The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-12-02
(Conttnued.)

4y Co the door ana SIOPpe0f DcAO1S ASA hand touched the knob. s4sss
 .sNox no, Francesn cried Diana. The man on the veranda paused. ssBut I cannot let him carry away that lie. might never see him again . Do not call him back He must Lave something to fight for, to win back He knows. He has the keen est eye and the quickest mind of any man I know
 Frances turned and ran swiftly back to her room. closing the door violently. Diana looked sadly at the bowed man in the chair. The know ledge that she was the daughtersof the notorious Smead had crushed him.
 MT. Cranford, are you i12'
 T don't know. I'm afraid to move shall fall down.
 Diana touched the bell Some cold chicken and a glass of milk Have you any port wine in the house7
 sfYes, Miss Wynne.'
 Martha. bring me the wine first. That,n set me up till I can get back to the hotel Will you have them hitch up the team? I feel pretty weak He slipped the wine, and shortly the glow of it permeated his veins- He set the glass under the chair and smiled Diana was not expecting that smile, for it was warm and friendly : You were to call me Gran, he said. ssCran, am sorry.
 .sorry for what2 Who was that young woman?''
 My brothers wife,
 .eYou told me you were married "No. Gran; I told you that I could not marry any man-any man might wiAh to marry. Can Michael ; Snnead's daughter-as notorious gam bier, man without feeling Or kindness or truth or hdnor-ny father 2
 He got up and steadied himself by holding on to the chair "I must look pretty well banged up. Will you marry me, Diana?" sNo,Lquietly. ..smeads daughter cannot marry man of your station.V If only he knew how desperately she was fghting! She wanted him-want- cd his head on her breast. close to her heart-w wanted Ito run her fingers through his tousled hair-wanted him! Come; supposthg took you at your word and married you Could you in troduce me to your friends? am proud.
 ..In heavens name, why notY' His hand slipped from the chair and he crossed the room unstead1ly. Look at
 
 you will not marry me-
 .sI will not marry you, Gran" Her eyes looked up into his, bravely and unwaYeringly. ..It is rather cruel of you I'm helpless; I cannot get up and leave you
 'eDosyou want to leave mel"
 .sYes-'
 Repeat after me- he said, T do not love you
 She was silent
 esY1fat Is your father to me friends Out Of the world somewhere you have come to me, and I shall not let you go. Will you wreck your life and mine over such a silly phantom 7"
 Please go," she begged.
 4-I'd be a fine lover, wouldn't I? I shall stay here till the sun rises unless you tell me one way or the other.'' Lover! The kind a woman dreams of-waits for
 A smile quivered on her lips, and he saw it. He seized her hand, turned it palm upward and pressed it agaihst his face. After a moment he look ed up.
 You can's say it?''
 ssNo.'
 You don't want me to go9'
 .eNo.''
 win you marry me?''
 ''I ought not to, but wfli-whenever you wish" And to make the surrender complete she drew his head tightly to her heart and laid her cheek upon it.
 
 Smead turned the note over and over in his hand His cigar went from one corner Of his mouth to the other. Oc- casionally a small wave slapped nis- chfevousIy against the gunwaIe and splashed his knees
 His teeth sank into the tobacco. The young fool would be back quickly enough when his money gave out. Still he ought not to have been so rough with htEu that day in Kingston. But the cool banter Of the boy had mad dened ha1n. suddeniy his teeth met with a click, and the cigar bounded and rolled down his chest to the bottom of the; boat. Played. He knew now The boy had them Possession had given him this courage A quarter of million, and South America, where no .one would ask questions!
 Played. Diana should tell him where the boy had gone. and, if it was the 1ast thing he ever did, he would find him Played all along; actually made sport of!
 At the farm he called for Miss Smead. There was nobody there by that name
 Perhaps it is Miss Wynne you wish to see ?"
 Wynne So she had taken her moth ers name2
 ssI am her father. I wish to see her. Cranford, the smiling old aristocrat (though at this moment his face was grave enough), the lawyer and young woman he did not know, were stand eng behind Dianais chair.
 Smead looked keenly at his daugi1- ter's face. She was as beautiful as ever her mother had been. The sight of her stirred Dothing in his heart. no tender quickening, no regret.
 .'I wish to see you alone, = he said directly.
 ..whatever you may have to say to