The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-04-03

said. Would you ask her to be your
wire II the time should ever come |
when she knows the truth?"
He hesitated a long time. .Will you
he kind enough to tell me what your OBJ |
1ect is in asking me these questionsYr
Il want to know whether you are
truly in love with her." she replied
steadily.
And If / say that could not ask |
her to marry me, would that prove
anything to your"
Yes. 1t would prove two things. 1t
would prove that you do not love her
with all your heart and SOUL and 1t
would prove that you are the same
kind of man that your father was be-
fore you"
He started 1t was the second rea-
son that caused him to look at her
curiously. "What, do you mean?"
When you have answered my ques-
tion, win answer yours. Kenneth"
Well" he began, setting his jaw,
Il do love her enough to ask her to be
my wife. But I would ask her as Owen
Carter's daughter. And" he added,
half-closing his eyes as with pain, "she
would refuse to have me. Do you
suppose her love would survive the
shock of realization? She has a clean
heart She would never marry the son
of the man who-who-" He found
himself unable to finish the sentence,
A strange, sudden reluctance to hurt
his enemy checked the words even as
they were being framed on his lips
reluctance due not to compassion, not
to consideration but to a certain in
nate respect for an adversary whose
back Is to the wall and yet faces un-
equal odds without sign of shrinking.
Shall I say 1t for you?" she asked
In cold, level voice. But she had
WINGED. despite her iron control.
1T is not necessary" said he, en-
barrassed. q
In any case" she said, with q sigh,
"you have answered my question. If
| you could do this for my girl I am
! sure of your love for her. There could
be no greater test. 1 shall take little
more time before answering your ques-
tion. Kenneth, the time may come-I
feel that 1t is sure to come when Viola
| VIII learn the truth about herself and
me-and you, as well. feel it in my
bones. 1t may not come till after am
dead. But no matter when it comes,
want to feel sure now-tonight, Ken
neth-that you will never undertake to
deprive her of the lands and money
shall leave to her."
He stared at her in astonishment.
What is this you are saying?" She
slowly repeated the words. "Why, how
could dispossess her? 1t is yours to
bequeath as you see fit, madam. Do
you think am mercenary scoundrel,
that would try to take it away from
herr 1 know she is not my fathers
daughter, but-why, good heaven,
would never dream Of fighting for
what you"
Your love for her-though unre-
Quited-aye. even though she became
embittered toward you because of
what happened years ago-you love
her enough to stand aside and allow
her to hold what shall leave to herT
You are talking in riddles. What
on earth are you driving at?"
| You will not fight her right, her
claim to my estate? she insisted, lean
ing still closer.
why, Of course not !" he exclaimed,
| angrily.
Even though the law might say she
is not entitled to it?"
"The law can take no action unless
invoke its aid" said he. "And that is
something I shall never do" he added,
with finality.
II wish could be sure Of that" she
murmured. wistfully.
He came to his feet You may be
sure Of it, he said, with dignity. POS
sess your soul in peace, if that Is all
that is troubling It,"
"Sit down. she said, strange husk-
mess in her voice. He obeyed her.
Your father left certain part of his
fortune to me. There was no provision
made for Viola. You understand that,
don't your
Yes. know all about that" said he,
plainly bewildered. ION the other
hand. he did not impose any restric-
lions upon you. You are at liberty to
dispose Of your share by will, as you
sse. at, madam. am not likely to deny
my stepdster what is rightfully hers.
And that reminds me. She IL not my
blood relation, it's true. But she is my
stepsister. That settles another point.
could not ask my stepsister to be my
wife. The law would"
Nov we have come to the point
where shall answer the question you
asked while ago." she interrupted,
STRENGTHENING up in her chair and re-
garding him with fixed, steady light
in her eyes that somehow seemed to
(px<a Af rhak
be revealed. Il said 1t would prove
two things to me. One Of them was
that you are the same kind of q man
that your father was before you. L
mean II you had said you could not