The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-05-15

small amount of satisfaction. If he
knew his man-and he thought he
did-Barry would lose no time in
shaking the dust of Lafayette from
his feet. The thought of that had sent
his spirits up. He went even farther
in his reflections and found himself
hoping that Barry's flight might be so
precipitous that he would not have the
opportunity to disclose his newfound
information concerning Rachel Carter.
He was nearing his own gate before
he saw Viola, seated on the porch. In
voluntarily he slackened his pace. A
sort of panic seized him. Was she
waiting there to question him? He
experienced a sudden overwhelming
dismay. What was he to say to her !?
How was he to face the unhappy,
stricken-but even as he contemplated
cOwardly retreat, size arose and
came swiftly down the path. He
groaned inwardly. Titsre was no es-
cape.
Now, as he hesitated, uncertainty at
his own gate, his heart in his boots.
she serenely beckoned to him.
Il want to see you. Kenny" she
called out
This was no stricken, unhappy crea-
ture who approached him. Her figure
was proudly erect; she walked brisk
ly; there was no trace Of shame or
humiliation In her face; If anything,
she was far more at ease than he.
II want to thank you." she said
calmly, "for what you did this morn
ing. Not only for what you did to
him but for keeping me from shooting
him." She held out her hand, but low.
cred It instantly when she saw that
his own was rather significantly hid
den inside the breast of his coat. A
look of pain fiuttered across her eyes,
where is your motherT he asked
lamely.
She seemed to read his thoughts
Mother and have talked 1t all over,
Kenneth. She has told me every
thing"
"Oh, you poor darlingl" he cried.
Don't waste any sympathy on me-"
she retorted, coldly. II don't want it.
Not from Robert Gwynne's son at any
rate"
He was now looking at her steadily.
II see. You don't care for the breed,
is that it?"
Kenny" she began, solemn note
in her voice, there is no reason why
you and 1 should hurt each other. If
l hurt you just now I am sorry. But
7 ,1af 4
the pity of Robert Gwynne's son any
more than you want to be pitied by
the daughter of Rachel Carter. We
stand on even terms. I just want you
to know that my heart is as stout as
yours and that my pride is as strong"
He bowed his head. "All my life 1
have thought of my father as a Sam
son who was betrayed by Delilah. I
have never allowed myself to think of
him as anything but great and strong
and good. 1 grew to mans estate still
believing him to be the victim of an
evil woman. I am not in the ordinary
sense fool and yet have been utter
ly without the power to reason. Ny
eyes have been opened, Viola. 1 am
seeing with a new vision. 1 have more
to overlook, more to forgive in my
father than you have in your mother.
speak plainly, because I hope this Is
to be the last time we ever touch upon
the subject. You, at least, have grown
up to know the enduring love of a
mother. She did not leave you behind.
She was not altogether heartless.
That Is all I can say, all shall ever
say, even to you, about my father"
He spoke with such deep feeling
and yet so simply that her heart was
touched. A wistful look came into
her eyes.
II am still bewildered by 1t all,
Kenny" she said. "In the wink Of
an eye, everything is altered. I am
not Viola Gwyn. I am Minda Carter.
1 am not your half-sister. You seem
suddenly to have gone very far away
from me. 1t hurts me to feel that we
can never be the same toward each
other that we were even this morning.
had come to care for you as a
brother. Now you are stranger. IL
loved being your sister and-and
treating you as If you were my broth
er. Now all that is over" She sighed
deeply.
"Yes," he said gently, "all that IL
over for you, Viola. But have known
for many weeks that you are not my
sister,"
II bear no grudge against you," she
said. meeting his gaze steadily. my
heart is bitter toward the man have
always looked upon as my father. But
1t does not contain one drop of bitter
ness toward you. What matters IL
have, walked in darkness and you in
the light? We were treading the same
path all the time. Now we meet and
know each other for what we really
are. The path is not wide enough for
us to walk beside each other without
our garments touching. Are we to
turn back and walk the other way SO
that our unclean garments NAV not