Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-01-30

and cuttlirOits, anu not Keep you
stirred up all the time. And Henry
de Spain faced this big coward and
protected me from him with an empty
revoIver What business of yours Is
1t whom meet, or where l gO?" she
demanded, raining her words with
flaming eyes on her belllgerent cousin.
II will never marry you to save you
from the hangman. Now leave this
house. She stamped her foot. leave
this house, and never come into 1t
again"
Gale, beside himself with rage, stood
lis ground. He poured all that he
Safely cOnld of abuse on Mans own
head. She had appeased her wrath
and made no attempt to retOrt. only
looking at him with white face and
burning eyes us she breathed defiance.
Duke interfered. Get out"' he said
to Gale harshly. "1'll talk to her. Go
homer
picked up his hat and stamped out Of
the house, slamming the doors. Duke
exhausted by the quarrel. sat down,
cying his niece. Now what does this
mean?' he demanded hoarsely.
She tried to tell him honestly and
frankly all that her acquaintance with
De Spain did mean--dwelling no more
than was necessary on its beginning,
but concealing nothing Of its develop
mcnt and consequences, nothing of her
love for De Spain, nor Of his for her.
But no part of what she could say on
any point she urged softencd her
unclcs face. His square, hard jaw
from beginning to end looked IKE
stone.
$50 he's your lover?" he said harsh
ly when she Ind done.
'He wants to be your friend" re-
turned Nan, determined not to give up.
Duke looked at her uncompromising-
ly. THAT man can't ever be any
friend of mlne-understand that, He
can't ever marry you. II lie ever tries
to, so help me God. I'll kill him If
hang for it. know his game.
know what he wants. He doesn't care
pinch of snuff for you. He thinks he
can hit me 4 blow by getting you away
from me-"
Nothing could be further from the
truth" exclqined Nan hopelessly.
Duke struck the table smashing
blow with his fist an show Mr.. de
Spain and his friends where they get
off,
Uncle Duke, If you won't listen to
reason, you must listen to sense. Think
of what position you put me in.
love You for all your care of me.
love him for his affection for me and
consideration Of me - because he
knows how to treat woman. | know
he wouldn't harm hair on your head,
for my sake. yet you talk now of
bloodshed between you two. | know
what your words mean-thai one of
YOU, or both of you, are to be killed
for n senselcss feud He will not stand
up and let any man shoot him down
without resistance. Ii you lay your
blood on his head, you know it would
put stain between him and me that
never could be washed out as long rs
we lived If you kill him could never
stay here with you. His blood would
Cry out every day and night against
you."
Dukes violent finger shot out at hci.
"And you're the gal took from your
nanny and promised I'd bring up q
decent woman. You've got none o her
blood IN you--not Il drop. You're the
brat Of that mincing brother Of mine,
that was always riding horseback and
showing Off in town while was weed.
Ing the tobacco beds"
Nan clasped her hands. Don't
blame me because I'm your brothers
! child. Blame me because I'm won.
an, because have Il heart. because
l want to live and see you live, and
to see suspicion, distrust, fcuds
alarms. and worse. Tin not migrate
full, as you plainly say am. | want
you to get out Of what you are IN
here--I want to be out Of 1t. I'd rather
be dead now than TO live and die in 1t
And what is this anger all for? Moth
ing. He offers you his friendship
She could speak no further. Her uncle
with curse, left her alone. When sh,
arose In the early morning he hat
already gone awny.
.rft t,r