The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-09-07

engagement because my niece has lost
her money? Is that it?"
"This Is ridiculous" Mrs. Dunn pro-
claimed. "Every sane person knows,
though barbarians may not"-with a
| venomous glare at the captain that
! in engagements of the kind in which
my son has shared a certain amount Of
-er-fnancial-er-that is, the bride is
supposed to have some money. 1t is
expected. OF course it isl Love in
cottage is-well, bit passe. My son
and | 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! love
you like my own child. And poor NAL
colin will be eartbroken-but--you
| see."
! Stephen, who had been Tuning and
depressing his rage with difficulty dur
ing the scene, leaped forward with
brandished fist.
by gad!' he shouted. "8Ial Dunn.
| you cad"-
! His uncle pushed him back with q
sweep of his arm.
Steve" he ordered, "I'm runnin' this
ship" He gave a 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,
l see WE'LL you've forgot one thing.
! guess. If there's nothin' in marriage
/ but business, then an engagement is
what l just called it, business con-
tract, and it can't be broke without the
/ consent of both sides. You wanted
I 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 talkT' cried Stephen ex-
1 ultingly.
Stop" Caroline cried wildly ooh.
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
| might have done l. Thank God that
the money has gone! I'm glad I'm
ii giad! feetEef Want Is see
him or think Of him again. Please,
please let me go! Oh, take me home!
Captain Warren, please let me go
home"
Her uncle was at her side in mo-
ment. Yes, yes, ~dearie," he said, ''I'n
take you home. Don't give way nowl
Ill"-
He would have taken her arm, but
she shrank from him.
'Not you," she begged. "Stevew
The captains face clouded, but he
answered promptly.
"Of course-Steve," he agreed.
| "Steve, take your sister home, Mr..
Sylvester's got carriage waitin', and
( he'll go with you, don't doubt. Do as
| tell you boy-and behave yourself.
| Don't wait; go!
He held the door open until the hys-
terical girl and her brother had de-
parted. Then he turned to the Dunns.
well, ma'am," he said dryly. II
don't knows there's anything more to
be said. All the questions seem to be
settled. Our acquaintance want so
awful long, but 1t was interestin'.
KNOWN you has been, as the Teller
said, liberal education. Don't let me
keep you any longer. Good afternoon"
Then Mrs. Dunn bethought herself
of way to make their exit less awk-
ward and embarrassing.
My heart" she said, gasping and
with clutch at her breast. my poor
heart! IL 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 go to his
niece. He would have gone to her be-
fore-had been dying to 6, 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 him
as he passed.
Here boy! he exclaimed. where's
the fire? Where are you boundi"
His nephew, brought thus unexpect-
eddy to a halt, stared at him.
"Oh, it's your he exclaimed
"Humph! I'm bound-I don't know
where I'm bound. Pm going to the
club. guess. or somewhere Anyhow