Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-04-16

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around whom so much of mystery hat
gathered, and that Frances referred &c
him in the tender word Husband" He
laid his hand upon the bell-cord snc
hesitated; then his wicked smile came
back again as he pulled it.
Tell your mistress shall be rlad Z,
she will favor me with her pre,enc,
here he said to William. When. a
few minutes later, Mrs. Brookin came
into the room he failed to hear her.
What is 1t, Raymond" she asked
He reused himself and spoke rapidly
Frances got her wounded soldier a
pass through our lines, and to please
her carried him to the front. After
ne left me I found these papers in the
buggy where he had dropped them
The fellows captain IL Richard
Somers."
Richard Somersi"
And now, madam, read the note
from Frances to him and let me con.
graduate you upon"
She read 1t rapidly, and when her
amazed face was lifted he added,
your son-in-law."
Il do not undsrstandi What Ao.s
It meant"
Answer that question for ne, moth.
Or; my head has ceased to be Of any
assistance. Undoubtedly, however. tn.
woman who you lead me to believe saye
you her promise to marry me SEINE day
= already In point Of law Richard
semer's wife and has forfeited her
right to any part OF her fathers es.
tate. Madam, fortune favors thu bold;
congratulate you'll" His manner be-.
trayed an intense excitement and BIZ
terness.
Wait. waiti" said the woman. qui.
city, her eyes riveted upon the letter.
1T seems that he was her husband
that night. Was not that nirhs prior
to the signing Of the will3"
"Yes. the night before" The son.
looldng upon his mothers faes, could
fnd' no evidspos Of satisfaction there.
1t was ghAsay. "Wh3. what il it
nowT'
"A stronger wtu and . elsarsr head
than we insa giae4 has been at wsr With
us. do nv kaSw tn. law, but thew
were trying to defeat the will IN ad-
vance. It does defect 1t In soma w.y
or our enemies would not have taken
the risk. II FRANCES were really mar
ried b.tor. the Viii was dsn.d, she
cannot comply VITA its requirements,
and the law will Act demand an impos-
sibility."
Welt" He beat forward, hi. voice
reduced to whisper.
1--WE have lost, Sev and ]. Except
for nay pittance, Ne shall be begsars
upon the day that FRANCES comes OF
age, and that d4y - near az mana.
A long silence fellowed. and then the
eyes Of mother and son met.
do you not share alike II the will.
faifsp"
mo. The intention Of my husband
will be operative; emily the condition
fails. There 10 no hope that wsy." His
mother looked from him and spoke
slowly.
rs there no remedy7'' he asked.
"Yes. II Richard Somers is not iiv,
ing when Frances comes Of age, or
should Frances"
Mother, mother. take carel. The
words burst In sudden energy from the,
wretched man. Lift a hand to harm
but one hair of her head, and, by the
Mother Of Cod"
'eHush! Hush!" she said, quietly.
"You love her; that is enough. She is
safe"
Swear It,"
Read the other letter." she said,
disregarding him. at is likely that q
man would mention his wife in his last
letter to his mother" Raymond
stripped off the envelope and shook
two letters TO 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.
"We are getting to the heart OF tAs
mystery" she said. "Read this one"
Raymond read in silence frst, and
then, leaning forward, excitedly read
aloud:
go to the girl married at your request
and say death has dissolved the bond.
Break the news to her as gently as pos
sible. for I 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 ]
have been foolish enough to love her and
to dream that some day you would permit
me to return and openly sock her out. But
- t., Io- lytll a a
mar. and II this letter reaches you. 1t will
be after 1t has killed your friend also! Go
to her and say that since he met her Rich
ard Somers has loved her as a man loyes
but once"
There were other lines dealing with
the friendship between the two men
while in Paris and containing tender
farewell.
at is now plain to me" he said. 1.-The
meddlesome scoundrel Brodnar Is the
author of the whole plotl" Mrs. Brook
in folded the letters into their places
Her hands.were without tremor.
Let them keep their secret. To in.
form them is to arm them. We will
continue to be-their dupes, Richard
Somers may not be living when Fran
oes reaches twenty-one; who can telli
The man who lost those letters has,
suppose, ere this made a full report"
THE man who lost the letters, moth
er, has reported elsewhere with bull
let through his heart"
raymond"
what does 1t matter7 We are kill
ing them in front of our lines every
day. One behind counts for little. HI
had pass; / needed it. l need it now
more than ever" The woman's fac.
| glowed with sudden light.
"You are too rash, my boy; take nc
steps before consulting me. In the