The Irish standard., 1917-05-05
Author Of Whispering Smith,.

MS usslmularlon was more dangerous,
she knew, than his brutality, and he
left her the prey to more than one
alarm and the renewed resolve never
to be taken off her guard. That night
he came back. He told her uncle,
glancing admiringly at Nan as he re.
counted the story, how she had stood
her ground against him in the morn.
Ing.
Nor did Nan like the way her uncle
acted while he listened-and after.
ward. He talked good deal about
Gale and the way she was treating
her cousin. When Nan declared she
never would have anything to do with
him, her uncle told her with disconcert-
Ing bluntness to get all that out of her
head, for she was going to marry him.
When she protested she never would,
Duke told her, with many harsh oaths,
that she should never marry De Spain
even if he had to kill him or get killed
to stop it, and that if she had any
sense she would get ready to marry
her cousin peaceably, adding, that If
she didn't have sense, he would see
himself it was provided for her.
His threats left Nan aghast. For two
days she thought them all over. Then
she dressed to go to town. On her
way to the barn her uncle intercepted
her. "Where you going?"
ITO Sleepy Cat" returned Nan, re.
garding him collectedly.
'No, you're not" he announced
bluntly.
Nan looked at him in silence. 81
don't want you running to town any
more to meet De Spain," added Duke.
without any attempt to soften his in
junction.
'But I've got to go to town once in
q while, whether meet Henry de
Spain or not, Uncle Duke"
"What do you have to go for?"
"Why, for mail, supplies-every.
thing"
"Pardaloe can attend to all that"
Nan shook her head. "Whether he
can or not, I'm not going to be cut off
from going to Sleepy Cat, Uncle Duke
nor from seeing Henry de Spain."
Meaning to say you won't obey,
eh?"
"When I'm going to marry man It
Isn't right to forbid me seeing him."
you're not going to marry him {;
you're going to marry Gale, and the
quicker you make up your mind to Ii,
the better"
"You might better tell me am going
to marry Bull Page-I would marry
him first. I will never marry Gale
Morgan in the living world, and I've
told you so more than once"
He regarded his niece a moment
wrathfully and, without replying,
walked back to the house. Nan, upset
but resolute, went on to the barn and
asked Pardaloe to saddle her pony.
Pardaloe shutfled around in an obliging
way, but at the end of some evasion
admitted he had orders not to do it.
Nan famed at the information. She
disliked Pardaloe anyway, not for any
reason she could assign beyond the
fact that he had once been a chum of
Gales. But she was too high-spirited
to dispute with him, and returned to
the house pink with indignation. Co
Ing straight to her uncle, she protested
against such tyranny. Duke was in
sensible alike to her pleas and her
threats.
But next morning Nan was up at
three o'clock. She made her way into
the barn before a soul was stirring
and at daysreak was well on her way
to Sleepy Cat. She talephoncG to De
SPANS Office from The hospital ana
went to breakfast. DE Spain joined
her before she had finished. Hnd when
they lett lie dining room she explained
why she had disappointed him the d:l,
before. lie heard the story with mis-
givinss.
"lll tell you how it looks to me-
Man," he said when she had done
You are like a person that's being
bound tighter every day by invisible
cords. You don't see them because you
are fearless. You are too fearless,
Man, he added, with apprehension re.
Hacted in the expression of his face.
I'll tell you what wish you'd do and
say it knowing you won't do it," lie
concluded.
She made light Of his fears twisting
his right hand till it was helpless in
her two hands and laughing at him.
"How do you know won't DO it?''
Because I've asked you before. This
is it: Marry me. now, here. today, and
don't take any more chances out there"
"But, Henry" protested Nan, Il can't
marry you now and just run away from
poor Uncle Duke. If you will just he
patient, Ill bring him around to our
side"
"Never, Man."
Don't be SO sure. know him bet
ter than you do. and when he comes
for anybody, he comes all ut once.
Why, it's funny Henry. Now that I'm
picking up courage, you're losing it ~
He shook his head. II don't like
the NAV fhfnrS orr, ~rripr,s