The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-08-05
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A xIv-Ccontinued).

he mas. You mtenu 10 XIII HE, a
believe. / think I have some right 10
Inquire why you take that attitude to-
ward a man who has every honorable
Intention in the world"
"Honorablel Do you call IL 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-comprom>se
her." 81 q
II have done none OF these things,
Mr.. Midthorne, as you will discover
when you have taken the trouble to
go beyond the accounts given by the
natural protectors you mention. This
interview promises to be painful. We
will cut IL short, My object In coming
here Is to inform you that Mary has
promised to be my wife" ... E.
What! Why, o miserable
"One moment, please. h Is quite
as dear to me as h Is to you. / did
not ask her to leave her home. q
went OF her own free will. You say
that l have placed her among fast
women and men. II you choose to
judge my friends by the standards OF
Corinth, they are a I think, how
ever, you may have seen enough OF the
world to know that a snail would be
| swift In Corinth. My friends are now
her friends. They will be yours, too,
I hope, Mr.. Midthorne, and you will
ave reason to be proud Of them-tust
as I am. II she has ever tasted wine
In her life, / am not aware of the fact.
II her association with me has compro-
missed her, / am unable to define what
you may be pleased to a honorable
Intentions / w you certain explana-
tions. that Is ell. But, by the Lord
| Harry, sir, / owe you no apologies,
either for myself or Mary. My record
Is clean, my conscience clear. There Is
no more for me to say. persuaded
II OtN otaNAE 60 ~ ~ Vnn tho nTfVtlaOa
of seeing you first, Mr.. Mfdthorne. Mr..
Carr has already assured me OF your
Entipathy. You came here to meet me,
/ hank you. My duty was plain. Your
first ~reproaches should fall on me, not
or her. 1 did not expect, however, to
be called an internal scoundrel. 1t Is
rather unusual, isn't lit"
Eric had been staring at him intent
ly through this long. level speech. It
was being borne In upon him, much
against his will. that Payson was do
Ing the honorable thing. and that he
Ia put himself in a most unenviable
position by forgetting his own dignity.
81 spoke in heat" he said, but some
what doggedly. 1T a only think OF
Mary as a-well, as a child. She knows
nothing of men,"
Nor do you.s I fear" said Payson
cody. ... Yrs.
. What do you mean?" .
"A man isn't likely to stand being
called a scoundrel with impunity.:
rs that q threat?"
IT leave 1t to you. Suppose I were
10 call you an internal scoundrel, u
Of a clear sky. so to speak. Would you
accept II amiablyT"
Eric stiffcned. The blood of his IA
lher responded nobly.
5faction."
For the first time Payson smiled.
Mary said that you would most likely
challenge me-"
Eric flushed. "I give you to under
1tand, sir. that this is not child's play.
You cannot treat It as a joke. 1t is"
But / graciously promised her that
I would overlook ali 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 pack the rush OF angry
words.
You will have to admit, Eric. that
/ nave done the decent
Don't call me Eric! And don't use
the word decent" snapped Eric. IT'S
so damned middle class. 1t shows where
you belong"
Payson's cheek burned. That, at
least, was uncalled for, Mr.. Midthorne.
I am a plain man, and a decent one,
even though it jars on you. But we are
wasting words. i came to ask for your
sisters hand. Am l to understand that
you mean to oppose mer
Most assuredly. I forbid her to ever
think OF 1T" 80
Payson smiled. I'm afraid you can't
control her thoughts. She has out
| grown you. Mr.. Midthorne. You seem
to forget hat she is a woman I have
no sister. but I believed can in q meas
ure appreciate the shock you nave ex-
perlenced in suddenly learning that
your sister Is nc longer a child IN pin
azores, but a grown woman, with a
woman's heart and body and a wom-
ans capacity to love a a because he
Is q q She adores you, she viii be
! guided by what you advise, but" He
stopped and shook his head slowly.
"She will drop you like a hot poker,
Payson, when I've told her a few things
/ know" said Eric, feeling that he
was getting very much the worst OF it
| and growing vindictive IN consequences.
would you mind telling those things
to mef" demanded Payson, a hard gilt
ter in his eyes,
They're between Mary and me, that
is all I've got to say"
do you think o are meeting me
fairly?" .
"It doesn't In the least matter"
Very well. The interview il at an
end. I may as well tell you, however,
that 1 intend to marry your sister,"
wen see about that grated Eric,
Payson bowed very stiffly and turned
to walk away. After taking q few
steps, he whirled impulsively. a plead
ing look in his eyes. His voice rang
with an honest appeal to the others
\ fairness. .
"See here, Eric, can't we be friends7
| What ave I done that you should treat
me in this manner? I don't want to
1 60 back to Mary with the sting OF her
brothers hatred hurting me, knowing
that I've got to go on loving her
| while
TN the first place." interrupted Eric,
you want to get you hands on her
little fortune. YOU o.. ~.
stop right there! I wish to serve
notice on o n your Uncle Horace
that when I become Mary's husband
1t win devolve upon me to look after
| all Of her affairs. II you think I'm
the sort OF man who will consent to
the espionage OF a-well, l won't say
It. He's your uncle. But take this
from me: I'll handle Mary's property"
"And sink every dollar of 1t in some
wildcat speculation OF yours. I know
the kind" sneered Eric.
Il am not a speculator," said Pay
L @nn nrrfa4Ixya e