Waterbury Democrat., 1901-03-07

~''1HiS is an unexpected pleasure, Stuart" truth. l leave her this week. anyway. I'd as soon live With the devils wife as with her. and no mistake. begging par don if she is your relative"
 Stuart clinched his hands tightly, and in his heart he utteredNa groan.
 There stood Aunt Royal, her face flaming. She had come into the hall through a side door right behind the servant. How much of the mans story she had heard Stuart could not tell, but it was enough to let her know that Stu art at last knew.
 Its q lie, a misera ble lier' she scream ed. It was the only time Stuart ever ! saw her in passion. He had his back to the door. and for q moment he look ed her in the face, and then, without q word, he turned around, opened it and walked out. The warm sunshine seen- ed like something almost human as h closed that door behind him and walk ed away. Nile knew the truth now. At last there was no doubt in his mind that Louise had been denied a shelter in her greatest need by this society woman, who would risk hell itself rath- CT than the possible loss of society | standing and her own selfish ease and i pleasure. And that he was right in believing the servants story was shown by after events as well as by items of news which came to him from various sources through New York acquaint- ances.
 Putting all he could gather into a connected series, he managed, before returning to Champion, to learn in gen eral what must have been Louise's eX- perience after Nasplaine had ruined her financially and then brutally aban- donel her.
 l She had found herself practically without friends in New York. The only relative there was Aunt Royal. She 1 naturally turned to her in the hour of | her trouble, She was probably 1t that | time well nigh craZed with the success sion of blows that had fallen upon her. It seemed to Stuart incredible at first | that VaSplainc in so short time could | get possession of Louses money and suuander it. But the more he learned of his career the less he wondered. Louise had trusted him, fascinated by l certain attractiveness such men of ten possess. And when he finally left l | city, ruined.
 l Her aunt's refusal to receive >her add ed the final stroke to the weight of her | shame and misery. Stuart never knew l what Louise had done after leaving 1 her aunts house before she appeared so unexpectedly in Champion. There were at least two days when he sup posed sine must have wandered about or taken the wrong train to get home, all that time fast losing her reason and yet with enough left to shape her 1, way back to the old home. The shock of her experiences told the story of her condition as Stuart fouAd her when he lifted her up from the doorstep that rainy night.
 All this gave Stuart bitter thoughts as he hurried back to Champion. He | almost dreaded to get off the train for fear the doctor would meet him. as he did before when his father had died,
 but no one was there with any news
 and when he reached the house he was
 surprised to find Louise sitting up and
 looking no worse than when he went
 away. He tried to take courage fol 1 her. The doctor said she might linge!
 on through the summer, but gave nc 1 hope of mental recovery. With this
 constant shadow of death in theil
 home, therefore, Stuart and Rhena
 with thoughtful and serious hearts
 their love for each. other refined ant d strengthened by this af1liction, wen
 forward with their great plans for tit
 brptherhood of Champion.
 The Hall of Humanity was going uI
 rapidly now. Stuart had determined .I to have it ready for dedication before
 winter set in if possible. He had eln
 ployed q very large force of the bes'
 Morkmen he could find. All this. ol