The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-06-21

Firmly he placed his arm in Eva's | and led her out through the hall and | down the garden path to the road | White and trembling she made no |, effort to resist but submitted weakly ! to his will. She hardly knew what I she was doing so intent was she on trying, to find some way out of the fix she had got herself in.
 When they were far enough from l the house that no one might hear | them Rufus Knight spoke in a calm | and stern voice.
 'I hardly need to tell you that this is the greatest shock and surprise that I have ever had in my life"
 You had no business to come sneaking into my house. No gentle
 man would listen to a conversation that he knew was not meant for him. she interrupted him. Do not try to crawl out of it by
 blaming me. I could not help hear ing. Your voice was pitched too high for private conversation. And when I had heard a little of your talk I knew that though it was not intended for me it certainly concerned me, as I recognized the old fool you were | talking about myself Well, I guess the play is done-you have found us out" she sobbed. des- pairingly. You know now who I am
 and that that disgusting old woman | is my mother and my father Is a 1 gate tender on the e. and R. Now you do know 1t, what are you going
 to do about ft?'
 Poor Mir. Knight was amazed and
 disgusted at her hardness of heart. How dare you speak of that poor
 old lady, your mother, with such dis
 respect? Surely things are bad enough without your making them worse by such talk. I should think you would hide your head with shame when you think of the lies you have told me and the deceit you have prac- ticed upon me instead of brazenly asking me what I'm going to do about it."
 Eva then perceived that she was
 making a great mistake. She hastily changed her tone. 'Oh, Uncle Rufus. I don't know what I'm saying. Please forgive me. I'm so sorry that I did deceive you but Bertram said that you would never let him marry me if you knew of my humble birth and II loved him so I consented although I hated to feel that I was not telling you the truth. I have been so un- happy about it. Please, dear Uncle
 Rufus forgive me"
 But the old man had heard too
 
 any longer blinded to her true. char acter He shook his head: Eva, you l.are still telling me lies. You are not sorry. You don't care a fig for my forgiveness, all you are worrying about is my money!"
 "No, Uncle Rufus, that is not so, you are unfair to me.
 Not another word have heard enough of your lies and hypocrisy! I am beginning to understand you per fectly and Bertram too. You are pair, one is just as bad as the other. You think you have been very clever but the old fool is an old fool no ! longer His eyes are opened. l am done with you both and nothing can make me change my opinion of you nor feel and mercy toward you" ''Very well, if you are determined | to be nasty I may as well tell you something that will interest you to hear" Eva flung at him. "You don't
 know all the details of how you have | been fooled yet. You were an easy mark. Do you remember that letter ] that I told you Betty wrote to me saving she was going to marry Jack
 Brown. Well. I wrote that letter and it was Bert and I who thought up the scheme. She was getting to have ! too much influence over you and we-."
 | Suddenly she stopped. What had she done Her temper had run away with her. To tell of her trick on the l old man was the last thing she had | ever intended doing. In her desire to hurt him she had over-reached herself Now he would be anxious | to make amends to the daughter he | had wronged and the thought of his ! holding out a helping hand to Betty Eflled Eva with vicious envy. How | ever, she could not call back her words Nothing she could say could | call back her secret
 old MT. Knight was stunned But when he recovered his speech he | hurled denunciation upon her: "To think that I have natured such
 snakes in my bosom! There seems to have been no limits to your cruel de- ceit. What dupe l have been! But | I'll be a dupe no longer. Go and never let me see you again nor that precious husband of yours. I do not
 want to hear any more of your wick 1 edness and your vile schemes. I have heard enough. When Bert comes home tell him that everything is done | between us. I want you to leave that house immediately. I will write him | a letter to that effect tonight Do not let him come to my house. I | will not see him. Pack your things tonight for the letter ejecting you will be in your post box in the morn | ing.
 (Continued Next Saturday.