Part 17 (2/2)
”But you see now?” insisted the man.
The girl looked up at him sorrowfully.
”Yes; I see at least that you and father can never work together now.”
Haines nodded affirmatively.
”I suppose so. I'm thinking of that. How am I to leave him? We've been so close. I've been so fond of him. I don't know how I could tell him.”
In girlish, friendly fas.h.i.+on Carolina rested her hand on his arm.
”Won't you take my advice, Mr. Haines? Go away without seeing him.
Just leave a note to say you have gone. He will understand. It will be easier for both that way--easier for him, easier for you.” She paused, looking at him appealingly as she ended very softly, ”And easier for me, Mr. Haines.”
He looked at her thoughtfully.
”Easier for you?” he said. ”Very well, I'll do it that way.”
The secretary stepped slowly to his desk, sat down and started to write the note. Carolina watched him curiously.
”What will you do,” she asked, ”now that you have given up this position?”
”Oh, I can always go back to newspaper work,” he answered without looking up.
The term ”newspaper work” gave Carolina a shock. She had forgotten that this man had been a reporter. Here he was turned loose with the knowledge of this ”deal,” which she knew would be popular material for newspapers to print. She must gain still another point, and she felt that she had enough power to win against him.
”I'm going to ask you still another favor,” she said.
Bud returned her look with a bitter smile.
”What is it?”
”You have learned about this--this land matter and--”
”Oh, yes! I can guess. You want me to keep quiet about it--to hush it up,” a shade of scorn in his tone.
”I only asked this so that you would not disgrace me,” she pleaded.
Disillusioned at last, robbed of his lifelong optimism, shorn of his ideals, even his love--for he began to despise this beautiful, misguided woman--Haines sat broken in spirit, thinking how quickly the brightness of life fades to blackness.
”Very well,” he said sadly. ”I suppose _you_ are innocent. I'll save you. If they're all--your father, too--crooked, why shouldn't I be crooked? All right; I won't say anything.”
”I only ask you not to disgrace me,” pleaded the girl. ”You will promise that?”
”It's a promise.”
<script>