Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-08-04
CHAPTER x1v-(continued).

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He mas. You intend to kill me.
believe. l think 1 have some right to
inquire why you take that attitude to-
ward a man who has every honorable
intention in the world"
Honorable! Do you call it honorable
to entice a young girl away from the
home of her natural protectors, to throw
her among fast women and men, to OF
fer her wines. and to-compromise
her?'
II have done none of these things,
Mr.. Midthorne, as you will discover
when o have taken the trouble to
go beyond the %account given by the
natural protectors you mention. This
interview promises to be painful. We
will cut it short. My object in coming
here is to inform you that Mary has
promised to be my wife"
What! Why. you miserable"
One moment. please. She is quite
as dear to me as she is to you. l did
not ask her to leave her home. She
that l have placed her among fast
women and men. If you choose to
judge my friends by the standards of
Corinth. they are fast. l think, how
ever, you may have seen enough of the
world to know that a snail would be
her friends. They will be yours, too,
l hope. Mr.. Midthorne, and you will
have reason to be proud of them-just
as / am. 1t she has ever tasted wine
in her life, l am not aware of the fact.
II her association with me has comprO-
missed her, 1 am unable to define what
you may be pleased to call honorable
Intentions / w o certain eXplana-
tions. that is all. But. by the Lord
Harry. sir. l owe you no apologies,
either for myself OF Mary. My record
Is clean, my conscience clear. There is
no more for me to say. l persuaded
your sister to grant me the privilege
of seeing you first. Mr.. Midthorne. Mr..
Carr has already assured me Of your
antipathy. You came here to meet me.
l hank you. My duty was plain. Your
first ~reproaches should fall on me. not
on her. l did not expect, however, to
be called an Internal scoundrel. 1t is
rather unusual. isn't it?"
Eric had been staring at him intent
Iy through this long. level speech. 1t
was being borne in upon him, much
against his will, that Payson was do
ing the honorable thing. and that he
had put himself in a most unenviable
position by forgetting his own dignity.
II spoke in heat he said, but some
what doggedly. II can only think OF
Mary as a-well. as a child. She knows
nothing of men,"
Nor do you. I fear said Payson
cody.
WnaC 0O you inean.
"A man isn't likely to stand being
called a scoundrel with impunity."
is that q threat?"
Il leave it to you. Suppose / were
to call you an Internal scoundrel. out
Of q clear sky. SO to speak. Would you
accept It amiably?'
Eric stiffcned. The blood of his ia
Their responded nobly.
= am prepared. sir, to give you sat
gEfactiOn."
For the first time Payson smiled.
MARY said that you would most likely
challenge me"
Eric flushed. 81 give you to under
stand. sir. that this is not child's play.
You cannot treat 1t as a Joke. II is"
But I graciously promised her that
I would overlook all the affronts of
this first interview. I knew Just how
you would be feeling" said Payson
good humoredly.
Midthorne turned away. biting his
lips to hold back the rush Of angry
words.
You will have to admit, Eric. that
Z nave done the decent"
Don't call me Eric! And don't use
n word decent" snapped Eric. Its
80 damned middle class. It shows where
yol belong
feast. was uncnlled for. Mr.. Midthorne.
! am a plain man., and q decent ne,
even though II Jars On you. But we are
wasting words. / came to ask for your
sisters hand. Am I to understand that
you mean to oppose me?,
Most assuredly. I forbid her to even
think OF II.
Payson smiled. .I'm afraid you can't
control her thoughts. She has out
grown you, Mr.. Midthornc.. You seem
20 forget that she ID q Woman / have
no sister. but I believe / can in q meas