The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1915-01-08


II must tell Lucy that" Barking said
to himself "She wrought the change"
He swung on his heels with an alb
rupt movement and stood listening
His ears held the sound of rustling
skirts and the tap of woman's foot
on the stairs. Barking strobe to the
door and flung It wide.
"Lucy-you! he exclaimed.
II had TO come" she said. She
sounded breathless. There are things
| must say to you"
She went past him into the room,
She gave n gesture of refusal when he
would have brought her chair.
You'll think 1t strange for me to
come here. But | must see you alone.
| must!'
Urgency spoke In her last word. She
took quick step toward him. 81
want to try and make you under
stand"
Understand"
Understand that can't-marry
you!"
Barking stared at her. Somewhere
In his forehead pulse began to drum
She spoke again:
I've come to throw myself on your
mercy. If you love me as you say you
do you'll set me Free" She held her
hands toward him as though she felt
them chained. Entreaty was about
her as an enveloping cloak. 1T would
be magnanimous of you to release me-
Have done anything to vex you
said anything?"
mo-" she told him. "a thousand
times no."
'"rhen you mean you've ceased to
care for me?"
II never cared enough" she said
II was going to marry you from graft
tude. You had lent my father money
and saved us from ruin"
Barking spoke hOarsely:
II didn't know your father had told
you. 1t was merely n little matter Of
business between the two Of u.s.
"He told me. And ! thought ! could
have married you. content with the
calm. prosaic thing called esteem. /
dreamed that happiness might grow
from esteem" Color leaped into her
face. But have learned that it isn't
enough. There must be something
else
And some one else?' He tried in
effectually 10 rob his voice of bitter
ness.
Yes.
Suppose you tell me little more
Since we were to have been married
next month. ! have the right to ask
that"
You have the right" She made the
admission frankly. Her words rushed
now. 1t was as If she sought to lessen
the prick Of them by speed. II have
met some one | love. And | know now
that | could never live with n man
merely like. The man who has taught
me this is Robert Grant. You've met
him. He came home few months
ago from Canada. We were children
together. We used to play as sweet
hearts. When we met again after the
years we knew that there was hap
Y.
tried to he true to you. but love him
You will be--magnanimous."
Barking jerked his shoulders back
You are freer' he said.
But how-how" Her hands droD
ped and she looked down ut her fin
gers. playing with them nervously.
She seemed fearful of the sound of her
neSt sentences. You see. my father
will be angry. You helped him. 1t will
be difficult TO make him understand
He will insist on my keeping my prom
ise.'
Barking said: I'll put it right with
your father. You need have no fear"
He could not meet the sudden radi
anse in her eyes.
lntuitively she realized his need OF
solitude. She moved TO the door. With
the handle In her hand she paused
She said in Il low voice:
You are good man. I never real
lied how good till today"
She opened the door and went out.
Barking Strengthened himself with
jerk. There was something to be done
lie must free Lucy. And i'm some way
he must overcome old Parker's sense
Of duty in the matter
He stood frowning into the re. The
fierce leap of the flames in the CRATE
spoke to his mood. Decision came to
him. He struck his hand against the
mantelpiece. "That'll do IT," he said
aloud "That'll free her I'd have gone
to heaven for her. III go to the othei
place if it'll serve herr
He glanced at the clock. In an hour
and half's time he was due TO dine
ut the Parkers' He went to his bed
room and dressed quickly. In half IN
hours time he walked into Keys res
taurant and sat down at one Of the
small tables.
"A glass OF whisky" he said to the
walter.
The whisky was brought. and Bark
ing drank it deliberately. He called
for more. There was something OF
3erceness in his way Of drinking. Now
md then he consulted his watch.
Darnel was one Of the guests at the
Parkers'. He described the evening In
letter he wrote to n mutual friend Of
his and Barking's few days later
Barking was the last guest to mr.
live" Darnel wrote. There must have
been twelve ar fourteen of us In the