The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-04-27

| v eSA@4~-&
"I'm Going to Marry You, Sheba."
hot checks. He did not speak, but she
felt the steady insistence Of his gaze.
In self-defense she looked at him.
The pallor of his face lent accent to
the fire that smoldered in his eyes.
"I'm going to marry you, Sheba.
Make up your mind to that, GIRL" he
said harshly.
There was infinite pity in the look
| she gave him. "'There's caulder things
than salt waves between us, so they
are" she quoted.
mot if love you and you love me.
by the Lord. I trample down every
thing that comes between u.s."
She knew the tremendous driving
power of the man and she was afraid
In her heart that he would sweep her
from the mornings to which she chung.
"There is something else / haven't
told you." The embarrassed lashes
lifted bravely from the flushed cheeks
to meet steadily his look. II don't think
that I--care for you. TITS I that
am shamed at my-f1ckleness. But I
don't-not with the full of my heart"
His bold, possessive eyes yielded no
fraction Of all they claimed. "Time
enough for that, Sheba. Truth is that
you're afraid to let yourself love me.
You're worried because you can't
measure me by the little two-by-four
foot-rule you brought from Ireland
with YOU
Sheba nodded her duslSy little head
In naive candor. II think there will be
some truth in that, Mr.. Macdonald.
You're lawless, you know"
I'm law to myself, If that's what
you mean. 1t is my business to help
hammer out an empire in this North
land. No need for me to brag. What
! have done speaks for me as a guide
post to what I mean to do"
II know" the girl admitted with
the impetuous generosity of her race.
Il hear 1t from everybody. You have
built towns and railroads and devel-
oped mines and carried the twentieth
century into new outposts. You have
given work to thousands. But you
go so fast can't keep step with you.
! am one of the little folks for whom
laws were made"
"Then I'll make new code for you"
he said, smiling. "Just do as say and
everything will come out right"
Family her smile met his. "My
grandmother might have agreed to
that. But we live in new world for
women. They have to make their own
decisions. I suppose that is a part Of
the penalty we pay for freedom"
Diane came into the room and Mac
donald turned to her.
II have just been telling Sheba that
/ am going to marry her-that there
is no escape for her. She had better
get used to the idea that intend to
make her happy"
The older cousin glanced at Sheba
and laughed with a touch of embar-
rassment. whether she wants to be
happy or not, o Cave Man?"
I'm going to make her want to-"
Sheba fed, but from the door she
flung back her challenge. II don't
think co."
Macdonald kept his word to Sheba.
He used his influence to get Elliot re-
leased, and with touch of cynicism
quite characteristic went on the bond
Of his rival. An information was filed
against the field agent Of the land de-
partment for highway robbery and at
tempted murder, but Gordon went
about his business just as If he were
not under cloud.
None the less, he walked the streets
marked man. Women and children
looked at him curiously and whis-
pered as he passed. The sullen, hos
tile eyes of miners measured him ST.
lently.
In the states the fight between the
coal claimants and their foes was
growing more bitter. The muckrakers
were busy, and the sentiment outside
had settled so definitely against grant
ing the patents that the national adj
ministration might at any time jettison
Macdonald and his hackers as sop
to public opinion.
It was not hard for Gordon to guess
how unpopular he was, but he did not
let this interfere with his activities. He
moved to and fro among the mining
camps with absolute disregard of the
growing hatred against him. Paget
came to him at last with a warning.
"Whst's that hear about you being