Indiana daily times., 1921-09-05


the rigid honesty of his life He would
have scorned to take a shilling that did
! not belong to him, and so-he had died,
while this man" She raised her hot
| eyes to Cavanagh's face; he was watching
her anxiously.
"You despise me, Nlnette?" he asked.
"No; only" She could not put her
| thought into words--could not tell him
| what Peter Nothard had said Of him.
"His name stinks in the city" She
/ had hated him for saying 1t even them,
when she did not know Of her own re-
lationship to Cav vanagh, but she felt now
that it scorched her very soul with
shame
you are not going to leave me,
Ninette?" her father asked after mo-
ment.
She shook her head.
Leave you'll Where could / Go?" And
then, suddenly realizing the coldness of
her words, she rose to her feet and went
to him, and laid her hands on his shoul-
ders.
"I think think I'm fond Of you, in
my own way" she said hesitatingly
But oh, isn't life-dreadfully sad ?"
And for a moment she shut her eyes as
she thought of the guttering candle In
the room the night Josh Wheeler died.
and the bowling of the dogs which had
been her mothers last memory of world
where she had known so little happiness.
Cavanagh put his arms round her with
sort Of passion
Love me, Ninette-love mel' he said
hoarsely. I'm getting an old man now
and there's nobody else in all the world
to care II you do not!'
She returned his kiss warmly enough,
but her heart felt cold.
So snuph had bannened to her during
the last six months, and yet out OF 1t
all what had been her sum total Of hap
piness1 A few friendly words, few
laughs, but nothing that remained or
that had left a lasting impression on
her heart and she was conscious OF
wild cropping forward and longing for
something substantial in a world which
seemed unreal and dream -like-some-
thing of her very own, on which to build
up the future.
Even her mother had known love. lit
tie time as 1t had lasted, and even Josh
quiet. humble Josh-had found happi-
ness In saving a child from the humility
Of charity; but she, In spite Of all the
money and power belonging to her
father, felt as If life sifted through her
fingers uselessly, like sand.
And it was the day following that
Cavanagh came in early to lunch and told
Ninette that he had news for her.
She looked up Estlessly.
"News?"
Yes. I am going to America on
Thursday" She rose to her feet, her
eyes sparkling.
"And--you Will take me?"
He took her hand and stroked It.
81 cant-not this time, Ninette :
have to go in too great hurry, for one
thing, and besides 1t Is purely on bust
ness, and you would be in the way. my
dear. But l have made arrangements
for you, and l think you will be very
/ happy"
She cried out:
"You are not leaving me behind, with
strangers -
Il am leaving you with a very dear
friend of mine--a lady whom you win
like very much, | know. Her name Is
Mrs. Crawford, and she is a widow. She
will take you about with her. and find
you many friends. Ny dear, don't look
so tragic l shall only be away few
weeks, and the time will pass so
quickly"
'I would rather go with you. won't
be in the way. I can always amuse my
self" she faltered.
His face hardened.
TITS impossiblew BE rose to his feet
putting her inside She felt the iron will
Of the man again and pleaded no more.
There were times still when she was
afraid Of Cavanagh, and she was afraid
of him now. You viii stay here with
Mrs. Crawford" he said again. You
will have everything you can possibly
want. Ninette. She Is one Of the best
known women in London, and Is received
everywhere"
"I wonder she wishes to be bothered
with me thenI" Niuette said passion
ately. She felt is II she Was always be
ing handed over to some fresh guardian.
as II nobody wanted her for long
Cavanagh made no answer; he did not
think It necessary TO explain TO Ninette
that he had substantially paid Mrs
Crawford for her services as chaperon
or that he had casually mentioned that
an advantageous marriage for Ninettt
would strongly meet with his approval
He went on telling her the arrange
ments he had made to let the fiat, ana
to take her to her new home the fol
lowing day.
Il am sorry to hurry you, my dear"
he apologized. But my life has nj
ways been conducted In a hurry. You
will be happier with Mrs Crawford than
you have been here with me-"
Ninette did not contradict him; she
knew that she had been very d1sap-
pointed with her new life, and yet she