Courier Democrat., 1916-07-06


greatly i'sproved by her recent life
She was brown. vigorous. healthy: her
| physical charms quickened his pulses
You must have a very good reason
| for coming to see me-" she began. II
don't f1atter myself that it is from af-
| fection."
There YOU wrong me- he assured
| her, With the warm earnestness he so
easily assumed. y have always re-
garded You rs u daughter
II have 40 faith in you"
'EXactly, and the knowledge dis
tresses me- You and Gloria were Il
large part of my life. l can't bear to
lose you. hope, and l believe, that
her regard for me has changed no more
than mine for her. 1t remains for me
to regain yours
THAT is impossible You had the
chance''-
My dear, you can't know my rea-
sons for acting as did at Omar. But
those reasons no longer exist
Just what-do you mean by that?"
| stammered Natalie.
II mean what L say. I'm ready to
marry your mother"
When
SAT once. You shall plead my cause
for me-"
That isn't necessary. You know
mother is only waiting for you. 1t
means so much to her that she couldn't
refuse
"Doesn it mean anything to you?"
Natalie nodded ''It means more to
me than to any one else, perhaps. I
have been carrying great burden, al
most more than l can bear Some
times I've wished 1 were a man-for
just long enough to make you pay. Oh,
yes" she continued as he started to
protest Don't let us begin this new
life with any false conceptions. You
may as we'll know that I shall always
hate you. We shall see very little Of
each other
Nonsense. l can't let you feel like
that. sha'n't rest until 1 win back
your love and confidence"
She eyed him searchingly for Il mo-
ment, then opened her lips to speak,
but closed them
"Well?' he prompted her. LET us
be frank with each other
Pm merely wondering how greatly
your decision has been influenced by
the storm and the fight at the railroad
crossing. | understand how you feel
toward Mr.. ONeil, and know that he
means to crush you"
"Oh!' Gordon'S face lighted
Yes! He has never said so, but 1
can feel it. l wonder If you have
snatched us up in your extremity as
Defense
"Ridiculous. Your suspicious are in
sulting. l have nothing to fear from
him, for he is broken, his credit is gone,
and he is in desperate straits"
Are you in any better condition?
How long can you fool your people
with that pretense of I; mine?'
Gordon flushed, but affected scorn.
balance my wealth against my love?
If So
You know she would marry you if
you were pennileSS.
II hope so. and, indeed. can't be-
ieve her mercenary Well. shall say
goodby to Kyak without idle regret,
and We three shall return to Hope,
where can attack my problems with
fresh courage. l can we'll afford my
loss hete if by doing SO gain the wo-
man of my DESIRES
You want me to so With you?"
"Of course. You can't stay in Omar,
knowing what you do about O'Nei. Re-
member, I shall be in the position of
father to YOU
Every we'll 1t is the least 1 can Go.
Miss Appleton and are returning to
Omar in few days. Will you so
with us?''
81 shall be delighted. my dear" He
smiled upon her in his most fatherly
fashion. but she was far from feeling
the assurance he meant to convey.
When Murray arrived in New York
he met with Il terrible setback Her
man Heidelman, while admitting that
O'Neils project might be feasible, said
. that his company could not afford to
put any more money into Alaska until
something besides plans were availa-
BILE. Mr.. Heidelman was aGamant
aa1-