The Saint Paul globe., 1897-05-30

stituted While T have many of the
| weaknesses of my sex ill-proportion-
ately developed, others do not pos
sess at all. For instance, have almost
masculine courage when danger men,
aces me, and he who thinks to in
timidate me by means of threats will
fail by reason Of his methods. So
while would nave paid voluntarily a
very considerable amount to have es-
capped the necessity of openly avowing
my connection with him, now that he
threatened me with disclosure I would
withhold from him even penny Of re-
lief until he should be convinced that
what | gave gave Of my own free will.
After a few minutes l asked him a
question.
How did you find it out?'
He gave sneering laugh which
made me hate him more violently than
ever
"Thrensu an old friend of yours. She
also has a daughter there
What" The word sped from my
lips like a shot from a catapult
You have not I suppose, forgotten
Nita Conquest? She has daughter at
the convent as we'll as you"
So this was what had armed him
with confidence and audacity He was
still unconscious OF the other hold he
had upon me. But he could well afford
thousandfold more menacing to- my,
peace ard tranquility. l am far too
emotional to be logical So alarmed
was I at the thought that my old en-
emy had discovered the retreat of my
child and might revenge herself upon
me by revealing prematurely to Lisa
the fact of my public career. that L
did not stop to ask myself why my
father should suppose me willing to pay
huShmoney to secure silence concern
ing his recently-gained intelligence l
had but one concern, one anXlety-to
prevail upon him to use his influence
with Mia Conquest to preserve my
secret from my child. Yet still my
antagonism was in arms against his
vile methods, and l was determined to
settle finally the matter Of future eX-
tortion. Even were l to sacrifice some
portion of Lisa's full faith and devo-
ton, 1 must decline to permit myself
to become the victim OF a blackmailer.
How much do you expect to make
from your discovery asked him di-
rectly. He shrugged his shoulders, lift
ing his yellow brow and turning up his
eyeballs, as if asking heaven to sat
isfy my question.
''It all depends upon what madame
considers it WORTH he replied. Some
ladies feel delicacy greater than 9TH
ers about the indiscretions Of youth,
and"
/ snrang to n,- feet and sto;d, wrath
full and indignant, before him.
''You miserable scoundrelP' I cried.
euivering at the indignity he had cast
upon me. $50 this is what you i'm
agine 1 am willing to pay you to con-
ceal! DO you suppose that am asham-
ed to acknowledge the one glory Of my
life?-the one joy that heaven has
given me? Do you believe for an in
slant that would conceal the fact of
my motherhood, that / would hide and
turn my back upon the loft.est dignity
that crowns a woman's existence?
What else in life have I to be proud
of except that / have given to the
world an immortal soul? Do you think
the ephen1eral notoriety [ have gained
in my profession can ever be placed
for comparison beside the fact that i
have, perpetuated myself in purer,
higher form? But-bah! what use Is
it to try to make you understand! Let
me come down to the mercantile level
of your intelligence. I have a secret
concerning my daughter, it is true.
But it is not what you have conceived
it to be. The world has no share in it;
1t is wholly between her and me. For
this reason, however, it is of vital con-
sequence to me. and l am willing to
pay well for it's preservation
''Alors?" he interpolated, as l paused,
1t was not easy for me to proceed His
eagerness to learn the terms of my bar
gain, and the greedy. unprncipled ac-
quisitiveness his manner suggested, in
dicating that ifsthe price offered were
high enough his silence and conniv
ness might be purchased, sickened and
revolted me. Who could tolerate the
idea of owning such a horror for a
father? Not I, certainly.
"My daughter does not know that I
am an actress" 1 went on rapidly, pos
sessed Of but one desire-tO close my
interview with him as quickly as I
could. "It is my wish that she shall
not learn the fact until / am ready to
disclose it to her myself. 1 have said
that 1 am willing to pay a good price
to maintain my secret That does not
mean, however, that am willing to-
buy your silence and that of your
friend Mile. Conquest on the INSTALL
ment plan. / have no idea of becoIn
ing the prey Of couple Of unscrupu-
lous blackmailers. will make you an
offer which will be the last bribe I
shall ever afford you. I tell you tina:
positively, and you may credit it.
place. as you will see, considerable
value upon the privilege of enhghten-
ing my daughter as to my public career,
but it is not a shifting value, depend
ent upon your financial straits. 1t is
fixed. once and for all, and I am well
aware that have no guarantee for the
worth of my purchase: that it is sim
ply dependent upon your good faith
and that Of woman for whom have
little respect. If either of you see fit to
break your word to me, shall have no
redress, but neither will you gain much.
Do not make the mistake, however, of
believing that shall ever again ad-
<xI
for do not estimate my whim at