The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1901-08-06


cold calmness that enabled her to
meet them composedly. Almost before
they were seated Harvey who seemed
much excited opened the subject up.
permost In the minds Of an
so you threaten TO shut mp the
house and 20 to New York; he an
grily asked
1T is an intention, Harvey not a
threat"
And do you think Will submit TO
such course. merely because You
have chosen TO quarrel with my wife.
whose only onehsc has been her care
for us both? You do NOT know me.
madam"
Il am afraid / have never known
you. Harvey"
Perhaps not. you hadn't applied to
my character the test OF injustice aud
tho most monstrous selnshnoss ever
shown by mother. to sou'' DC holly
retorted. Helen had made good use OF
her half hour. you reared nae with
the expectation OF sharing your prop
erty: but for that | should not have
married And now you coolly say that
henceforth must depend upon myself
Il. who have been accustomed to
every luxury"
Il think you would have married in
any case" said Gladys, in a tone that
made his eyes wavor for a moment. 1t
Is as well: | do not fear for your fu-
ure. You certainly have not suffered
from my selhshness In the past"
Don't you think the less you say
about your past the better?" he asked.
carried beyond all prudence, all kind
ness, by burning sense OF his wrongs.
For full minute they looked stead
lily at each other; her womanly in
tuition enabled her to read the
thoughts that owed their existence to
Helen, aud her weakened affection for
him seemed to fall dead.
IF live to be hundred" she said
slowly. her face hard with seorn. Il
will never forgive you for that insult.
even though | know II originated with
the woman who has so strangely per-
verted your moral nature. Your wick
odness and covetousness deserve pun
ishment. and II has overtaken you in
the way you Will feel most: for though
you have no legal claim upon my
money, | always intended to provide
for you when you came OF age. and
should have carried out the intention.
in spite OF the fact that you married
against my wish. had not your wife's
character so soon revealed itself. Re
cent events have shown me that you
are equally unworthy and not a doll
lar OF mine shall ever pass into your
possession and hers unless you come
TO actual want"
A dead silence onsued. Both listen
.ors saw that Mrs Atherton was in
earnest. and had been pushed too far.
though righteously pushed; for they
had so blinded themselves by spoclous
reasonlns that even now they would
not admit they were wrong. IL was
Helen who broke the dreary pause.
"Ysu hated me from the first" she
said In a voice uneven with rage. "and
have well calculated your revenge. You
know would die for Harvey, and by
making me the apparent medium OF
his downfall. you try 10 inhict upon
me the most narrowing OF punish
ments. But here you fall. Gladys
Anterior, for II is you who have been
his ruin. You have seorned me. not
in words, perhaps. but with meaning
looks, for having decoyed him into
marriage before your appointed time.
1 know how you regard my people
that, too. your looks have told. And
what are you, pray, with all your
pride? In the beginning bold, PAM
pered girl following the first man who
though It worth his while to beckon
her TO shame, for aught she knew or
cared. so that her fancy was graft
fled"
Harvey" cried Gladys, deadly pale.
bid this impious woman be silent.
She ia speaking OF your mother"
"A mother TO be proud Of truly"
exclaimed Helen, her eyes Imperative
ly demanding Harvey's silence. though
she spoke so fast aud loud that he had
no opportunity to interrupt her. even
had he wished. THE wife OF drunk
ard and gambler. the widow Of a Grim
lnall desplse you. and so shall your
son. Be very sure OF that. But wen
have our right II we claim them In a
court OF law. doubt II you have
power to withhold what you call your
money. How do we know your story
is true2 You were not squeamlsh in
the past, when you had purpose to
serve. It appears. Why should you be
over particular at this late day."
Gladys. still pale, but with her
former look OF scorn intensified, turned
TO Harvey.
"You have heard your wife. sir. / |
have no claim upon her affection, as
on yours. and care nothing for her
opinion unless you uphold her in II. 4
DO your"
This Is not the time for heroic
,speeches and professions OF belief in
virtues that never existed" he said
sulklly, his eyes on Helen's prompting
face. I'VE must recognize the fact
that the person who marries unwlsely
entails certain consequences upon the
children OF the marriage for which he
or she owes them compensation.
~, couch Won I AZ my graudfatharta