The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1904-01-02


Enough! Icare to hear no more.
Miss Breton, as she is still known to
the world, is my honored wife. You
have enforced the sharing of our Sc
cret, but all honor compels that it
should be no less sternly respected.
ship has fallen from both our faces, |
have the honor to bid you good even:
ing"
mot yet, Travis! There is harder
duty yet in store for me. What
know you must know, and you shall
then decide whether I malign her. 1t
is too late to repair the evil, though
God knows I would gladly lay down
ten years of my life to undo my share
in this nights work. With what can
dor has this woman treated you? Have
you heard the story of her life? Do
you know that she has not only been
wife and mother, but the murdress
Of her child?"
"You lie!"
Like tiger at bay Lennox sprang
forward, but his uplifted arm dropped
nerveless, while on his nvid lips trem-
bled drop of scarlet as he went on:
You know me too well to deem me
a coward for not resenting those
words, which, under any other provo
cation, would at least be challenged to
eternal silence. Would to God that
they were true-that it was a lie! DO
you think would speak thus, at such
a time, without other proof than idle
hearsay? Do you think it pleasant
task which l have appointed myself,
or have you known me all these years
as slanderer and maligner of wom-
ans fair fame? You once laughingly
accused me of dreading the fire as a
burned child, and l acknowledged the
truth of your assertion. The flame of
Barbara Bretton's beauty did not leave
me unscorched. There were weeks
when all my waking moments were
filed with her image-she haunted my
dreams-when to be with her was to
taste of heaven and it's joys. loved
her not with the pure love have ever
felt for Avice. Which, has stood a bar.
rier between me and sin these many
years, but with a mad fascination
which swept away even the memory
of the child whom heretofore I had
held enshrined in my very heart. She
intoxicated and enthralled me, until
learned the awful blacSness of heart
of which her beauty was the mask.
You do not yet believe me; your lip
curls in scorn. 1t is, perhaps, revenge
l seek for my own blighted affection.
No, Trayis, had reason to believe my
love was returned; but read this, and
perhaps then you will turn shudder-
ingly away from the whited sepulchre
which has entombed you"
TWAS Partisan journal, dated back
many years, and heading one OF its
columns, in haring letters, was Bar
bara Bretton's name
When Travis raised his head from
it's perusal, a gray shadow. as of death,
had crossed it's bright, boyish beauty,
as he staggered to his feet and fell on
mis- friends shoulder.
"Merciful God!" he groaned. "Mil-
ION, how long have you known this
thing?'
Il had long suspected it, from ru-
mors which were af1oat and which
reached MY ears, but which as rumors
dared not repeat even to you. ! was
,, warned on the eve Of offering her Ey
name. To dare insult her by any prop
osition less bonoring never once
crossed my mind. held her but lit
tie lower than the angels, and | had
; reason to believe that my love met
with it's return; but: the friend who
came to me opened my eyes to the
f1ower-strewn abyss upon whose brink
stood. Only to-day this paper
reached me, by whom sent know not
but giving confirmation as clear as
Holy Writ to the story. Married for
| gold, deserted, forsaken; in turn de-
sorting and forsaking her child. The
:otoriety OF her career since then, he1
success upon the stage, to which she
turned for support. the many mer
whose young lives she has doomed
Oh, Travis, that your name should
have been added to the fatal list!"
1T cannot be; it is some foul night
mare from which shall awakei\
Milton, my father and sister must cav
er know of this. Take her this paper
tell her l know all, and only on con
dition that she never make public hel
claim to my honored name will W.
keep her secret. My life is blasted
yet this hour, this moment should sht
enter here, l could not resist her. Ye
now I see it all-the tool, the dupe
which I have been. Miserable fool
unhappy wretch! Tell her she will
find each year certain sum at m.
bankers for her support, but that
will never look upon her fair, falls
face again. How shall I look into n,
fathers eyes, or receive his dyin,
blessing, should he live to grant il
knowing l have brought dishonor o.
his heretofore unblemished name?
and Travis ended in q burst of bite
sobs.
Come, youngster, time is speed
ing!" interrupted Lennox. a half hou