Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-10-10
CHAPTER X.
THE TRUTH AT LAST.
They reared no trophy DER his grave,
They bade no requiem flow.

They reared no trophy DER his grave,
They bade no requiem flow.
The nuns at the convent school were
delighted to receive their old pupil and
her charming sister. They were grateful
in their simple minded way to anyone
who remembered and revisited them
after they had entered. what the nuns
spoke of with a shudder, as "the gay
world"
The mother superior was a darkroom
plexioned woman of about so; her face,
although sadly worn, bore traces of great
beauty, but it was set in hard lines that
betokened q resolute will as she listened
to Lady Sefton's appeal.
Then, although you admit that my
real name was Joan Vereker Vane, you
really know nothing more, and can only
suggest that your predecessor, who is
dead, may have known my sad story
Even while you speak so, madame, you
admit that there is sad story"
The superior hooked at her with 4
strange shrinking IN her glance, almost
as if she disliked to let her eyes rest on
the fair face uplifted to her own.
"f yon take my advice" she said
gravely, you will let the past rest. and
go back with your husband to the home
you never should have left Why try
to ascertain facts that seem to have
been carefully kept from you? Remem-
Der our common mother, Eve, and how
she fell through curiosity"
Il must find out the truth. I shall
never be happy until I know all" insist
ed Joan obstinately.
Very well, so be it," said the superior,
with the air of one who washed her
hands of a disagreeable affair; "if the
knowledge of the truth increases your
unhappiness, you will only have your
self 10 blame Your father, Gerald Yer
eker Vane, spent a wild youth; during
this wild youth he married a woman who
was rather a saint, and therefore entire
ly unsuited TO him.
when he was about 80, just after
your birth. he met woman who was
considered beautiful, and whom he
thought congenial. The fact that he and
this woman were both married, and that
each of them had child, mattered not
to their wild passionate natures, and,
disregarding all other ties, they fed TO-
gether.
$50 far the story is vulgar and sordid
eHougns II was the unexpected enIlng
that raised it TO tragedy, This guilty
woman had husband who was an Ital-
ian, and OF a revengeful nature. He fol-
lowed and overlook the guilty pair.
There was a duel, and your father was
killed. They had fought without sec
onds, and Vereker Vane's pistol had not
been discharged. There was a talk of
foul play, and the Italian was lodged in
prison. Before inquiries could be made
into the circumstances Of the case he
took his own life"
Her voice broke on the concluding
words, and she bowed her head and
crossed herself with a trembling hand.
"You knew my father, madam" Joan
asked gently.
II knew both men!" The answer was
spoken with SO much agitation that it
increased Joan's surprise.
ut is a terrible story" she remarked
thoughtfully; "and yet it is hardly what
expected to hear. If my father sinned,
he at least paid the penalty. This
woman that you speak Of, who shared
his guilt, is she livingi"
''The name of the woman who sinned
20 deeply Is long since forgotten" said
the superior, who was very pale, and