?" she
cried. Because you accuse me in this
letter of being the cause Of your death
i. who have been your friend In
spite Of your dishonesty. Oh! it's deS'
picable, contemptible! Above all, it's
a lie"
Underwood shrugged his shoulders.
Cynically he replied:
80 1t wasn't so much concern for
me as for yourself that brought yon
here"
Allcias eyes flashed as she an.
swered:
eyes, wished to spare myself this
indlgnity, the shame of being asso'
ciated in any way with suicide. I
was afraid you meant what you said"
afraid" Interrupted Underwood
bitterly, that some Of the scandal
might reach az far as the aristocratIc
Mrs. Howard ,Ieffries. Sr.."
Her face flushed with anger, Alicia
paced up and down the room. The
mans taunts stung her to the quick.
In n way, she felt that he was right
She ought to have guessed his charac
ter long ago and had nothing to do
with him. He seemed desperate
enough to do anything, yet she doubt
ed If he had the courage to kill HIM
self. She thought she would try moro
conclllatory methods, so. stopping
short, she said more gently:
lyon know my husband has suffered
through the wretched marriage Of his
only son. You know how deeply we
both feel this disgrace, and yet you
would add"
. Underwood laughed mockingly.
"Why should | consider your hus'
bands feelings" he cried. He didn't
consider mine when he married you"
Suddenly bending forward, every
nerve tense, he continued hoarsely:
"Alicia, tell you I'm desperate. I'm
hemmed in on all sides by creditors.
You know what your friendshipAyour
patronage means? II you drop me
now, your friends will follow-theyre
lot of sheep led by you-and when
my creditors hear Of me they'll he
down on me like flock Of wolves.
I'm not able to make a settlement,
Prison stares me in the face"
CHANGING around at the handsome
furnishings, Alicia replied carelessly:
"I'm not responsible for Your wrong
doing | want 10 protect my friends.
If they are a lot OF sheep. as you say,
that is precisely why I should warn
them. They have implicit confidence
in me. You have borrowed their mon
,ey, cheated them at cards. stolen from
! them. Your acquaintance with me has
given them the opportunity. But now
! i've found you out | refuse any long
er to sacrifice my friends, my selfre.
| spect, my sense of decency," AngrtIy
she continued: you thought you could
bluff ME. You've adopted this COW.
ards way of forcihg me to receive
you against my will Well. you've
failed. will not sanction your rob.
! hing my friends. | will not allow YOU
TO sell them any more Of your high
priced rubbish, or permit you to cheat
them at cards" '
Underwood listened In silence. He
stood motionless, watching her flushed
face as she heaped reproaches on him.
She was practically pronouncinE his
death sentence, yet be could not help
thinking how pretty, she looked. When
II yoashaye property to sell, ."classt