Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-06-15

CHAPTER ANNlA-NCVlNitlNN
certainly, sir; certainly sir eNSialiI,, I.I,,
"a Professor Porter. How could you
doubt it2"
'There is young Clayton, you know,
| sueessted Canler HE has been hanging
about for months"
"Tut-tut, Mr. Canler: unless-whet
''IJnless vou see nt TO request that Jane
and l be married at once SAID Gamer >
slowly and distinctly
II have already suggested to Jane that
Il would be desirable" said Protesso'
Porter. sadly. FOR we can no longer az
ford to keep up this house ana i've "'
her associations demand
"what was her reply7" asked Canler
"She said sho was not ready 10 nlaILs
| any one yet" replied Professor Porter,
! "and that we could go and live upon tne
farm IN Northern Wisconsin which her
| mother left her.
| "tt is a little more than self-supportlnE.
| The tenants have always made a lNlhs
| from IL, and been able to send Jane
trihe beside each year.
"She is planning on our going up tnere
the first of the week. Philander and Mr
clayton have already gone to get thihsS
in readiness for u.s."
"Clayton has gone there?" exclaimed
Canler. vlslbly chagrlned, why was
not / told7 I would gladly nave sone
and seen that every comfort was pro-
vlded'
Jane feels that we are already too
much in your debt, Mr.. Canler,' said
Professor Porter.
Canler was about to reply when the
sound of footsteps came from the nall
without, and Jane Porter entered the
room. "
"Oh. beg your pardon' she exclaim-
cd pauslng on the threshold. Il thousht
you we're alone, papa
"I don't know that Jane cares for him.
but beside his title they say he has IN
herited n very considerable estate from
his father and It might not be strange
IL he finally won her, unless and Can
Ter paused.
ut is only I. Jane" said Canler, who
had rIsen won't you come In and JON
the family group? We were Just speak
ing of you" -
THANK you," said Jane Porter. enter
ing and taking the chair Canler placed |
for her. "I only wanted to tell papa that
Tobey is coming down from the college |
tomorrow to pack his books, want you
to he sure, papa, to Indicate all thht you
can do without until fall. Please cont |
carry this entire library to Wisconsin, as |
you would have carried II TO AFRICA, IL
had not put my foot down.
was Tobey here?" asked Professor
Porter.
yes, Just left him. He and Esmer-
aida are exchanging religious experiences
on the back porch now
"Tut-tut. l must see him at once!
cried the professor. Excuse me just
moment children" and the old man
hastened from the room.
AS soon as he was out OF earshot Can
Ter turned to Jane Porter.
See here, Jane he said oluntiy.
"How long is this thing going on like
this?
You haven't refused to marry me. but
you haven't promised, either.
"I want to get the license tomorrow, so
that we can be married quietly before you
leave for Wisconsin. I don't care for any
fuss or feathers, and I'm sure you don't,
either"
The girl turned cold, but she held her
Your father wishes 1t. you know"
added Canler.
Yes, l know"
She spoke scarcely above a whisper.
DO you realize that you are buying
me, Mr.. Canler?" she said finally. and In
a cold, level voice. Buying me for few
paltry dollars? OF course you do Robert
Canler, and the hope of just such a con-
.ingenCy was in your mind when you
oaned papa the money for that hair
Drained escapade, which but for a most
mysterious circumstance would have been
successful
But you, Mr.. Canler. would have been
he most surprised You had no idea that
he venture would succeed. You are too
good a business man for that. And you ,
ire too good a business man to loan ,
money for buried treasure seeking, or
o loan money without security-unless
,ou had some special object in view.
You knew that without security you /
lad greater hold on the honor Of the
7orters than with 1t. You knew the one
,est way to force me to marry you, with
tut seeming to force me,
You have never mentioned the loan. s
n any other man I should have thought ,
hat the prompting of a magnanimous
Dr. Robert Canler, / know you better
han you think l know you.
Il shall certainly marry you If there I
) no other way. but let us understand I
ach other once and for ALL
While she spoke Robert Canler had /
lternately flushed and paled. and when
he ceased speaking he arose, and with a /
ynlcal smile upon his strong face. said: q
You surprise me, Jane. thought I
ou had more self-control-more pride.
"Of course you are right l am buy 4
ng you, and knew that you knew il, s
ut l thought you would prefer to pre- @
end that 1t was otherwise. 1 should
hfo NAoubhh Soul sGAi-ltSpeGl ana your |
'orter pride would have shrunk from Q
dmitting. even to yourself. that you !
lere bought woman. 7
But have 1t your own way dear girl" I
Q added lightly. II am going TO have 5
on, and that is all tnat interests me-
Without word the girl turned and left !
he room. I
Jane Porter was not married before she {
1T With her father and EAmeralda for I
er little Wisconsin farm, and as she
Oddly bid Robert Canler goodby as her 1
rain pulled out, he called to her that
e would join them in a week or two. 8
At their destination they were met by I
layton and Mr.. Philander In a huge ?
1uring car belonging TO the former, and
uiokly whirled away through the dense I
orthern woods toward the little farm a
'hich the girl had not visited before
nee childhood.
The farmhouse. which stood on a little
eVation some hundred yards from the .
snant house, had undergone a complete n
during the three weeks b
nat Clayton and Mr., Philander had been
leFe. t
The former had imported a small army u
carpenters and plasterers, plumbers
nd painters from distant city, and o
hat had been but dilapidated shell a
hen they reached II was now a COSY n
title two-story house filled with every
lodeTn convenience procuFable In so ;
lort a time h
onef cried Jane Porter. her heart a
mixing within her as she realized the p
rooable size OF the expenditure that had r
me- y 4 Ha