Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-08-22

! neT:
You have a son in the wardepart-
ment who is in great danger, and his
indiscretion has endangered you and
our whole system"
"Lower!--spesk lower, for Gods
sakei"
HE mas grossly deceived and
wronged a woman named Louise. and
has been rash enough to let her into
his and your secrets"
Mrs. Brookin was almost unable to
articulate; the other handed her
glass of water.
Where is she---this Loui.e?" she
asked thep.
MAIDEN, she stands before you"
Louise had then and there part Of
her revenge; the elder woman, in spite
Of all her experience, gave way TO
sudden panic. But only few moments
was she absolutely helpless. Habit and
the calm face before her restored her
presence Of mind.
What is IL we can DO for this woman
who has been so badly treated2 She
has no cause to doubt nae. Tell me
how l may serve her" Her voice was
calm and insinuatingly conctiiatory.
"She demands a public marriage,
madam. Until this year she has be-
lieved herself less than the legal wife
Of Raymond Holbin, though God knows
she never intended to be less than that.
She was his wife abroad. openly ac-
knowledged as such, and now she has
proof of that fact-abso undoubt-
ed proof of the highest character
afidavits Of acquantances, registers,
letters addressed to her in his own
handwriting and photographs. All
this mass of evidence is properly cer-
titled to in duplicate. and she has one
copy Of each in the hands OF her law
yers in Washington and one copy here.
Madam, your son has lived with this
woman as his acknowledged wife, and
l am assured that under Virginia law
she is his wife and would inherit his
estate"
"Ah! She wishes money!"
mo. She wishes to have her child
restored"
Her child? Ravmond's child?"
ALAS. madam, one word answers
you--yes!'
He has not told me this" said the
mother. at Is all that he had left 10
tell; his life has been great, a pain
full disappointment to me"
ut is likely that he mas not told YOU
other things. He is preparing for
transmission information which he
thinks is good for vast sum Of money;
and there is the trouble. for 7 believe,
as YOU sit before me. madam, that,
having given me his sacred promise,
his sworn promise to send it by Louise,
join her later and right all her wrongs,
he is really planning 10 desert her
again. And in that event. madam he
would leave desperate woman be-
hind"
What could such woman do then?
Who would believe her-a self-con-
fessed spy?"
That thought has already impressed
me deeply. ] am satisfied now that
the woman's safest plan is 10 sec that
he doesn't leave until ne has met her
demands And. madam. you have tho
power TO control him. At six o'clock,
unless I see you both earlier, | shall
address an anonymous communica-
| ton"
| viii you take tea with MS al six. IN
stead-in my own apartments?
think that better
AT six then. | like the ideal"
! In the privacy of her ov n room Mrs.
Brookin gave unrestrained expression
TO rage that was consuming her. No
one who knew the cool, suave. tactful
woman of affairs would have recog-
nized her at that moment. She paced
the luxurious apartment with the fury
and abandon of tigress cntrapped
her crushed parasol and the emblems
of her mourning beneath her feet. Re-
sponsive 10 her furious ringing, Will
liam came running to the room at in
tervals of five minutes to answer over
and over:
NO ma am, Mr.. Raymond amt come
in yet" and returned 10 tell below
stairs that "Mistis is done gone plum
mad over some PM" Raymond came
at last. As he entered his mothers
room such a storm burst upon him as
he had not dreamed could emanate
from the heart Of a woman. She had !
been Inundated. outwitted and belit-
tied by an adventuress she declared;
she had been threatened and would be |
forced into a compromise with crea- |
ture ofthe cutters, and if they carried |
out their contract. what triumph for |
Brodnar and the jealous envious peo-
pie who had resented their entrance |
into Richmond society! At the mo- |
ment she hated even her son; she |
blamed him for his insane disregard Of |
her wishes, he Mad been marplot,
she declared baking her efforts 10
advance his fortunes, winning disgrace !
where she had opened the path 10 !
honor; and now nothing was left for |
him but marriage with low woman, !
and the loss of all for which she had |
striven.
Take her" cried the despairing |
woman. land out of my sight forever.
Go down to her level-starve and leave
your miserable offspring TO wretched-
ness She gave way al length under !
the strain, and Raymond for the first |
time in his life beheld his mother
abandon herself to tears. He stood /
moodily looking from the window I'M