Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1900-09-21
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== OtEGH % Romance
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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
he felt sure of that; then he must
be made 10 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
off. Joyce would not be Alan's law
full wife. 1t was going to be a 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 that ne was the man
undoubtedly who could handle it care
fully. Even if 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 nice little house in
the country" Hutchinson said at
last. Il will give you the address.
You had better go by train. Have
you any money!"
Yes said Veronica. Il was paid
for my lessons yesterday. l must
write to her when l 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?"
"Oh. yes. he's a good-looking child,
man In his head lie was revolving
plans. Il would not go straight up to
the house if l were you" he said
The servants might not understand
it. You wait for him at the lodge
gates
Very we'll" 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-
| nv -rif ,
Joyce was not the woman to consent
to the paying off of the first wife.
And so it was decided that Veronica
should go down to Summerhaye and
await the coming of Alan. Ii 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
leafy tree that Veronica awaited the
coming of the man she loved Hutch
inson had discovered what train he
usually came by. 1t was so important
that Veronica should see him alone.
And sat there quietly straining her
her ears for the sound of his foot
steps. 1t 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 foul
years, but which she knew at once
Then a figure vaulted over the stil(
and Alan stood before her.
She tOttered TO her feet, holding Out
the child. He looked at her wildly
and gave great cry, as if body and
soul were being rent asunder. Yer
onica. o God, o God"
He fell backwards against the stile
covering his face with his hands, as il
to shut out the sight of great horror
She stood trembling before him. push.
ing her child in front of her, as if she
wanted to obliterate herself and to OBJ
trude the child: but he stood there
shaking and shivering, moaning a
intervals Veronica, God, o God
1t was she who spoke first; he coult
not find words, or anything but tn,
piteous moan, and her voice wa.
touching in exquisite joy. Yes. Alan
it is I, saved from the sea, my dearest
And here-here is our child. Are you
not pleased? Tell me you are pleased
for | have longed so to see your deal
face again, | have longed so TO hea
your voice | cannot believe it hal
come at last,'
She came quite near to him, ad
vancing as she spoke 1t seemed a
if she were longing for him to un
cover his face. to take her into hi
arms.
Alan" she cried, "oh. my darling
are you not glad to see me?"
There was still no doubt in he
mind. She thought that the joy o
seeing her had been too great, anC
that he was trying to recover from
the shock She had no doubt. poo
soul, at all. He loved her, therefor,
her coming to him must be inexpres
sible joy.
Then Alan uncovered his haggart
face. Glad? No, 1t has ruined m,
life!" he cried brutality. But for thu
moment he could think Of nothing bu