Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-11-18
CHAPTER LXXXIV.
(Copyright. 1919, Star Company

| copyright, 1918, star Company
For several minutes after De-
stree Leighton had made her dec
laration there was an uncomfortaple
| silence.
At least it was uncomfortable for
| Samuel Leighton. He was wonder
! ing just how much his daughter
knew. So far she had evidently told
him the truth. He feared to ques-
tion her lest his inquiries imply
suspicious curiosity. Yet, unless
| she knew the facts, he must reveal
them to her. He cleared his throat.
We'll, Smith always seemed to
me to be gentleman" he said,
then added, even if what l heard
about his not using his own name
| be true"
"It is true in a way" Desiree af-
firmed. yet he had n right to call
himself Smith, for that is his mid
die name"
TT is, is it? And did he tell you
the rest of his name?"
"Yes, | know just who he is, Dad.
| Please do not get too much excited
when l explain to you about him.
He is David DeLaine-Miss Jeanne
DeLaine's nephew
so | have heard" was the dry
rejoinder.
You have heard that!" she eX-
claimed, sitting up very straight, all
the color leaving her cheeks. And
what else have you heard?'
She had been truthful to him; he
must tell her the ugly rumor even
if it hurt her.
"Daughter-it is not a pleasant
| story, and | hope it is not true
but at the club this evening / was
informed that Miss DeLaine left her
fortune to her nephew, David, on
condition Che paused and swallowed
hard) on condition that he marry
young girl of whom she was very
fond. The intimation was that 1t
might be you. l wish / had knocked
down the man who suggested this
and yet 1 feared it might be
true"
TT was true. Dad"
The father started to his feet as
the words fell upon his ear. The
girl, too. rose and faced him. She
was pale but her gaze did not
waver.
Dad, did not know all the facts
until tonight, but l did know about
Miss DeLaine's will. And the
knowledge made me sick-so that
] did not tell you of it-until now
Until now" her father stormed.
Until now! l should think that
now you would be overcome by
what you must see-that this
scoundrel. DeLaine, came as a sneak
into my employ to try to win your
affections, so that he could claim
his aunt's money! Desired" grasp
ing her by the shoulders-'are you
crazy that you cannot realize what
all this means?"
She had seldom spoken sharply
to him, but now her voice rang out
with an authority that brought the
man to an appreciation of his own
lack of self-control and her strength
of character and willpower.
Father, have you not enough
faith in me to hear me out? If not,
l will say no more. But L would
if you will listen to what | have to
say and not go all to pieces in this
way"
go Ahead"
He set his jaws firmly. Go
ahead!" he ordered. 81 will try to
keep my tongue between my teeth
until you have finished"
Then" sitting down again and
J clasping her hands tightly as was
! her habit when keenly excited,
what you say of Miss DeLaine's
will is true. This condition, l mean.
That was why her nephew vowed
|
He avoided me as l avoided him.
when he came back from France
he was not strong. He had to get
outdoor worll-for he had no money.
He came here. He learned who 1
was after coming here. He deter
mined to give up this place, but we
urged him to stay.
'"rhen he had this big fortune
left him by his uncle. He signed u
| n M ~ no oil al lai tn h 10
aunts property. He will never
touch her estate, not if he has to
prove that her mind was unbalanc-
ed.
THAT is ALL Dad-except-oh
Dad-he and l love each other"
With groan the parent dropped
into a chair and buried his head in
his hands.
For a minute his child watched
his face working painfully. Then,
with murmur of tenderness, she
sank upon her knees and took the
gray head into her ambrace.
Daddy, dear-please try to un-
derstand!' she begged. David is so
good-so fine! Why should you feel
like this? You are not losing mel"
And you cannot see that he is
mercenary?" the man stammered
excitedly, drawing away from her.
| Mefcenary. she repeated. Mer-
cenary, when he has planned to
| give away every cent of his aunt's
property if he cannot avoid accept
ing it,"
The mans face softened for an
instant, but hardened again.
And what about your fortune,
child?" he demanded. Il suppose
you believe he has not thought of
that'
Il know he has not!' she pro-
| tested, for he has so much money,
Dad, that he could buy and sell you!
And, as for myself" proudly. 'if
that is the tone you take about
| David. l will do what he has done
with regard to his aunt's property
| and refuse ever to touch u single
! cent of your money as long as l