"Oh yes. She said she was happy and would have been quite happy if only she could have let you know where she was."
"Why couldn't she?"
"I suppose he wouldn't let her; but I'm sure——"
"What he? For heaven's sake, try to speak plainly, Miss Gilmore. Do you mean she was with any one?"
"I don't know. I only know what we thought. Oh, don't look like that or I can't say any more."
His eyes flashed fire again. "Tell me, please," he murmured restraining himself.
"We thought she had run away with him." I said that seriously enough.
He paused, nerving himself for the next question. It came in a low, tense, husky voice. "Do you mean she was—married?"
I hung my head and was silent.
"'Fore God, if any one, man or woman dares to hint shame of my child——" he burst out, and stopped abruptly.