Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-10-11
OR MISTAKEN?
CHAPTER v.-{Continuedl


done. Monica lies under stigma, and
even if she were nothing to me, l should
demand that her name De cleared"
Il see,' she said mockingly, "some-
one must be guilty, and il it is not Mon
lea, it must be l, preferably l. DO as
you please about her, marry her; / shall
not interfere with you"
We can't leave the matter here, -
said Essington; "she has been publicly
accused of a crime she has not COM
mitted; behind the crime lie deeper
me to command"
There, don't get tragic" she said,
rising, and smiling half pityingly. ~ am
not In love; | am not led away by emo
tionahsm. The best thing | can do is TO
make home Of my own, and let your
wife reign here. l must really decline
TO acknowledge her."
Essington moved a step before her,
barring her way. The sort of passion,
that had stirred him had given way to
an 0mln0us calmness, the concentration
of all his forces. She stood STILL unde-
cided what to do. She saw her darling
in new character.
IF this accusation is true" he said.
IL shall bear in mind that you were
swayed by love for me; and Monica is
as ready TO forgive as / am. But we
lLtISL oSLliG THIS mere ana now.
you, Ernest"
Il never had need. l have a weapon
if you still refuse to satisfy me; but / do
think, L earnestly hope, you will not
force me to use it,
She caught his arm convulsiyely.
"What!' she gasped, you would drag
me, your mother into a public court. ac-
euse me yourself of defamation and lies
my son?'
You viii not force me-" said Essing-
ton.
You will believe ME if say what you
want me to say, but not if l deny. That
is pre-judging."
You need scarcely deny now, mother,
he said, with dry lips.
but whatever | say here, | must not
be called upon to repeat in public she
said eXcitedly. IF il comes to tbot
do what you ike-take me before n
magistrate, and prove the accusation if
you canr'
Think over that" said Essington.
after pause, in which he seemed tn
waver; think what it would be for me,
your son, to stand up and accuse Won
my mother. 1t is quite a different thing
for you to confess openly, for aught the
world knows, of your own free will. that
undo it." ~
1 must be the sacrifice, that Won NAV
marry woman at whom no one can
cast stone"
No., said Essington quickly, 81 would
marry her If all the world flung scorn af
her: Whatever you do will not alter my
action, L cannot answer for her. Which
will you dor"
She flung herself into her chair, beat
ing her foot on the floor. She waved
Off hn
towards her.
Keep away from mev' she said. 'T
am nothing to you now. My disappoint-
ment, my shame, weigh nothing against
single wish or fancied need of that girl
you have set on a pinnacle! If you will
have it, l did lay the plan-she is no
thier! L hid the money, used it after
wards, of course, put the key in her
arawer-chose the time, as she said.
You recoT, she started up, ''but think of
my suffering, to see this girl fill all your
heart"
placer
THAT is what you say, but it isn't
true! l who was first with you all your
life. l, who loved only you, had to stand
by and see this unknown girl, whose
very name may not be her own, win you
without an effort! If you had been less
tNAIlIIuit nay, iSsS Eeduy TO De1leNe Qer
against me, my plan would have succeed
ed. | knew she was the one woman in
The world for you, as you say. If you
lost her, / gained you for lifev'
Did you reckon the cost, to her, to
meE' said Essington, sitting with his
bowed head in his hands, as if he were
crushed. She had risen and was pacing
about or standing still for a moment
while she spoke.
How should 1 care for her suffering?"
she said. For yours" she paused,
then, with a sudden revulsion of feeling,
and threw herself at his feet. Essing
ton started up in horror.
Mother, you must not! You shall
not!' he said, striving to lift her.
You shall not stir me-" she said,
through her teeth, ''till you promise I
shall not repeat this in public. will not
be slammed"
Did you spare Monica. who was limo
cent, who had to bear what you will not,
the blacklist imputations?"
Ernest" she cried wildly. 81 am your
mother, your name mine, remember that.
What have done after all? Loved you
too much"
81 cannot argue it." said Essington. II
can only forgive to the utmost, but you
must do this thing | will do all for you
l can, / can do no more. How can Mo-
INCA be cleared! The story Will always
be brought up against her, and it will
he believed Don't kneel to me, mother,
and love me still"
Love you" she said, suffering herself
to be raised, 'no, it is not me you love,
nor my love you care for! Remember, l
will never be friends with her, you must
choose between her and me-"
Essington did not answer this: he saw
how terribly excited she was; she prob
ably would repudiate such words when
she was calmer. An attempt to soOthe
her was met by an order to leave her:
while she was in the house she would
choose her own way.
Essington went out slowly. The inter-
view had beaten him to the ground.
There was no one by to soothe or sustain
linn, no one to whisper that this was the
blacklist hour, and that tomorrow his
mother would have come to her better
self, willing TO be forgiven and striving
TO atone. What really reused him was
sudden anxious thought whether she
ought to be alone, whether she might do
anything rash. or, at least, make her es-
cape, He listened at her door, but all
seemed quiet as usual. Nevertheless, he
sat up all night, on the watch.
CHAPTER VI.