Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1926-07-30


got that. His grandfather had blamed
God!
Striker had explained the somewhat
distasteful scrutiny to which he had
been subjected the night before. All
three Of them, knowing him to be Vio-
las blood relation, were studying his
features with interest, seeking for
trace of family resemblance, not alone
to his father but to the girl herself.
This had set him thinking. There was
not, SO far as he could determine, the
slightest likeness between him and his
beautiful half-sister; there was abso-
lutely nothing to indicate that their
sire was one and the same man.
Pondering, he now understood what
Striker meant in declaring that he
ought to know the truth about the frus-
trated elopement.
And Kenneth felt new weight of
responsibility as unwelcome to him as
1t was certain to be to Viola for, when
all was said and done, she was her
mothers daughter and, as such, doubt
less looked upon him through the
mothers eyes, seeing common enemy.
Still, she was his half-sister and,
whether he liked it or not, he was NOR
ally bound to stand between her and
disaster-and If Striker was right,
marriage with the wild Lapelle spelled
disaster of the worst kind. He had
only to recall, however, the unaccount-
able look Of hostility with which she
had favored him more than once dur
ing the evening to realize that he was
not likely to be called upon for either
advice or protection.
He mused aloud, with the shrug of
philosopher: "Heigh-ho! l fear me
shall have small say as to the conduct
of this newly-found relation. The only
tie that bound US is gone. She Is not
only the child Of my father, whom she
feared and perhaps hated, but of mine
enemy, whom she loves-so the case is
clear. There Is wall between us, and
/ shall not attempt to surmount it.
What demnition mess it has turned
out to be. came prepared to find only
the creature have scorned and de-
spised, and l discover that have a sis
ter so beautiful that, not knowing her
at all, my eyes are dazZled and my
heart goes to humping like any silly
schOolboy's. Aye, it's very sorry
pass Were 1t not so demned upset
ting, it would be amusing. Fate never
played a wilder prank. What, no,
Zachariah Where are we now? Whose
farm is that upon the ridge?"
Zachariah, urging his horse forward,
consulted his memory. Striker had
mentioned the farms they were to pass
en- route, and the features by which
they were to be identified.
well, Marse Kenneth eff hit ain de
Sherry place hit shorely am de Sheri-
dan place, an eff hit amt nuther one
O. dem hit mus belong to Marse Dim
nit er-Is yo' gwine to stop dere,
Marse Kenneth?",
mo. / shall ride out from town
some day soon to look the place over"
said his master, with pardOnable
lordliness of mien, becoming to land
ed gentleman. "Our affairs at present
lie in the town, for there Is much to be
settled before l take charge. Striker
tells me the man who Is farming the
place Is an able honest fellow. I
shall not disturb him. From what he
says, my property Is more desirable in
every way than the land that fell to my
fathers widow. Her farm lies off to
our left 1T seems, and reaches almost
to the bottomlands Of the river We,
Zachariah, are out here in the fertile
prairie land. Our west line extends
along the full length of her property.
SO, you see, the only thing that sepa-
rates the two farms Is an imaginary
line no wider than your little finger,
drawn by surveyor and established
by law"
They passed log cabins and here and
there pretentious frame houses stand
Ing back from the road in the shelter
of oak and locust groves. Their passing
was watched by curious women and
children in dooryards and porches.
while from the fields men waved greet.
ing anu IdIcWcIl Will Tic SlnSlc sweep
of hat. On every barn door the pelts
Of foxes and raccoons were stretched
and nailed.
Presently they drew near to q lane
reaching off to the west, and apparent
ly ending In a wooded knoll, quarter
of mile away.
There" said Kenneth, with a wave
Of his hand, rs where shall some day
erect a mansion, Zachariah, that will be
the wonder and the envy Of all the
people in the country. For unless am
mistaken, that Is the grove of oaks that
Striker mentioned. Behold, Zachariah,
all that Is mine. Four hundred acres
OF as fine farm land as there is in all
the world, and timber unparalleled.
Yes, | am right. There Is the house
that Striker described, the place where
my father lived when he first came to
the Wea. Egad, it's not regal palace,
is it, Zachariah? The most imposing
IL