The Dolores star. [volume] (Dolores, Montezuma County, Colo.) 1901-current, 1917-10-19

recovery. Colonel Illlngworth turne
away and summoned the secretar.
Rodney and Winters came, too.
"Shurtlilf." said Meade family Do
firmly. 'tell them again who il re-
sponsible for the failure Of the inter
national"
Forgive me, Mr.. Meade" said Shurt.
lii. "but 1t was your brave old fathers
fault"
"YOu see," said the colonel.
ave knew 1t ull the time" said Rod.
ney.
"But Mr.. Shurtlifr bravely gave NJ
the final proof" said Winters.
"Those papcrsf" said Meade.
Shurtlln nodded.
"And your fathers own letter that
he wrote the papers before his heart
broke" said Rodney; TN read It to
you presently"
"Why did you do 1t. Shurtlsf?"
ITO right n great wrong, sir. I saw
that we were mistaken to try to spare
the dead at the expense Of the living
to wreck your life and the future. md
the happiness Of Miss Tlllngworth. God
bless her for her kindness to lonely
old man. And so when you were
brought here dead I told them the
truth and gave them the papers"
Gentlemen" said Meade. making q
last try. at Is useless to deny It now,
but for the sake Of my fathers fame
you won't let anyone known
l"Old man," said Rodney. at was on
fhn xx,ira hnlrv. uft ri and "a
whole United States knows 1t now.
Your father made the mistake; his
letter admitted 1t bravely. The world
honors him. 1t honors you"
Rodney" said Meade, II wish yot
hadn't done it." ....,
ut was for Miss nlingworth's happi.
ness and yours that did it." sold Rod.
ney. "And how much that cost me-
he added. the confession being wruns
from him, mo one can ever know"
He turned and left the room. Winters
followed him full of sympathy and
comprehension. g..
"Let me 60 out alone. old man,"
snid Rodney. "I'll be back presently.
This is the last fight I've got to make"
Winters watched him from the step
Of the car as he disappeared in the
pine trees en- route to the mesa to fight
1t out under the open sky alone. The
others left the room also, last Of all
Shurtliff.
you forgive me. Meade. I've been
through hell ITSELF" said the old man,
in these last six months" .......
Freely" said Meade.
And Shurtliff went away with o
lighter heart than he had borne for
many long day. ..
The two lovers were alone again.
"You see," said Helen, there's moth.
ing can Keep us apart now"
Nothing, thank God" whispered the
man.
But am sorry that it all came out
this way. I'm sorry not only because
of your suffering. but for other reasons
Rodney for one. He-its too bad
1t was not necessary for you to get
yourself almost killed to win me, ]
mean, for wherever and> whenever ]
found you was resolved to marry you,
willy -nilly."
sand Is 1t true that poor old Rod
had grown to cnreT he asked, putting
by the academic discussion.
The woman nodded.
I'm very sorry. I can't help 1t. We
were always together, talking about
you" she said.
And he couldn't help 1t, either" said
Meade. Somehow believe he was
the better man Tor you to have taken"
But he looked ut her wistfully and
anxiously as he spoke.
Il won't argue with you" said the
girl, bending close to him. ''Tll Oily
say that know I have the best man
in all the world, but II he were the
worst, would rejoice to have him just
the same"
(THE END.)