The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1916-04-27

eyes. yes! Good luck! shall al
ways be thinking of YOU"
She stretched out her hand.
Donald would always be to her the
Faun-handsome. charming, whinlsi
cal, merry. Diana had never seen hel
father till the day of her arrival in
New York. but Donald had visited her
at the convent many times.
The young man offered his hand to
the other woman. while Diana gazed.
dim eyed, at the huddled man in tho
chair.
mot yet" said Frances, shrinking
back. God speed you and God guard
you. Donald.. can't touch your hand
just now! There are so many black
things between it and mine.''
"True enough. But if | win outY'
"How shall we know?" wearily.
"When come back it will be writ
ten on my face and i'll my eyes" He
picked up his hat, looked down at
Crawford. smiled oddly, passed from
the room and gently shut the door
No sooner was he gone than the wom-
IN who had denied his hand flew wild
ly to the door and stopped before her
hand touched the knob.
NO, no, Frances!" cried Diana.
The man OH the veranda paused.
But l cannot let him carry away
that lie. l might never see him again"
do not call him back. He must
have something to fight for, to win
back. He knows. He has the keen
est eye and the quickest mind of any
man 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 knowledge that
she was the daughter of the notorious
Smead had crushed him.
Mir Crawford, are you HIP
II don't know. I'm afraid to move.
| shall fall down."
Diana touched the bell. Some cold
chicken and Il glass of milk. Have you
any port wine in the house?
''les. Miss Wynne.'
Martha, bring me the wine first.
That'll set me up till can get back to
the hotel. viii you have them hitch
up the team? | feel pretty weak
lie 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 Gram" he said.
Gran, am sorry
"Sorry for what: Who was that
young woman!"
''My brothers wife,"
You told me you were married.
mo, Gran; / told you that l could
not marry any man-any man might
wish to marry. Can Michael
Smead's daughter-a notorious gam
bier a man without feeling or kindness
or truth or honor-my father?'
He got up and steadied himself by
holding on to the chair. II must look
pretty we'll banged up. Will you marry
me, Diana?"
"No"-quietly. "Smeads daughter
cannot marry man of your station"
If only he knew how desperately she
was fighting! She wanted him-want-
ed his head on her breast, close to her
heart wanted to run her fingers
through his tousled hair-wanted him!
Come; supposing took you at your
word and married you. Could you ill.,
troduce me to your friends? l am
proud"
I'm heavens name, why not?" His
hand slipped from the chair and he
crossed the room unsteadily. "Look at
me-in the eyes, Diana, and tell me
you will not marry me-
II will not marry you, Gran" Her
eyes looked up into his, bravely and
unwaveringy. 1T is rather cruel of
you. I'm helpless; cannot get up and
leave you"
''Do you want to leave me?''
Yes
love you"
She was silent.
What is your father to me-friends?
Out OF the world somewhere you have
come to me, and | shall not let you 60.
Will you wreck your life and mine over
such Il silly phantom?"
"Please co. she begged.
I'D be a fine lover, wouldn't I? II
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 against
his face. After Il moment he look
ed up.
'You cans say it?'
NO"
'You don't want me to go?"
mo-
'Will you marry me?'
II ought not to, but l will-wheneyer
you wish" And to make the surrender
complete she drew his head tightly tn
her heart and laid her cheek upon #
ii u *
Smead turned the note over and over
in his hand His cigar went from ono