The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1936-12-18
CHAPTER VII-Continued

that young mann"
'sDan and / are going to be
married, Father" She realized
suddenly that the issue postponed
till this hour was Joined now. II
there were ever to be opposition
on Doctor Greetings part, the time
for it was come. Anu she added,
to placate him: "Of course, not
right away. But soon, Fatheri"
He met her announcement with a
composure she found in some fash
ion alarming. "Sure of your
ground?" he asked calmly. Sure
you want him?" ,..... ..N
"Sure as surel"
He said gravely: "Dan can't take
care of you. I'll talk to Dan. He'll
see my point of view" N- q.
Something shook her; some dark
fear beset her. "You sha'n'tl" she
cried defiantly; and then, seeing
his frown, already repentant: "Oh,
Father, can't you see that he and
! have to be the ones to decide?"
''Nonsense!" he retorted. you're
too young to decide anything" And
then, urgently: Nancy, don't you
realize that Mr.. Terrell wants to
marry your"
Gle Doesn't" she denied. 81
know
'You know nothing, Nancy" he
retorted, in a deep evaporation.
you're a witless child. l tell you,
Mr.. Terrell" He checked him
self, spoke more calmly: "Ira has
spoken to me, Nancy" he said
urgently. "He came to me, like
an honorable man, to ask what my
attitude would be. Yes, he wants
to marry you. And Nancy, he is
my good friend. I am under many
obligations to him."
She was afire now with a deep
anger, and cried in furious scorn:
"You mean you want to use me to
repay him?"
Her wrath warned him 10 eau
ton. He spoke in the tone of one
who reasons with an unreasonable
child. II mean only that l think
you ought to treat him with ordi-
nary courtesy" he said. ''The cour-
tesy to which a strong mans de-
votion entities him. only ask that
you defer any decision until you
have had time"
She was cold, trembling. "I'm
sorry" she said. 81 can't pre-
tend!',4 Il. H. s-. 49,. ,ss .-y ---- ,s
"Can't? You mean that you
won't!" he corrected stiff1y.
/ II mean I won't, then!" she as
scented. ' '''
There was silence. Then he said,
half to himself, in a hushed tone:
''It might be better for Dan, and
for you, to be a little reasonable!"
She cried, in a quick terror:
Father, you mustn't try to scare
me! That isn't fair!"
He looked at her for a long mo-
ment with eyes she had never seen
before; then the fame in them died,
and he managed a wary laugh.
"I'll talk to Dan," he said. "He
has some common sense" e
''You sha'n't say anything to
DAM" she exclaimed. "You can't
scare Dan. Or mel"
And he treasured her with words.
"I'm not trying to scare you, dear.
Just to talk some reason into that
stubborn little head of yours. You
and Dan are in love, swept away,
lost to all sensible considerations"
She backed away from him, and
her hands raised as though to push
him from her. tNo, no." she cried
in whisper; and then, desperate,
seized on a reckless expedicnt:
"You can't do anything to stop us.
It's too late!" she exclaimed.
His eyes widened in shock and
then in wrath. He was over the
net in one bound. He gripped her
arm like wise, dragging her to-
ward him. n3a se.s- vtJ ss-, l
"What do you .mean?" he de-
manded.
81 mean we're married." she
cried. "Let me go, Father! We're
already married. So it is too late,
you see!"
He stood for an instant motion
less, his eyes probing hers. Then
he asked in curt incredibly:
where? When?"
Her wits, paralyzed by an un-
reasoning fear Of him, found no
ready answer. She evaded the di-
rect inquiry.
"And even if we weren't" she
cried, "Mr. Terrell doesn't want to
marry mel He's in love with Mary
Ami"
AS though he had been struck
in the face, he released her.. He
recoiled from, her, and his coun-
tenance was black and terrible. She
pressed her hands to her eyes to
shut out the sight of him.
Father, don'tli' she pleaded.
ssDon,t look like that at met" aa
She heard him mutter hoarsely:
"SolD Then terror whipped her SO
that she turned and ran, in stark
panic down the path and away.
But Doctor Breeding stayed
where he was; and after a moment
4ba nhsanc 0f hie fhnayrft9 sofflod