The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-02-14
seemed to be absolutely innovabl.

Sooner or later we would have had
to meet" she said. at Is best for both
of US to have it over with at the very
start"
Il suppose you are right" said he
stif1y. You know how ! feel toward
you, Rachel Carter. There is nothing
either of us can say that will make
the situation easier or harder, for that
matter"
fes-I understand" said she calm
ly. You hate me. You have been
brought up to hate me. do not ques-
tion the verdict of those who con-
demned me, but you may as well un-
derstand at once that l do not regret
what l did twenty years ago l have
not repented. shall never repent.
We need not discuss that side of the
question any farther. You know my
history, Kenneth Gwynne. You are
the only person in this part of the
world who does know 1t. When the
controversy first came up over the set
tlement of your fathers estate,
feared that you would reveal the story
of my"
He held up his hand, interrupting
her. Il can say to you now. Rachel
Carter, that do not intend to rake
up that ugly story. l do not make
war on helpless women"
Her lips writhed slightly, and her
eyes narrowed as II with pain. 1t was
but a fieeting exposition Of vulner-
ability, however, for in another instant
she had recovered.
You could not have struck harder
than that If you had been warning
against a strong man." she said
gently.
A hot flush stained his cheek. at
Carter" he said deliberately.
You can think Of me only as
Rachel Carter" she said. my name is
Rachel Gwyn. Still it doesn't matter.
am past the point where can be
hurt You may tell the story If 1t
suits your purpose. l shall deny moth
ing. / wanted you to come here to-
day, to see me alone, to hear what
have to say-not about myself-but
about another. am a woman of
quick decisions. When 1 learned early
Lafayette today, made up my mind
to take certain step-and / have
not changed it."
"If you are referring to your daugh-
ter-to my halfsister, IL you WILL
have only to remind you that my mind
Is already made up. You need have
NO fear that shall do or say anything
to hurt that innocent girl. I am as
suming, Of course. that she knows
nothing of-well. of what happened
back there in Kentucky"
'She knows nothing" said the WON
an, In voice strangely low and tense.
"If she ever knew. she has forgotten"
'ForgottenT he cried. Good Cd.
how could she have forgotten q thing
So"
She moved 4 step nearer, her burn
ing eyes fixed on his.
You remember Rachel Carter well
enough. Have you no recollection Of
the little girl you used to play with
MindaT
"Of course l remember her." he
cried impatiently. II remember every
thing. You took her away with you
and-why did you not leave her be-
hind as my father left me7 Why could
you not have been as fair to your
child as he was to his"
She was silent for a moment, pom
dering her answer. II do not suppose
1t has ever occurred to you that
to abandon her." she said, strange
softness in her voice.
my father loved me-" he cried out,
land yet he left me behind"
HE loved you-yes-but he would
not take you. He left you with some
one who also loved you. Cont ever
forget that, Kenneth Gwynne.
would not 90 without Minda. No more
would your mother have gone with
out you. Stop! did not mean to
offend. So you do remember little
MindaY
Yes. remember her. But she Il
dead. Why do you mention her"
''Minda is not dead" said she
slowly.
"Not-why, she was drowned In
the"
mo. Minda is alive. You saw her
last night-at Phineas Strikers
house"
He started violently. "The girl
saw last night was-Minda he cried.
"Why. Striker told me she was"
"I know-I know" she interrupted
impatiently. STRIKER told you what
he believed to be true. There il not
a drop Of Gwyn blood in her body"
''Then, she is not my half-sisterT
he exclaimed, utterly dazed. but aware
Of the exquisite sensation Of relief
that was taking hold Of him.
"She is no blood relation of yours"
Does she know that she is not my
fathers daughter!"
mo. She believes herself to be
his own flesh and blood-his own
daughter" said she with the deliber-
ateness of one weighing her words,