Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-07-09


anestion or two before he entered.
But to his surprise woman looking
like nurse admitted him and ne was
taken like stranger into the drawing
room, which he thought had curious
" forlorn appearance. The house was
very quiet. 1t had never been noisy
but on former visits Col. Vanbrugh had
heard steps and voices and caught
ellmuses OF Polish and Russian pen
sioners. who had filled him with
sense of repulsion and of the distance
between himself and his beautiful but
unloying wife. Now the house was as
still as death.
step came at last. II was Lance
lots-the father knew it well. lie
turned to the door, striving to meet his
son with the look of icy calm and en-
durance which he generally wore in
his sons presence; look which masked
the fires Of Indignation and OF love
with which he was inwardly consumed
But he could not quite control him
self; his mouth twitched and mis- voice
was hoarse with anxiety as he asked
after his wife's state.
"She is much worse"
Is she-yery i'll. then?"
Very ill., | am afraid"
Lancelot did not meet his fathers
eyes. There was a guilty look about
him, Roger thought.
Boy what has happened? What is
the natter" he cried.
Lancelot looked up and his father
saw that there was not only unhappi-
ness, but great new softness in his
eyes
"She is i'll, but she did not send for
you for that. he said
"Then Why"
"She will tell YOU herself" Then
Lancelot came step nearer.
Father" lie said rather huskily.
Il have often misjudged you-I want
to know whether in spite of all that
has gone before it is possible for us
to be- better friends than we have
beon?"
The colonel stretched out his hand
Lance he said, almost beseechingly
Il never meant such a shadow to fall
between us.
Il know" said Lance. Il understand
now" And the father and son clasped
hands,
Then Lancelot led the way to his
mothers room Roger Vanbrugh's
mind was in strange maze Of con
dieting emotions. he hardly knew what
to expect after the words that Laneelot
had addressed to MIN. Did the boy
know all or only half the truth?
He saw at any rate, what he did
not expect. His wife's face was white,
sunken. death like as il had never been
before. She must be i'll indeed, he
thought, TO look like that. With one
cry, with one long stride, he was be-
side her. forgetting everything but his
old love for her and that she had sent
for him again
eVenetial" She opened her eyes at
the sound Of his voice and q wonderful
light came into them The color flush
"a her cheeks for the first time in her
life, she willingly raised her face and
hands to him and let him clasp her
in his arms.
But the embrace was only for a
moment
AN. wait She said wait Lay
me down want to speak to YOU. 1t
was good Of YOU to come"
Good he echoed. in complete self
abasement How could he feel any
thing hut humiliation when he remem-
bered that he had hesitated to come;
had needed Frances Alymers emphatic
protest before he had yielded TO her
summons?
Yes, good she said Because
have treated you shamefulIy, Roger.
I believed all heard and now ! want
YOU to forgive me
with all my heart" he answered,
In 4 low deep tone
You have great deal to forgive
She said, almost sharply but il was
not quite my fault. Rcsor you had a
false friend at your side. Rene de
MarsaeI think | must tell you all
now; he hated me because ah, well.
yon can perhaps guoas and it hurts
ME ID tcll'
HE loved YOU"
In his way Then afterward he
hated and he swere to be revenged
He made me believe that YOU brought
the police down on Leon and he per-
suaded me. Roger. never To tell you
that Leon was my brother
tle WAS false friend
.Yes very false And | was too
proud to own It when I knew what You
had thought and that made ME try
you know what I ID but l am sorry
row II was he who separated us
| then he separated Won and l.aneelot
afterward Yes iii ala ii, not Lance
Will ton you Ait
How did You find his out. Venetia u
You remember he man Desparll.
I.ancelot will tell You by and by.
am sure Despard has spoken the truth
Dit last
ttAnd having laaraaa thp tritth Yen