Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-11-05
,ssa Company. Al rixAs. ,,e,yv,A

shpped from his hand. "Louisel" he
whispered, "the man whom Louise
shot!" Not in all the vicissitudes of
MS wild career had Holbin received
such shock of surprise. His mind,
dazed and bewildered, could not ar
range deduction beyond the discov-
cry that Richard Somers was the man
around whom so much of mystery haS
gathered, and that Frances referred TO
him In the tender word husband" He
laid his hand upon the bell-cord and
hesltated; then his wicked smile came
back again as he pulled it.
Tell your mistress shall be glad IL
she will favor me with her presence
here" he said to William. When. a
few minutes later Mrs. Brookin came
INTO the room be failed to hear her. .
What is it, Raymond ?" she asked.
ne reused himself and spoke rapidly.
Frances got her wounded soldier a
pass through our lines, and to please
ner carried him to the front. After
ne lett me L found these papers in the
buggy where he had dropped them.
The fellows captain is Richard
Somers"
Richard Somers!"
And now, madam. read the note
from Frances to him and let me con-
graduate you upon"
She read it rapidly, and when her
am azed face was lifted he added:
Your son-in-law."
Il do not understand! What doe.
it mean?"
Answer that question for me, moth
er; my head has ceased to be of any
assistance. Undoubtedly, however. the
woman who you lead me to believe gave
you her promise to marry me some day
Is already in point of law Richard
Somer's wife and has forfeited her
right to any part of her fathers es-
tate. Madam, fortune favors the bold:
L congratulate you'll" His manner be-
trayed an intense excitement and bit
terness.
Wait, wait!" said the woman. qui-
city, her eyes riveted upon the letter.
1t seems that he was her husband
that night. Was not that night prior
to the signing of the will?"
Eyes, the night before" The son.
looking upon his mothers face, could
find no evidence of satisfaction there.
IL was CHASTITY. "Why, what is it
now?"
"A stronger will and clearer head
than we II 'gined has been at war with
US. now the law hut thew
were trying TO defeat the will in ad-
vance. 1t does defeat it in some way.
or our enemies would not have taken
the risk. II Frances were really mar
ried before the will was signed, she
cannot comply with its requirements,
and the law will not demand an impoS-
sibility."
'Welll" He bent forward, his voice
reduced to n whisper.
''We have lost, you and /. Except
for my pittance, we shall be beggars
upon the day that Frances comes of
age; and that day is near at hand"
A long silence followed, and then the
eyes of mother and son met.
do you not share alike if the will
fails ?"
"No. The intention of my husband
will be operative; only the condition
fails. There is no hope that way" His
mother looked from him and spoke
slowly.
as there no remedyP" he asked.
"Yes. If Richard Somers is not liv-
ing when Frances comes of age, or
should Frances"
Mother, mother, take carei" The
words burst in sudden energy from the
wretched man. Lift a hand TO harm
, but one hair Of her head, and, by the
Mother of Cod"
Hush! Hush!" she said, quietly.
"You love her; that is enough. She is
| safe"
Swear it,"
Read the other letter." she said,
disregarding him. ut is likely that a
man would mention his wife in his last
letter to his mother" RAYMOND
| stripped OFF the envelope and shook
two letters TO the table. One, unsealed,
was addressed to Mrs. Martha Somers.
Nothing but gush," he said, running
his eye hurriedly over the lines. Mrs.
Brookin had picked up the other, which
was addressed to DR.. Brodnar.
1--WE are getting to the heart of the
mystery" she said. Read this one"
Raymond read in silence first, and
then, leaning forward, excitedly read
| aloud:
! go TO the girl married at your request
| and say death has dissolved the bond.
Break the news to her as gently as pos
sible, for l have been vain enough to be-
ueve that the child loves me. You pro-
| pared the way by your rar,aiity, ana her
| loneliness and excess OF gratitude accom-
| plished the rest Let ne confess that
| have been foolish enough to love her and
| to dream that some day you would permit
| me 10 return anc openly seek her out. But
this cursed war has killed my dream. Brod-
| mar. and IL this letter reaches you, il will
/ be after it has killed your friend also! Go
| to her and say that since he met her Rich
| ard Somers has loved her as man loves
| but once"
| There were other lines dealing with
the friendship between the two men
while in Paris and containing a tender
| farewell.
! 1T is now plain to me, he said. The
meddlesome scounGrel Brodnar is the
author of the whole plot!" Mrs. Brook
in folded the letters into their places.
| Her hands were without tremor.
| t'I,et them saan thar IN