“So it is a business transaction of some sort!” whispered Marion to herself.
“Pa owes Silas some money or something, and he is going to settle it by giving him Dollie!”
She rose from her stool, her face fairly crimson with anger. As she turned to enter the house she confronted Mr. Lawson.
For just a second Marion hesitated to tell her trouble to this man, then an uncontrollable impulse made her turn to him appealingly. She had forgotten all else but her sister’s danger.
“Oh, Mr. Lawson, I must tell you an awful secret,” she cried, brokenly, “and oh, I do hope you will be able to advise me—you are wise and—and kind—I am sure that you will help me. Father is in debt to Silas Johnson, and Sile has made him promise that Dollie shall marry him!”
The tears trembled on Marion’s lashes as she said the words, and in her intense excitement her dark eyes shone like diamonds.
Carlos Lawson looked at her with unusual interest. His first thought was of her beauty but he controlled himself enough to answer:
“The thing would be outrageous!” he said after a second; “what has that freckle-faced clod to offer Dollie, I should like to know!”
“He has a farm of his own, that is all,” said Marion, hotly; “or he may have a mortgage on father’s, for all I know, but if he had the wealth of the world he should not have my little sister!”
“But how can you prevent it?” asked Mr. Lawson, a little coldly.