The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1904-11-09 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

MRS. TOM GODFREY.  CHAFFER v.—(continued.)  "What, you also? Oh, auntie. I cannot. I would rather die. Why did you rear me? Why did you make me love you so? I can- ' not do this thing." "And yet you're his child. You must obey one way or t'other. Bill is a terrible 1 man if romped. And this is the find time you two come to lonisrheade, I might have I known he'd something like this up his sleeve." "He's never asked it before!" moaned the girl. "1. might have guessed he would," mid the woman stroking her hair lovingly. "But you must be brave, darling, and try bo give in or things will be worse." "Nothing can be worse," exclaimed the hotly. "He bee managed alone so long. Why should he want me now ? Let me go away and earn my living, not—" "You owe him something, my duck. He's been a good father to you. working, and I risking himseif, whilst you had all the 001111- I forts he could get. And he loves you. Yeas you owe him something. Sonbeson. "But not my esti-respect, auntie. Oh, how can you urge me to give in?" "Because I think it's wisest now. My , dear, I 011C4, had to help him. It's not too terrible. I've been lady's Illaad many a time to help him." Sunbeam looked with horrified eyes into ' the comely face. "Oh, auntie, you!" she exclaimed, feeling as though indeed the ground had given bcteeth her feet. "Yes, me. And it hasn't made me so bad, has it? An' I did'ut have a high eddication to bribe me to it. I did it. that's all." I "And I can't," murmured Sunbeam, the tears filling her eyes again. "Well, worse awaits you to-night," isplied the woman sadly. "What can be worse? Death? Not in my eyes! Will he kill me? I should prefer it!" "Lor no! He's never committed murder yet. But he means to make you marry Gentleman Dan. You'll remember him, the , man with the black eyes who used to frighten you so?" The girl's iillght figure swayed from side to side. She clung to her aunt as though for support. "So you'd better do the other thing. After all. where's the harm? You ought to be rich and riding your carriage. Them what hes them ain't a patch on you. Some don't know haw to spend their money right. So there's little harm in doing such a simple thing as oho wing, the ways of a big house. That isn't 'rime yourself." "I can't, I can't," reiterated Sunbeam, clasping her hands despairingly. "Then, God help you, for I can't. I'm tied myself. And once Gentleman Dan has you for a wife he—" "But he won't. They can't force me to marry him. My father loves me. lie wont' be so cruel." Hetty shook her head dolefully. "When the devil's in your father nothing can turn him. r know; Lor how I know! He's set on this. You'll have to bend one one way or Vother. I read that in his eye. That's what he's had in view all these years." "I can denounce Gentleman Dan," murmured Sunbeam in a low voice. "And your father with him. Not if I knows you, my duck. It's becalms he could ruin your father that one of them two things must be done. Your father's in his power, and wants to shake him off. No doubt the rogue is ay and has asked for you. Perhaps it's the love your father bears you that makes him give you another chance. Not that I know anything. It's just as much a shock to me as it is to you. And yet it's natural that he should want to make use of you. It makes his work less dangerous to have someone he knows in the houses." _ . . .  "Ia there nothing I can do?' pleaded the girl, lifting a pale face in which despair had already begun to work. "Nothing, l'm afraid," replied Betty, the reedy tears rushing to her eyestat the sight of so much misery. Only the night before she had sworn that Bill would kill anyone who chased the ieV from his chikre And yet If Lad been the one to do that. Her ire robe against him. She would have given worlds to be a man herself, and thus meet him on his own ground. Sunbeam's head drooped. She threw out despairing hands. "Oh. God!" she cried, sobs breaking her voice, "help me. for lam pewerlees!"