Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1918-03-19

my heart!" she said, gaspins.
-er-fnancial-er-t Is, the bride 1s
supposed to have some money. 1t IL
expected. OF course 1t is! Love In q
cottage is-well, a bit passe. My son
and l pity your niece from the bottom
of our hearts, but-there! Under the
circumstances the whole affair be-
comes impossible. Caroline, my dear,
I'm dreadfully sorry, dreadfully! l love
you like my own child. And poor NAL
colin will be Observation-Disclosures
see."
Stephen, who had been fuming and
repressing his rage with difficulty dur
ing the scene, leaped forward with
brandisned fist.
"By gadr he shouted. "Mal Dunn,
you cad"-
:. His uncle pushed him back with q
sweep Of his arm.
Steve" he ordered, am runnin' this
ship" He gave quick glance at his
niece and then added, speaking rap
idly and addressing the head OF the
Dunn family: II see, ma'am. Yes, yes,
I see. Well, you've forgot one thing, l
guess. If there's nothin' in marriage
but business, then an engagement Is
what l just called it, business con-
!. tract, and 1t can't be broke without the
consent Of both sides. You wanted
Caroline's money; maybe she wants
yours now. If she does, and there's
such thing as law, why, perhaps she
can get It,"
"That's the talkw cried Stephen ex-
ultingly.
"Stopr Caroline cried wildly. "Oh,
stop! Do you think-do you suppose l
would marry him nOw-now, after
I've seen what he is? Oh" with a
shudder of disgust, "when think what
l might have done L Thank God that
the money has gone! I'm glad I'm
poor! I'm glad! l never want to see
him or think of him again. Please,
please let me go! Oh, take me home!
Captain Warren, please let me 60
homer
Her uncle was at her side In q mo-
ment. "Yes, yes, dearie," he said, I'll
take you home. Don't give way now!
ZIP
He would have taken her arm, but
she shrank from him.
"Not you," she begged. 'SteveT
The captains face clouded, but he
answered promptly.
"Of course-Steve," he agreed.
Steve, take your sister home. Mr..
Sylvester's got a carriage waitin', and
he'll go with you, don't doubt. Do as
I tell you, boy-and behave yourself.
Don't wait; go"
He held the door open until the hys-
terical girl and hc:. brother had &C
parted. Then he turned to the Dunns.
"Well, ma am" be said dryly, g,
don't knows there's anything more tc
be said. ALI the questions seem to be
settled. Our acquaintance want SO
awful long, but 1t was interestin..
Known you has been, as the feller
said. q liberal education. Don't let me
keep you any longer. Good afternoon"
Then Mrs. Dunn bethought herself
Of a way to make their exit less awk-
ward and embarrassing.
my hearth she said, gasping and
with q clutch at her breast. my poor
heart! II fear I'm going to have one
Of my attacks. Malcolm, your arm
quick"
With an expression Of intense but
patient suffering and leaning heavily
upon her sons arm she moved past
Captain Elisha and from the room.
That evening the captain stood In the
lower hall of the apartment house at
Central Park West undecided what to
do next. He wished more than any
thing else in the world to 90 to his
niece. He would have gone to her be-
fore--had been dying to go to soothe,
to comfort, to tell her of his love-but
he was afraid. His conscience trou-
bled him. Perhaps he had been too
brutal.
The elevator descended, the door Of
the cage opened, and Stephen himself
darted out. The captain caught nim
as he passed.