The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1904-01-02
Barbara Bretton s
- Ambitio > |
CHAPTER VlI.-continued.

CHAPTER vlI.-continued.
"Tell me, then, that may prove
them false-nay, show you how you
wrong her!" exclaimed Meredith, re-
Stunning his seat, and refolding his
arms across his breast.
six months ago l entered my box
at the theater. 1t was the first night
OF Barbara Bretton's engagement
Some of the fame of her beauty had
preceded her, but as my eyes fell on
her that night all praise paled in the
reality. Night after night Toasted on
her loneliness. Each night some out
ward evidence of homage fell at her
feet. Weeks passed before l could
obtain an introduction to her. sought
1t in vain. At last she granted my re-
quest, and permitted me to be brought
into her presence. From that hour
thought l loved her. She fascinated
me as no other woman had ever done.
l was even mad enough to dream of
asking her to become my wife-I. WHO
Ill my life had put the child for whom
1 was waiting before all other women
Then-how, it matters not-was laid
before me the story Of her past. And
such past! I shrink back Mortified,
appalled,! Travis, will you force me
into telling more! Will you not spare
me and yourself? You will forget this
siren when the ocean rolls between
you"
Speak on! I am waiting!" Travis
answered sternly.
LAS you will, then. Listen! At
sixteen Barbara Breton left her quiet
country home in England, stealing
from the old farm house in the night.
AT the same time there disappeared
from the neighborhood young man
who had been spending there in idle
ness the summer months.
Doubtless her beauty had attracted
him and he had found her too easy
victim to his willy tongue. The sequel
Of their sudden flight was but too
plain. They had gone together. This
was proven later by the fact that they
had been seoa together in Paris. she
Calling aerseif his wife.
Her mother, bowed with shame,
sank into the grave. Her father cursed
her and swore that, though she starved
at his very doors, they should not open
to receive her. Months passed on.
her child was born. She concealed
the fact from every one until, when
it was three months old, she deter
mined to make the stage her profess
sion-to leave her native land and
come here where she was unknown.
ITO do this she must bury every
trace of the past. The young man had
long deserted her-was soon to he
married to another, d woman in his
own rank Of life. The child! This
was the stumbling block.
! with such woman tbcre cou"l he
no hesitation. With her own hands
she administered a drug to the steep
ing babe, then, at night. carried 1t to
die on the steps of La Madelaine, fan.
cying her secret secure. The chil1
was found-dead. Inquiry was made
It was traced to her door. She was ar.
rested. Witnesses were found vino
poison; others who had seen her tea!
from the house with the infant in heI
arms.
Fortunately for her no trace 81
poison was found in the child's ston:
ach. and the verdict rendered was
death from exposure; so she escaped
the fclon's cell. Since then her lifs
has been without hope as without re
morse-smbition and greed her gods
Many man has gone from her iata
loveliness to send a bullet through lis
brain, and she has read his death sen
tence with laugh-aye, as she would
read mine or yours!
Travis, my eyes were opened il
time to the abyss on whose flower
strewn brink I stood. From such :
fate would sage you. What have yol
to say now?"
ITO say? To such calnmny Their
can be but one answer, come it from
friend or foe!" shouted Travis, hi
voice hoarse with passion, springing t.
his feet and darting forward on
swift blow.
But ere it descended Milton Ler
nox caught and held the uplifted arr
in his own strong grasp, while the tw
men, each white as marble, looked ur
finchingly into each others eyes.
CHAPTER Viii.
The Struggle.
Thus sixty seconds dragged thei
slow length along, the hard, lahore
breathing of each the only sound