Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-10-01

without telling you the truth. / love
you. father. 1 would have been
your dear daughter IL you had not
put it beyond my power"
Child What is it you are say
ing?"
do you not understand, father?"
she said. passionately. do you not
know that that woman has for wears
deprived you of your independence
of your freedom? Now she has taken
your property Can't you see it? You
have been robbed of everything-and
II Oh, she has preyed upon your
hottest feelings; she has turned you
against your own child-the child to
whose mother you promised to guard
and guide!"
He raised himself in his chair. A
look of fright was upon his face.
"See!" she cried, there is the wom-
an with her son dividing your prop
erty before you are dead oh. they
think am harmless, now; 1 am not to
to be feared! the die is cast, the will
is signed, and you, father, have be-
trayed your only child into the hands
OF her bitterest enemy"
He was speechless and pale. HI,
dull eyes were fixed on the girls.
But no." he said family, "this cam
not be- 1t cannot bel Ny child. you
tire ~~vrwS good woman-ana
Raymond-he has been very kind, 50
very kind!"
"You are blinded, father; you are
unsuspecting. Tell me, have they
ever said that for months 1 have been
eager to be with you; that?"
you, Francesl Why, you refused
over and over" She sank her head
upon her chair.
"And you believed that of me? II
was untrue-a cruel, cruel invention"
Mother and son caught the sound
OF her agitated voice and would have
DR.. Brodnar, drawing the sofa around
as though to sit with them, stood
with his hand resting upon it, com
pletely blocking their way.
To-day and tonight" he said, che
must have absolute quiet Continue
the powders 1 have left, and see that
he does not attempt, under any cir
cumstances, to walk about the room
He continued rapidly to give direc-
tions concerning the treatment OF the
patient, and disregarded the woman's
efforts to pass him. Frances lowered
her voice and continued earnestly:
You do not believe me, father, you
do not realize what you have done.
You do not know the man to whom
you have consigned me, nor the wom-
an to whom you gave your name
years ago. You knew nothing thenl
You know nothing nowI You took
her from Washington because she
fascinated you as she had fascinated
all those other men. You believed
in her, because she knew Intimately
the great politicians. She was smart,
too smart Cor an honest, honorab BILE
Virginia gentleman. oh, my eyes
have been opened to-day; the son is
worthy of his mother. 1 do not know
who Louise is, but friend has just
tod me to say to you this: Ask
Raymond Holbin what he has done
tn Louise; for he is the imam who
trayrd her 5J' mock marriage aud
t. her abroad"
l.otionless, but with straining eyes,
the old man sat gazing at his daugh-
ter.
"Who-told you-that?" he rasped.
She made no reply, a sudden anxie1v
Tor him banishing every other emo
ton. With mighty effort, and be-
fore she could prevent him, he arose
and staggered forward. The rroup
dissolved and hurried towards him.
Disregarding the physician and the
woman, he leaned forward. and
thrusting his face near to Holbin said
with frantic energy:
Sir, where is my niece? Where is
Louise?" Holbin drew back. Speak.
you coward" Holbin did not reply.
but stood with eyes cast down. his
race as pale almost as that which
challenged him. The oldsman tore
at his throat and gasped in a mighty
struggle for breath. "NIy willl-my
Will he cried, moving feebly towards
his wife. She retreated, keeping lust
beyond his hand. "Give-me-bacl-
the-ah-!" A look of unutterable
horror rose to his face; he wavered,
plunged forward, and would have
fallen, but Brodnar took him in his
arms and laid him on the floor. For
n moment not n sound broke the
silence of the room.
"Who-will protect my daugh-
terP he whispered. Frances, his
hand in hers, knelt in agony by his
side.
Have no fear of me, my father,
God has raised up defender!" Hear
ing this, Brodnar suddenly thrust
back the group, leaving the girl alone
with the dying man, to whom she
whispered earnestly and rapidly. AS
he lay looking into her face a new
light came for brief moment to his
and vanished. Brodnar, kneeline,
placed his ear above the motionless
heart. The moments passed.
Dead" he said at length, and
arose. Raymond Holbin had paused
at the door. He turned and ex-
changed chances with his mother and
passed out.
Frances lay with her face upon the
dead mans breast.
CHAPTER vi.