The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1923-06-29
MY LADY'S MONEY
An Episode in the Life
of a Young Girl
By WiIkie Collins
INSTALLMENT NO. I

ISABEL 3 cOlOr Desdu W llSo. AAo
merriment died out of her face; h
looked at Moody gravely. Il don't
like to be accused Of distressing peo-
pie when l don't deserve it," she said.
Il had better leave you. Let me by,
if you please"
Having committed n error in
offending her, Moody committed an
other in attempting to make his peace
with her. Acting under the fear that
she would really leave him, be took
her roughly by the arm.
"You are always trying to get away
from me-" he said. Il wish l knew
how to make you like me, Isabel"
81 don't allow you to call me lsa-
bell" she retored, struggling to free
herself from his hold. Let go Of my
arm. You hurt me"
Moody dropped her arm with a Bit
ter sigh. Il don't know how to deal
with you," he said, simply. Have
some pity on mel"
If the steward had known anything
of women Cat Isabeps age) he would
never have appealed to her mercy IN
those plain terms and at that unproI
pitious moment. PITY your" she re-
peated, contemptuously. rs that all
you have to say to me after hurting
nv arm? What a bear you are!" She
shrugged her shoulders and put her
hands coquettishly into the pockets OF
her apron. That was how she pitied
him! His face turned paler and paler
he writhed under it.
For Gods sake, don't turn every
thing l say to you into ridicule!' ne
cried. "You know 1 love you with
all my heart and soul. Again and
again l have asked you to be my wife,
and you laugh at me as if it was a
Joke. l haven't deserved to be treated
in that cruel way. 1t maddens me
1 can't endure it,"
Isabel looked down at the floor, and
followed the lines in the pattern OF the
Garnet with the end of her smart lit
tie shoe. She could hardly have beer
further away from really understand
ms Moody if he had spoken in He
brew. She was partly startled, partly
puzzled, by the strong emotions which
she had unconsciously called into be-
ing. "Oh. dear mel" she said, why
can't you talk of something else? Why
can't we be friends? Excuse me for
mentioning it," she went on, looking
nm at him with a saucy smile, you are
old enough to be my father"
Moody's head sunk on his breast.
0I W it." he answered, humbly. But
there is something to be said for me.
Men as old as l am have made good
husbands before 10 / would devote
nv whole life to make you happy.
There isn't a wish you could form
which | wouldn't be proud to obey.
You mustn't reckon me by years. MY
youth has not been wasted in a profll-
gate life. 1 can be truer to you n
fender of you than many a younger
man Surely my heart is not quite un-
worthy of you, when it is all yours.
T have lived such a lonely, miserable
life: and you might so easily brighten
e, You are kind to everybody else,
isabel Tell me, dear, why are you so
hard on meY
His voice trembled as he appealed
90 ber in those simple words. He had
taken the right way at last to produce
;mnression on her. She really felt
FOR him. All that was r u and tender
4, hor nature began to rise in her n
tole his part. Unhappily, he felt too
doonlv and too strongly to be patient
and to give her time. He completely
m;sinterpreted her silence-complete-
- ,nistook the motive that made her
urn aside for a moment to gather
oomnosure enough to speak to him.
aAh!" he burst out, bitterly, turning
owav ON his side, you have no
heart!"
She instatly resented those unjust
uords At that moment they wounded
her to the quick.
ayou NOW best she said. II have
no doubt you are right. Remember
one thing, however; though have
no heart, I have never encouraged
Won. Mr.. Moody. l have declared over
and over again that could only De
vour friend. Understand that for the
fnture. if you please. There are plenty
Of nice women who will be glad to