Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1918-04-02
CHAPTER XIX.
IYes, Because ] Want Him..

| CnAF J. En- HtNs
1Yes, Because Want Him."
ICYLVESTER paused. Caroline did
- not speak for a moment; then she
asked:
"And no one knew-you or my uncle
or any one-of all this until last
March?'
mo. Graves had, with his usual care
and patience, pieced together the evil
dence and investigated until we were
sure that stockholder in the Akrae
company existed and that all Of your
fathers estate belonged to him. Who
that stockholder was We did not know
until that day of the meeting at our
Office. Then Captain Warren told u.s."
"But he did not know either"
"Not until then. He supposed his
Akrae stock worthless and had prac-
tically forgotten it. When we told him
of its value, Of the note and OF
the missing shareholder, he knew, OF
course. One would have thought he
was the wrongdoer and not the wrong
ed. He would have gone straight to
you and asked your pardon If we would
have permitted it."
"But, Mr.. Sylvester, now we are
| coming to the part cannot under
| stand. OF course the estate belonged
| to him. know that. 1t is his. But
why didn't he tell Steve and me the
truth then, at onceT
Caroline, Caroline, don't you under
stand yet? Do you imagine for one
moment that your uncle intends keep
ing that money!"
She stared at him In utter amaze
ment.
keeping it?" she repeated. why
not? 1t is his. 1t belongs to him"
Caroline, I'm afraid you don't know
him even yet. He was for going to
YOU at once and destroying the note
| in YOUR presence. He would have done
it. but we persuaded him to wait and
think it over for day or two. He did
think and then decided to walt little
longer for your sake"
"For my sake? For mine" She
passed her hand in bewildered way
across her forehead. "Mr. Sylvester,
I don't seem to understand even
now. u
For your sake, Caroline. Remem-
ber, at that time you were engaged
to Malcolm Dunn"
Her intent gaze wavered. She drew
long breath. II see," she said slow
ly. "Oh-I see."
eyes. Captain Warren Is one OF the
best Judges Of character l ever met.
The Dunns did not deceive him for one
moment. He was certain Malcolm In
tended marrying you because OF your
money. For that matter, so was l. he
knew YOU must see the proof with your
own eyes. And he showed it to you."
"But then," she begged distractedly,
why couldn't he tell me after that?
Il am 80 stupid, I suppose-but, Mr'
Sylvester, all this isis
"He might have told you then, but
he did not think it best. Caroline, your
uncle has always believed In you. Even
when you sent him from your home he
did not blame you. He said you were
deceiyed-that was all. But, too, he
has always declared that you had been,
as he expressed it, brought up wrong.
Your money had, in a way, warped
your estimate Of people and things
And there was Steve. You know, Caro-
line. that money and what 1t brought
were spelling Steve. II has never been
40 much Of q man as during the past
wear. when he thought himself poor
But your uncle has planned for him as
well as for you, and when he believes
the time has come he"-
"Please," she interrupted falteringly-
please don't say any more. Let me
think. Mr.. Sylvester. You say tina,
Uncle Elisha intends giving us all that
father took from him-all of itT'
Eyes, all He considers himself mere
" YOUR guardian still and will accept
only his expenses from the estate"
ut is wonderfulr' she repeated bro
kenly. "Even though we cannot take
1t, it is wonderful"
"What? Cannot take itT
"Of course not! Do you suppose that
either my brother or would take the
fortune that our father stole-yes, stole
from him, after he has been living al
most in poverty all these years and We
in luxury-on his money? OF course
we shall not take It"
"But, Caroline, l imagine you will
have to take it. I understand your
feelings, but I think he win compe
you to take it."
"I shall notr She sprang to hel
feet. "Of course I shall not! Never
Neverr'
"What's that you're never goin' h
take, Caroline-measles or another triI
down in these parts? ] hope 'tain't thu
last. cause I've been cal'latip' you'i
like It well enough to come again."
| Caroline turned. So did Sylvester
Captain Elisha was standing In .ths
doorway, his hand on the knob. Hs
was smiling broadly, but as he looket
at the two by the fire he ceased T.
smile.
"What's all thisT he asked sus
piciously. Caroline, what-Sylvester
| what have you been tellin' herr
} Neither answered at once. The cap
tain looked from one tolthe other.
sylvester |" Caroline had never seer
her uncle thoroughly angry before
Sylvester" he cried, "have you-ha.'
you dast to tell her what you shouldn't
Didn't you promise me? II you toll
that girl I'll-Ilp-
His niece stepped forward. "Husn
Uncle Elisha" she said. "He didn'
tell me until knew already. I guess
cd 1t. Then I asked for the wnol'
truth, and he told me-"
'The whole TRUTH Gardiner
He wrung his hands.
Eyes, uncle, the whole truth. know
you now. thought ! knew you be
fore, but didn't-not half ! do now
"Oh. Gardiner He stepped towart
her and then stopped. frantic and de
spairing. "Carolinei Gardiner b.
cried again. "Can you ever forgiv'
, me? You know--you must know
, amt ever meant to keeu t. les u