The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1902-05-15

SSSA1A ~.
has declared war on Germany"
Paul held his breath and stared hard.
"Then it is war. He has had the rash
ness to take the fatal step which will
result in his ruin"
Paul wondered how the sudden news
would affect his own mission to the
capital.
Could he now gain an interview with
the prince? That commander would
have his time fully occupied, Paul
knew, still he hoped for the best.
Then something in KarTs manner
struck Paul as strained, and he
anxiously inquired if he had brought
bad news from Heidelberg.
"The truth you must know at once,
no matter how it cuts. Heroic meas
ures are best. Prepare, then, for
shock, my friend. Some one you be-
lieved dead has appeared on the
scene'
Who is it," asked Paul, slowly.
"One who, If she be all you have
believed, would have done better to
have remained dead to the world at
least"
Paul started as if struck wicked
blow. "My God! Do you mean-my
mother?"
His companion slowly nodded his
faxen head.
"Alive-and 1 fondly believed the
grave had forever buried her sad secret.
Alive, and she has returned to Bea-
urix?"
Paul dropped his head into his hand
YEARLY, and seemed to be wrapped in
deep thought
One, two, three minutes crept by,
and Karl made no attempt to break
in upon his sad reflections. At length
Paul raised his head.
II am ready to hear what you know
Karl, although l can perceive that it is
far from pleasant news. Make it as
brief as you possibly can, consistent
with the facts"
'"That l will, and want you to
know, dear friend and brother, that
suffer with you.
when had seen you off on the
train l found my way to the stage of
Beatrix and the lady with whom she
lived. 1 speedily found way to gain
an entrance to the parlor, where pres
emily Beatrix came with tears in her
pretty eyes, to tell me Of the strange
thing that had happened-and to say
| farewell
| THAT very evening one had come
whom she had for years believed dead
come to her from Paris in the dark
! robes of a nun, and in whom she rec
ognized her once dearly loved mother,
who had learned that you were in Eu-
rope, doubtless seeking your sister
with the intention Of taking her away,
and this she seemed to dread. So
they were making hasty preparations
to go at once to Paris.''
Paul ground his teeth.
"How wretchedly unfortunate-to
Paris of all places, when, in few
months, the forces of King Wilhelm
will be hammering at the gates. If
had but been there to have prevented
it,"
II doubt whether you could, as Be-
atrix is not yet of legal age and still
amenable to her mothers rule"
Again Paul seemed to stare into
| vacancy.
| He was thinking of the past, think
| ing of that dearly beloved father who
had suffered so keenly through this one
fatal fault of the woman who had
borne his name and been the mother
Of his children. That father had
borne his cross in silence and never
had Paul heard him curse the fate
that made him an exile from his peo-
pie.
What was his duty?
| CHAPTER XIV.
| Since woman who sinned were for
| given in Palestine when He walked the
earth, had Paul Rhinelander, merely a
poor, weak, erring mortal himself, any
right to refuse to forget, especially
when the sinner was his own mother,
and years of atonement had witnessed
her repentance?
Thus he put the question to himself,
and as he wrestled, his better nature
assumed the upper turn, so that he
came out with firm determination to
sooner or later seek this mother, and
| hrinO hnr tho raccopo IF forui Won ooc