The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1901-11-07

ebman as his acknowledged wife, and
liam assured that under Virginia law
che il his wife and would inherit his
Estate"
"Ah! She wishes money!
"No. She wishes 10 have her child
restored"
Her child? Raymond'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 to
tell; his life has been a great, a pain
Iul disappointment to me-"
1t Is likely that he has 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 ! believe. |
as you sit before me. madam, that.
having given me his sacred promise.
Ibis sworn promise to send IL by Louise.
join her later and right all her wrongs.
he Is really planning to desert her
again. And in that event, madam. he
would leave a desperate woman be-
hind"
What could such a woman do then?
Who would believe her-a self-con-
fessed spy?'
THAT thought has already impressed
me deeply. I am satisfied now that
the woman's safest plan Is to see that
he doesn't leave until he has met her
demands. And. madam, you have the
power to control him. At six o'clock.
unless ] see you both earlier. ! shall
address an anony nous communica-
ton"
"will you take tea with MS at six, in
stead-in my own apartments?
think that better"
AT six then. ] like the ideal"
In the privacy of her own room Mrs.
Brookin gave unrestrained expression
20 a 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 a tigress entrapped.
her crushed parasol and the emblems
of her mourning beneath her feet. Re-
sponsive to her furious ringing. Will
liam came running 10 the room at in
tervals OF Ave minutes TO answer over
and over:
NO. ma'am, Mr.. Raymond ain't come
in yet" and returned to tell below
stairs that "Mistis is done gone plum
mad over some'p'n!" Raymond came
at last. As he entered his mothers
room such u storm burst upon him as
he had not dreamed could emanate
from the heart of woman. She had
been humiliated, outwitted and belit-
tied by an adventures, she declared
She had been threatened and would be
forced into a compromise with crea'
turc ofthe cutters, and II they carried
out their contract, what q triumph for
Brodnar and the jealous. envious peo
pie who had resented their entrance
into Richmond society! At the mo
nent she hated even her son; she
blamed him for his insane disregard oi
her nhes: he had been q marPlot
she declared. baking her efforts Il
advance his fortunes, winning disgrace
where she had opened the path Il
honor; and now nothing was left fol
him hut marriage with low woman
and the loss Of all for which she hat
striven.
Take her." cried the despairinl
woman, land out Of my sight forever
Go down to her level-starve, and leave
your miserable offspring to wretched
ness" She gave way at length undel
the strain, and Raymond for the frs
time In his life beheld his motheI
abandon herself to tears. He stoo'
moodily looking from the window un
III she grew quieter. When he turne'
she was carefully righting the room
her face was pale, but her old expires
sion of resolve had returned, and
dangerous light shone In her eyes.
You spoke OF marriage" he said
DO yon think Louise will insist upo'
ihat? VIII she not be satisfied with tn
.hild?"
"she will dictate the terms, not you
She is desperate enough for anything
and I know what a desperate woma
sill do TO save herself" Raymon
turned quickly and looked at his moth
or. She did not avoid his questionin
gaze. "Sbe will denounce us both {
the government IL you do not MARI
her and give her back the child.
should " were In her place. And sh
~ill make public announcement OF he
tlaim to . common law marriage Wit
Gou."
He waited In silence a minute, q
though to weigh her words.
''whether or not Louise substaI
tiates her claim, proof OF your immor'
life would kill the will Of my husban
tor public policy would not comp
Frances TO marry you to inherit HI
property. II will not compel your
siri to condone immoral conduct Il
which Il would grant married wor
en- divorce"
Then We are ruinedl" said Ra
aoud. II shall look out for mysel
prcmise her anything Tonight ri
seinshness Of the decision would ha'
been appalling to anyone but b
mother. She looked at him a momen
sarcastic smile lowering shout b
nps.
"And I shall look out for myself
She began this Selfrpreservstion ]
sssntly, end with > falsebocd 80 !
genious that its use 81 that mosnel
ssaid slsns have proves her ability
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