The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1914-07-02

fore you leave for Wisconsin. | don't
care for any fuss or feathers, and I'm
sure you don't either"
The girl turned cold, but she held her
head bravely.
Your father wishes it, you know
added Canler.
Yes; l know"
She spoke scarcely above Il whisper.
DO you realize that You are buying
me. Mr.. Canler," she asked finally and
in Il cold, level voice-"buyiug ne for
a few paltry dollars? Or course you
do. And the hope of just such Il con
tingency was in your mind when You
loaned papa the money for that hare
Drained escapade, which bat for a
most mysterious circumstance would
have been successful.
But you, Mr.. CaHler, would have
been the most surprised. You had no
idea that the venture would succeed
You knew that without security o
had n greater hold on the honor OF the
Porters than with it. You knew the
one best way TO force me TO marry you
without seeming to force me.
You have never mentioned the
loan. In any other man | should have
thought that the prompting of n mag
unanimous and noble character. But
you are deep.
Il know you better than you think
know you. | shall certainly marry YOU
If there is no other way, but let us un-
derstand each other nee and for all
You surprise me, Jane" said Can
Ter. II thought you had more self CON
troll, more pride. OF course you are
right. | am buying you, and knew
that you knew 1T. But l thought You
would prefer to pretend that it was
otherwise. But have it your own
way" he added lightly. II am going
to have you, and that is all that inter
estS me-"
Without a word the girl turned and
left the room.
But Jane Porter was not married be
fore she left with her father and Es
meralda for her little Wisconsin farm.
y lit ColtllN btbc lNpbNi III S''''
by while the train pulled out he called
to her that he would join them in n
week or two.
At their destination they We're met
by Clayton and Mr.. philander in a
huge touring car belonging to the for
mer and quickly whirled away through
the dense northern woods toward the
little farm which the girl had not Wis
tied before since childhood.
The farmhouse, which stood on a lit
tie elevation some hundred yards from
the tenants house. had undergone a
complete transformation during the
three weeks that Clayton and Mr.. Phi
lander had been there.
The former had imported a small
army of carpenters and plasterers,
plumbers and painters from a distant
city, and what had been but a dilapi-
dated shell was now a coy little two
story house filled with every modern
convenience procurable in so short a
time.
81 couldn't think Of your living in the
hole we found here" said Clayton to
Jane when they were alone.
ooh. Cecil. | wish | might repay you
as you deserve-as you would WISH"
said Jane.
"Why can't you. Jane?'
Because | love some n else"
"Canler?"
mo"
But you are going to marry him.
He told me as much before | left Balti-
more"
The girl WINGED.
as it because of the money, Jane?"
She nodded.
"Then am | so much less desirable
than Canler? | have money enough"
he said bitterly.
81 don't love you, Cecil" she said.
"but | respect you. If | must disgrace
myself by such Il bargain with any
man l prefer that it be one | already
despise. | should loathe the man to
whom I sold myself without love. who
soever he might be.
you will be happier" she conclud-
ed, "alone, with my respect and friend
ship. than with me and my contempt"
He did not press the matter further,
but if eve a man had murder in his
heart it was William Cecil Clayton.
Lord Greystoke. when, a week later.
Robert Canler drew up before the
farmhouse in his purring six cylinder.
A week passed-a tense though un-
eventful week for all.
Canler was insistent that Jane
marry him at once.
AT length she gave in from sheer
loathing of the continued and hateful
importuning.
1t was agreed that on the morrow
Canler was to drive to town and bring
back the license and a clergyman.
Clayton had wanted to leave as soon
as the plan was announced, but the
girls tired. hopeless look kept him. He
could not desert her.
Something might happen yet. he
tried to console himself by thinking.
In his heart he knew that it would re-
quire but a tiny spark to turn his
hatred for Canler into the blood lust
of the killer.
Early the next morning Canler set
out for town.
In the east smoke could be seen ly-
;nn, lou 49,, ~, Ta,,+ Goa, a Grn IoI