The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1922-03-10

Larry Bishop. his henchmnn, repeated
In dull apathy the oath she dictated to
them. the words that made fhe Storm
country safe habitation for Marcus
Mackenzie. Then both men revercntly
kissed the Bible and fell back Imply
In their chairs.
| Polly kissed the ragged edges of the
book too. then she turned to Hopkins.
Daddy honey. I'm goin' out Give
your kid loyln' smack I'll be back
qnicker'n the billy goat can blink"
CHAPTER v.
The afternoon had been unpleasant
for both Mrs Robertson and her
daughter. The lady was studlonsly Icy
TO Evelym, and the girl was utterly,
miserable Robert Perciyal was away
with Mackenzie. In his absence. al
though the two women ate dinner to-
gefher ana kept each other company
afterwnrd IN the drawing room, their
conversation was limited 70 the sim
plest commonpIaces. The return of the
men eased the tension. Percival ex-
cused himself almost az once to write
some letters. and as Mackenzie made
evident his eagerness 70 get Evelyn by
herself, Mrs. Robertson seized
chance to steal away to her own room.
For some time after her departure
the girl and the man were silent This
was the first time In Mares life that
his heart had been really touched by
a woman. and In spite OF his years
and experience, he was almost as
bashful as young boy.
At length their eyes met. and the
girls lowered, while the color mount
ed In food TO her hair.
The man was by her side In an In
stant. He had read In the shy, retreat
Ing glance What he longed TO see.
Evelyn! I--I--I--belieye you care
for me. really believe you do" he
exclaimed. "You do, sweet?" he de-
manded, his voice trembling.
yes" whispered Evelyn.
"Now, isn't II strange asked Mar
Gus. after they took up their CONVERSE
| tlon again. that while was gone
! nlwrys thought Of you, but not just
like this. Honey. girl, how long have
| you loved me2 Before--before today?'
~ think always" confessed Evelyn,
with growing flush.
What fortunate man Marcus Mac
Kenzle considered himself just at that
momentl He had won the prettlest
girl In Ithaca: and she loved him.
And to think only came home
| last night" he exulted. "Thls time
yesterday you We're free, my Eve. At
this moment no power can take you
away from me-"
Dreadful recollections of Oscar In
truded upon Evelyn's new happiness.
oh, II she only had the courage to tell
| Marcusl Would he keep on loving her
and help her to get free, or would lie
SHE glanced into his face. There
were upon II the marks of breeding.
i Of pride In himself, his wealth. posi-
ti0n and power She knew how highly
he regarded the conventions of society.
] If she should disclose to him the
secret 81 her marriage to the farmer,
he would see nothing but the blot upon
her and turn away In disgust No, she
couldn't tell him. Despair over
whelmed her and made MacKenzle's
/ arms burdensome. With an effort she
smiled fnintly and withdrew from him.
II don't want to let you so, darling"
he laughed. 1T seems like a beautiful
dream r.
Exc wished passionately that abe
were at liberty to make the dream
/ come true.
"You are my beloved" asserted Mar
4 lus, and with the girls whispered
"yes," he allowed her to leave The
room.
| Evelyn went Immediately 10 her
mothers apartment and, opening the
door slipped In and sank down upon
the floor at Mrs. Rohertson's side.
"fve told him I'd marry him." she
said, with trembling lips. Mother
dear. oh. please, mother dear, don't
you think you could borrow some mon
4 ely from Robert for me? must haye
Il. After I'm married TO Marcus, I
could get II all back for you. know
could. I've Just got to have a lot
Of money, and you can't expect me to
ask Marcus"
Mrs. Robertson drew away with a
shiver.
III you so forgot Yourself. your
family and your name as TO do such n
1 thing, should disown you, Evelyn"
she said, finality In her tones.
Evelyn rose YEARLY. She could
imagine the heights OF her mothers
scorn IL she discovered the actual sit.
uatlon. She felt that she would rather
tell Mackenzie than the unsympa.
thetlc, trowning woman In the chair,
There's no use, mother, In trying to
taik to you" she muttered. "T'll man
age some way, though only God knows
how"
Mrs. Robertson took up her book and
gazed sternly at her daughter over the
top of IL.
''very well, Evelyn" she said. I'M
erppInuSly "Ynu'rp of ara If thof,S