White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1927-10-07
CHAPTER X-Continued


amazed. "a man who lets another
dictate about whom he's to marry Is a
weakling and a coward. / didn't. Inc
Grahams all except old William,
hated me. l wasn't well born or edu-
Gated l was machinist and my
hands were thick-tingered, and l
hadn't any parlor tricks. / married
your mother in spite of their lies and
plots to separate u.s."
DO you mean to say you approve
of Miss Brown"
"That's what I'm trying to tell you.
suppose you are wanting to know
why / have changed Robbie, don't
ask me. There are things that hap
pen In a mans life that change him
instantly. 1t may be the ghost of old
follies which rises to remind him Of
what he had forgotten. Nc, don't ask
me, Robbie, but just bring The girl to
your mother and me. She shall never
want for love where we are
He walked heavily from the room.
His son could not comprehend this as
founding change. There was strick-
en- look In his fathers face Not since
Robin was boy had he been called
Robbie" But his speculation on the
cause of the change was lost in JOY at
what 1t meant to him. Agatha told
him she would be back at about ten.
He looked at the clock. 1t was past
two. Eight weary hours before he
could see her
At seven he was on the golf links
playing g few holes. Three hours to
wait. At eight o'clock he saw her COM
tns slowly in his direction.
II didn't think you were going to
return so early" he said, smiling
agatha, how lovely you look"
II feel miserable" she said soberly.
Darling" he whispered, chow can
you feel miserable on this bright.
glorious morning?"
Nothing could depress him now.
There was look in her eyes that
told him what he wanted to know.
"You 1nvw, ROBIN, one isn't always
free to do as one likes. think IL j
had foreseen this week I should not
have had courage enough to endure 1t.
Robin, we must both of us forget It,"
"Forget the only week I have lived"
he cried. "Never." Her air of de-
lection communicated itself to him.
"Tell me why should?"
"There are so many things" she
said slowly. zone is your fathers OBJ
such store by you, but I'm not going
to come between you and him."
Robin laughed joyously. Don't
worry about him. He's for you now
Just as strongly as mother is. He
thinks you are just the girl to look
after me for life. You've conquered
him. He just had to give in, so what
more is there to say?"
Looking at him it seemed to the girl
that the task she had set herself was
% beyond her strength. Why, she asked
herself, had she kept heart-whole al
her life to find in Robin McKimber the
only man she could love? How coult
she tell him that she must choose be
tween her sworn loyalty to her fathe
and his comrades and her love TO
him? She was associated with mel
who had determined to get from TAX
on's safe the documents which in
eliminated John McKimber and mad
the realization of his ambitions i'm
possible. She saw, very clearly, wha
course Peter Milman would pursue
and how in the carrying out of hi
plans of revenge he would have n
consideration for the McKimbers.
"There is more to say" she toll
him. her voice trembling little. IN
dear. 1t is the hardest thing to ga,
Robin, it's good-by."
"Good-by," he repeated. "Agaths
what do you mean?"
"That I am leaving here today an
shall not see you again. Don't as
me to explain. / can't tell you any
thing except that there is somethn
which makes all the things l hope
impossible"
She could see the gray under hi
tanned skin. She knew she ha
wounded him bitterly. There was
terrible ouietness In his distinct, clea
voice.
"Then you never really loved me I
81 did" she said simply; that
what makes 1t so hard"
"If you love me-" he cried, "nothin
can come between u.s."
something has come between u
do love you, Robin, and | shall neve
care for anyone else; but there
someone who needs me more than 70
do"
"Im not going to say good-by," b
said gently.
"But you must" she insisted. 1T
all over, Robin. One little week {
happiness and years and years Of r,
greet"
Suddenly she turned from him an
walked away. He followed with b.
seeching gestures until he saw that L
Guillain was approaching 1t SCENE
to him that Agatha almost ran to til
elder man.
"What have you been doing on TIL
lovely morningY" Malet asked.
breaking my heart. think" ST.
answered "Please walk back to til
house with me- | don't want to hay
to speak to anyone"
Malet was not deceived by the smi
with which she tried to hide her su
ferng. He wished he had words I
help her. He walked to the big hous
his heart aching because she was hur
He wondered what II was about