“You will have my curses and hate instead,” he interrupted, nearly purple with passion that she should face him so dauntlessly.
“Please do not say that, papa,” Editha cried, in deep distress.
“Mr. Dalton,” Earle now said gravely, yet feeling as if he could hardly keep his hands off the man for wounding her so, “may I ask what your objections are to my union with Miss Dalton?”
“It seems exceedingly strange to me that you should need to ask any respectable and honorable citizen what his objections would naturally be to your marrying his daughter,” was the intensely sarcastic reply.
Earle flushed, but still controlled himself.
“I understand you, sir,” he said, proudly “but I can assure you that I am guiltless of the deed which you would impute to me. I have even now a clew to the real culprits——”
“You have?” Mr. Dalton interrupted, with a startled look.
“Yes, sir, and though I have suffered a felon’s disgrace; yet let them once be brought to justice, and my name will be cleared from every breath of taint.”
“Your name will be cleared from every breath of taint!” Mr. Dalton repeated, with an emphasis and look that made Earle start violently and regard him with perplexity.
Then he answered, with firm assurance: