Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-08-08
"1 would not talk of u, father. It


81 mustl She was always-heedless
/ of advice--self willed-jea lous-And
then she--disap peared 49, leaving
I note-and disgrace! let her go.
She is dead to mel" After a pause he
continued; IL have seen you drifting
away-Frances! Observation-Disclosures
/ ing-I would save you--if I could.
! Weep no more--I have forgiven;
have forgiven-l" The girl lifted her
face quickly, indignant and agonized.
"You have been deceived, father; oh,
SO basely deceived. ! am not way
ward have never yet disobeyed you.
If you had permitted I should have
been with you night and day"
az had permitted"
"Yes. 1t was you, they told me-"
she brokenly said-"it was you who
sent me among strangers to school
you wished me never to come into
your room"
"Frances!"
at is too late now" she said in
anguish. but | cannot part from you
without telling you the truth. | love
you. father. | would have been
your dear daughter if you had not
put il beyond my power"
"Child. What is it you are say
ing?"
DO you not understand, father"
she said, passionately. "do you not
know that that woman has for years
deprived you of your independence
of your freedom? Now she has taken
your property! Can't you see it? You
have been robbed of every thing-and
I! Oh. she has preyed upon your
hottest feelings; she has turned you
against your own child the child to
whose mother you promised to guard
and guide.'
He raised himself In his chair A
look of fright was upon his face
"Sce," She cried there is the wom-
an with her son dividing your prop
erty before you are dead. Oh, they
think am harmless. now; am not to
to he feared. the die is east. the will
is signed, and you, father, have be-
trayed your only child into the hands
OF her bittcrest enemy"
He was speechleSs and pale. His
dull eyes were fixed on the girls
"But no." he said family, this cam
not be, it cannot be! My child, you
are wronr'ng good woman-and
Raymond has been very kind, 50
very kind"
you are blinded, father; You are
unsuspecting. Tell me, have they
ever said that for months I have been
eager to be with you; that?"
You, Frances Why, you refused
over and over" She sank her head
upon her chair.
And you believed that of me? II
was untrue--a cruel, cruel invention
Mother and son caught the sound
of her agitated voice and would have
come over from the bay window, but
DR., Brodnar, drawing the sofa around
as though to sit with them, stood
with his hand resting upon it, com
pletely blocking their way.
To-day and tonight" he said. che
must have absolute quiet. Continue
the powders l have left land see that
he does not attempt, under any cir
cumstances. to walk about the room"
He continued rapidly to give direc-
tons concerning the treatment of the
patient, and disregarded the woman S
efforts to pass him. Frances lowered
her voice and continued earnestly:
"Iou DO not believe me. father, YOU
do not realize what you have done
You do not know the man to whom
you have consigned me- nor the wom-
an TO whom you gave your name
years ago. You knew nothing then!
You know nothing now. You took
her from Washington because She
fascinated you as she had fascinated
all those other men. You believed
in her, because she knew intimatel Y
the great politicians. She was smart
too smart for an honest. honorable
Virginia gentleman. Oh, my eyes
have been opened to-day; the son is
worthy of his mother. | do not know
who Louise is, but a friend has Just
tod me to say to you this: Ask
Raymond Holbin what he has done
with Louise; for he is the man who
betrayed her by mock marriage and
took her abroad. "
Motionless. but with straining ewes
the old man sat gazing at his daugh-
ter.
"Who--told you--that?" he gasped
She made no reply. sudden anxiety
for him banishing every other emo
. ton. With a mighty effort, and be.
fore she could prevent him, he arose
and staggered forward The group
dissolved and hurried towards him
Dsre garding the physician and the
woman. he leaned forward and
thrusting his face near to Holbn said
with frantic energy:
Sir, where is my niece? Where Is
Louise?' llolbin drew back. Speak
you coward Holbin did not reply,
but stood with eyes cast down, his
face as pale almost as that which
challenged him. The old man tore
At his throat and gasped in mighty
struggle for breath. MY will!-my
will!' he cried, moving feebly towards
his wife. She retreated, keeping Just
beyond his hand. "Give-me-ba back
theah-!" A look of unutterable
horror rose to his face; he wavered
plunged forward, and would have
fallen, but Brodnar took him in his
arms and laid him on the floor For
moment not a sound broke the
81 lence of the room