Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1901-06-12
Sac read it rapidly. and when ner

II mean?
Answer that question for me. moth
err; my head has ceased 10 be of any
assistance. Undoubtedly, however. the
woman who you lead me TO believe gave
you her promise to marry me some day
is already in point of law Richard
Somer's wife and has forfeited her
right to any part of her fathers es-
tate. Madam, fortune favors the bold;
L congratulate you!" His manner be-
trayed an intense excitement and Bit
terness.
Wait, watt" said the woman, uui-
city, her eyes riveted upon the letter.
1t seems that he was her husband
that night. Was not that night prior
to the signing of the will?"
YES, the night before" The son.
looking upon his mothers face. could
find no evidence OF satisfaction there.
1t was ghastly. why, what is it
now?"
"a stronger will and clearer head
than we imagined has been at war with
us. / do not know the law. but they
were trying to defeat the will in ad-
vance. 1t does defeat it in some wav.
or our enemies would not have taken
the risk. If Frances were really mar
ricd before the will was signed. she
cannot comply with its requirements,
and the law Will not demand an imDos-
sibility."
Welt" He bent forward, his voice
reduced to a whisper
eve have lost, YOU and T. Except
for my pittance, we shall be beggars
upon the day that Frances comes of
age; and that day is near at hand"
long silence followed. and then the
eyes of mother and son met.
DO you not share alike if the will
fails?"
mo. The intention of my husband
will be operative; only the condition
fails. There is no hope that way" His
mother looked from him and spoke
slowly.
"Is there no remedy?" he asked.
yes. If Richard Somers is not liv-
ing when Frances comes of age, or
should Frances"
Mother, mother, take carei" The
words burst in sudden energy from the
wretched man. Lift hand to harm
but one hair of her head, and, by the
Mother of God"
Hush! Hush!" she said. quietly.
You love her; that is enough. She is
safe"
Swear it,
Read the other letter" she said.
disregarding him. 1T is likely that
man would mention his wife in his last
letter TO his mother" RAYMOND
stripped off the envelope and shook
two letters 10 the table. One, unsealed,
was addressed to Mrs. Martha Somers.
Nothing but gush." he said, running
his eye hurriedly over the lines. Mrs.
Brookin had picked up the other, which
was addressed to DR. Brodnar.
I'VE are getting to the heart OF the
mystery" she said. Read this one"
Raymond read in silence first. and
then, leaning forward, excitedly read
aloud:
Go 10 the girl married al your request
and say death has dissolved the bond
Break the news to her as gently as pos
sible, for have been vain enough to be-
lieVe that the child loves me. You pre-
pared the way by your Partially, and her
loneliness and excess Of gratitude accom-
plished the rest. Let me confess that I
nave been foolish enough to love her and
TO dream that some day you would permit
me To return and openly seek her out. But
this cursed war has killed my dream Rrod-
mar, and IL this letter reaches you. it will
be after II has killed your friend alsoi Go
TO her and say that since he met her Rich
ara Somers has loved her as a man loves
but once"
There were other lines dealing with
the friendship between the two men
while in Paris and containing a tender
farewell
1T is now plain to me-" he said "The
meddlesome scoundrel Brodnar is the
author of the whole plot" Mrs. Brook
in folded the letters into their places.
Her hands were without a tremor.
Let them keep their secret. To in
form them is to arm them. We will
continue to bc-their dupes. Richard
Somers may not be living when Fran
"2s reaches twenty-one; who can tell?
The man who lost those letters has,
suppose. ere this made full report"
The man who lost the letters, moth
err, has reported elsewhere with a bull
let through his heart"
Raymond"
What does il matter? We are kill
ing them in front OF our lines every
DAY. One behind counts for little. He
had a pass; l needed il. need it now
more than ever" The woman's face
gIowed with a sudden light.
You are too rash. my boy; take no
steps before consulting me. In the
meantime these papers have no value
for us. Burn them. burn them now.
But no! give me the letter to Brod-
mar; it may be valuable some day as
evidence that Richard Somers il
dead" One by one Holbin held the
others over lighted matches and saw
/ them vanish into ciuders. His moth
er placed her hand upon his shoulder.
Raymond, you are again planning
/ to cross the lines"
Il know what I am doing! DO not
seek to influence me"
What do you meau?"
There is no time for explanation.
I M Is g.