The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-11-11
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! acter. They spoke of Grace Sylvester
having had other suitors. They limited
at passages between her and Malcolm
Barrett. They suggested that he was
accepted because he possessed money,
and thus could give her boy better
home and more expensive training
than Malcolm Barrett.
Unconsciously the man became
brusque in his manner at home. He
sometimes sat silently glowering at the
avoid seeing his stepson for days. Once
he would prattle with him for an en-
tire evening. Then, when he surprised
Grace in tears, he would never offer
a word of sympathy.
The end came just about a fortnight
before this night when Richard Ire
coming was striding along in restless
anxiety and bitterness. His anony-
nous correspondent had explicitly as
serted that Grace Sylvester had boast
ed of her conquest, and had boldly
declared that she should accept him
because he was a good "catch," and
because it would be "a good thing for
her boy" Nay she had even said
that she did not care for him. Let him
tax her with her crime if he doubted
it!
And he did tax her. His wrath
overwhelmed her.
did you marry me simply to get
home for your boy? Was our we'd
ding a loveless marriage on your part?
Was your VOW lie and a fraud? Were
you faithless in heart, if not in fact?"
Out rushed the questions, leaving
the poor woman speechless, powerless
to quell his rage. Then her tears fell
as the indignat man proceeded to still
further interrogate her. The pent-up
suspicion of weeks had now cruel
expression impaired to it.
In her emotion she had admitted
that when she accepted him she first
thought of securing a home for her
boy, and he had accepted this admis-
sion as justification of all the sinister
accusations. At all events he had
rushed violently from the house.
The man still strobe up and down
this unfrequented green lane. AT last
he entered a field in which he and
Grace had otter wandered, and flung
himself on the turf. 1t was close
summer evening, and while he was
communing with himself-half ap-
plauding, half upbraiding-he fell
asleep. His very emotion had ex-
hausted him.
you know. my dear Mrs. Tregon-
ming, you have all my sympathy.
cannot tell you how 1 deplore the I'M
fortunate business 1 had not believed
that Mr.. Tregonning could have be-
haved with such callousness."
Richard Tregonning awoke with a
start as these words fell on his ear.
For the moment his faculties, not yet
quite under control, he imagined he
was dreaming. He wondered how his
wife could be there. but instantly re-
called the fact that he was near her
fathers house. But who could be
talking to her thus-in tones he in
stinctively felt to be untrue?
"Of course, my dear, when you mar
ried Richard Tregonning, / only
thought you did it because he was
able to provide a good home for your
boy-because he was good CATCH"
Good heavens! this was the very
language of his letters; Was he now
about to receive confirmation of all
his harsh fears and doubts? He re-
manned in his PROSTATE position, intent
on every word.
A moan, all the more painful be-
cause of the effort to suppress tia
moan of anguish-had escaped his
wife.
"Of course" went on her companion,
you remember that you confded to
me that, though you respected him, you
did not love him. You were in doubt
as to whether you should accept Ain.