Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1900-10-26

/ before he began his work Of destruc-
ton; now he had to make sure Of
Veronica He would have Infinitely
have preferred q woman who would
have clustered, and have sworn that
she would have her rights; but YER
onica was the sort Of woman who
would shrink away and be lost to the
world rather than hurt the man she
loved. He had shrewdness enough to
see that the girl would say that It was
the only way to act, and that she
would sacrifice both the child and
herself; therefore 1t was imperatively
necessary that she should know moth
Ing Of Alan's marriage, Of his love for
another woman. That must come to
her as surprise. She must be led to
expect that Alan was longing for her,
and would be overjoyed to see her
again; then would be his, Hutchin-
sons, opportunity. He knew men SO
well that he fancied they must be all
alike. Alan would not give UP Joyce
The felt sure Of that; then he must
be made to pay for-his silence. He
must feel that he, Hutchinson, could
hold the sword over his head, that he
could let It fall at any moment. He
had rubbed his hands at the publicity
OF the marriage. Alan Mackenzie
would never give up his beautiful
wife. Veronica would have to be paid
on. Joyce would not be Alan's law
full wife. It was going to be life
OF misery for the young man. and at
the end there would be Hutchinson's
dagger for his heart. But the whole
thing needed careful handling, and
Hutchinson felt 1T he was the man
undoubtedly who could handle 1t care
fully. Even II at the end Veronica
refused. as was possible, to come for
ward and make Alan unhappy, never
theless he would have to pay for his
silence.
He lives In a nice little house In
the country" Hutchinson said at
last. II will give you the address.
You had better 60 by train. Have
you any money!"
"Yes," said Veronica. 81 was paid
for my lessons yesterday. must
write to her when have seen Alan
again. He may not wish me to go on
giving lessons" But all the time she
spoke her face was TRANSPORTED. The
feeling that soon her weary time of
probation would be over was strong
within her. She looked with pride at
the beautiful boy, whom she still held
in her arms. will not his father be
proud Of him?" she asked. longing
for little human sympathy. He is
handsome. is he not
ooh, yes, he's good-looking child.
although am no judge" said the
man. In his head he was revolving
plans. Il would not go straight up to
the house IL were you," he said.
"The servants might not understand
1t. You wait for him at the lodge
gates.
very WELL" said Veronica. docile
as always. She could not guess that
Hutchinson's one fear was lest she
should meet Joyce and SO spoil his
whole plan. He had looked into
Joyce's face as she was walking with
Alan one day, and he could see inno-
cence and purity written upon 1t.
Joyce was not the woman to consent
to the paying of of the first wife.
And so it was decided that Veronica
should go down to Summerhaye and
await the coming of Alan. It was a
lovely day in early July, when she
went down. with that precious posses
sion, her boy, Rugged close to her
heart. The sun was shining and the
sky blue, the corn was waving in the
fields; and it was under the shade of
a leafy tree that Veronica awaited the
coming of the man she loved. Hutch
inson had discovered what train he
usually came by. It was 80 important
that Veronica should see him alone!
And sat there quietly straining her
her ears for the sound of his foot
steps. It took her back to her girlish
days at La Paz. when she had often
watched for him as she was doing
now. Truly there had been no years
of separation from him, and no boy
beside her. AS the time drew nearer
the strain grew almost too intense.
She put her hand over her heart SO as
to stop its wild beating, and the rich
color that generally flooded her cheeks
left her, and she was pale. And sud-
denly she heard footsteps in the field
that was before her-manly footsteps,
which she had not heard for four
years. but which she knew at once.
Then a figure vaulted over the stile
and Alan stood before her.
She tottered to her feet, holding out
the child. He looked at her wildly
and gave great cry, as II body and
soul were being rent asunder. "Ver-.
onica! o God! o God!" HI
He fell backwards against the stile,
covering his face with his hands, as II
to shut out the sight Of great horror.
She stood trembling before him, push
ing her child in front of her, as II she