Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1915-03-04
CHAPTER XIII.


Good heavensv
Dear mamma knows as little about
business as she does about me. Until
this morning she has always had a
rooted belief in her bank and her
daughter. If bolt with you her last
cherished illusion will be destroyed"
LET me help you," he said eagerly.
How" And she looked at him
again with that cold, hard scrutiny.
Lend us money. do you mean?"
He fell into the trap.
Eyes" he said 'I'd do that if you'd
let me-"
She gave just the suggestion Of a
sheer and turned deliberately away.
He felt the force of the unspoken re-
proof
II beg your pardon" he said humbiy
She went on as if she had not heard
the offensive suggestion, $50 you see
we're both. in way, at the cross
roads,"
He seized her hand fiercely. LET
me take you away out of it ALL" he
cried
She withdrew her hand slowly.
mo-" she said. mot just now. I'm
not in boiling mood today
He moved away She watched him.
Then she called him to her. Some
thing in the man attracted this strange
nature. She couo. not analyze or de
fine the attraction. But the impelling
force was there
He went to her.
Ethel spoke to him for the first time
softly, almost caressingly.
'Chris, some time, perhaps in the
dead OF night. something will snap IN
me-the slack, selfish, luxurious me.
that hates to be reused into action
and the craving for adventure will
come. Then III send for you"
He took her hand again, and this
time she did not draw it away. He
said in whisper:
And you'll go with me?''
Ethel stretched laZily and smiled at
him through her half closed eyes.
81 suppose So Then heaven help
your
'Why should we waltz" he cried
1T will give us the suspense of ex-
pectation."
Il want you! | need your he
pleaded
Until the time comes for amputa
tionY'
Don't! Don'tr' And he dropped
her hand suddenly.
"Well. ! don't want you to have any
illusions about me, Chris | have none
about you Let US begin fair anyway
1t will be so much easier when the end
comes"
"There will be no end!' he said pas
sionately Il love you-love you with
every breath of my body, every thought
in my mind, every throb Of my nerves
l love your He kissed her hand re
peatedly Il love your He took her
in his arms and pressed her to him.
She struggled with him without any
anger or disgust or fear. AS she put
him away from her she just said sim
ply:
please don't. It's so hot this morn
ing"
AS she turned away from him she
was struck dumb Sitting beside the
table in the middle Of the room. her
back turned to them, was the strangest.
oldest little figure Ethel had ever seen
Who was she? How long had she
been in the room?
Ethel turned to Brent He was quite
pale now and was nervously stroking
his slight mustache.
Ethel was furious. 1t was incredible
that Brent could have been so indis
Greet
How on earth did that creature get
there without their hearing or seeing
her?
Ethel went straight to the demure
little figure sitting on the chair.
Peg'A journey to England was one Of
the unhappiest memories of her life
She undertook the voyage deliberately
to please her father. because he told
her it would please him. But beneath
this feeling Of pleasing him was one
Of sullen resentment at being made to
separate from him