The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-02-20

that ends it. | dare not go to Al
Ian"
'What do you mean,
This man-Lippard-has nae in
his power"
''Do you-do you care for him p
Allan's sister felt her own stout
heart quail as though she herself
had sudden become a shameless
woman.
Care for him? Why. he is a
vulgar rufiian My own servants are
better-bred gentlemen than he? To
think that | ever tolerated him ~
She covered he burning face with her
hands.
what hold can such a man have
over you, than?"
He has letters of mine,' said
Lesley, in so low a voice that Mrs.
Jordan could scarcely hear her.
"Oh-h ! Letters? You must come
home at once; at once"
"To Allan?'
Yes. To Allan" She rang for
her bonnet, put it on, and swept
Lesley back into her carriage with
the quiet authority she used to her
children.
He threttsned you with those let
ters p she asked, as they drove down
! the street.
"He said he would 90 to Allan
with them. o, Sylvia, for Gods
sake help mel What shall | do?
Allan thinks that he married a VIC
man as pure as lily
"Well he did not" said Mrs.
Jordan, shortly. She added, pres
entity: ''You are to be pitied, Lesley
But it is Allan that ! AN sorry for
in this matter. You have cheated
him for two years The only atone
ment you can make i. to tell hin the
whole truth now"
They drove in silence the rest of
the way.
"Who is that going in at your
doc" asked Sylvia as they neared the
house.
at is Lippard ~ said Lesley,
hoarsely.
Go directly up to Allan. Tell
him eysrything-evsrything No.
| will not 90 with you. J nave 10
time to interfere" "
Lippard was standing in the re-
ception room as Lesley passed
through the hall. He nodded to
her faniliarly, and called out to her
to hurry up. Allan came to meet
her at the head of the staircase
The contrast between the two men
struck her with sickening force.
There is a man waiting to see
you, Lesley. One Of your pension
ers, l suppose he said, smiling
One of his favorite delu.ions about
her was that she was q devout Lady
Bountiful, dealing out blessings to
the poor.
He is net a Fensioner.'
1t must all be told-and in a mo
ment. She had not a breath of time
to save herself. Lippard's impatient
step was in the hall below. Yetshe
spoke deliberately, calmed by the
very extremity of her terror. She
began mechanically 10 draw off her
gloves, then let them fall, and with
one step came up to her husband
and caught him by the lapels OF his
coat, looking up into his face.
why, Lesley !" He stopped there.
To men like Allan thought comes
like intuition in the supreme crises
of life. Something told him
that the mystery of their married
life was to be cleared now. The
secret discomfort with which she had
tortured him was going to take
definite shape at last. Behind his
gentleness was an enormous self
control.
go on. What is it you have to
tell me? ?' he said, passing his hands
lightly over her hair.
Il am not the woman YOU think
me. That man you saw was en-
gagged to him once"
His hands rested motionless on
her head.
81 was so young, Allan was so
young"
There was no answer.
II wrote to him" she went Oh,
desperately, "a good many times.
He has them he has the letters
now.
He pushed her away, gently
but steadily, and stood apart from
her.
"When you were moody and
unhappy, it was of this man you
thought?"
"Oh, Allan, forgive me! | did not .
know him as he is -
He turned his back to her and
stood looking into the fire. She
waited. Would he never speak?
Lippard's heavy step sounded on
the staircase. He started and turn
ed. "Heis here. Can YOU send him
away?"
HE has your letters? What does
he ask for them ~
80, Allan, You don't think he
would sell my letters? Why, he
loved me?'
The man | saw down stairs will
sell the letters" he said, quietly.
THAT i. probably his business in
Philadelphia. We shall see"
He left the room and in ten min
utes came back with a soiled pack
age, smelling of musk, in his hand
The hall door changed, and she heard
Lippard 20 down the street whist
ling.
Allan handed her the package.
You have the right to them.
You have paid for them she said.
They are not likely to prove
pleasant reading for me, ne replied,
smiling grimly.
She threw the letters in the fire
and watched them burn, with slow
ly whitening lips. They were full
of love: love for this vulgar fellow
whose life was no higher than a
brute's. Her whole life had been de-
dragged to the gutter by
that childish mistake. She began to
sob wildly.
az hava suffered so much pray-