Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-25

| whether 1t was or not? I only say sup
pose that was the case Doctor Gordon has
married sister by the name of Ewing liv-
ing in foreign parts You can see for your
self how easy 1t might have been"
What about the girl?" asked Goodman
in a dry voice.
| business" said he. "She is Doctor Cor
dons niece"
Goodman was unabashed. How does 1t
happen her name is Ewing?" he asked.
Couldn't it possibly have happened that
two sisters Of Doctor Gordon's married two
brothers?" James cried. He elbowed his
way out. When he was in the buggy driv-
ing home he began to realize how the fairy
tale which he had related in the store
would not In the least impose upon Glenn
ency, how she would almost inevitably hear
of the statements in the papers He WON
dered more and more that Gordon should
have divulged a secret which he had kept
so fiercely for so long.
When he reached home he went at once
into the office and gave Gordon his mail
and the New York paper. Gordon glanced
at 1t. then at James. Have you seen
this?" he asked
James nodded.
81 suppose you think me most inconsist-
ent," said Gordon gloomily, but the truth
is 1 kept the secret while Clara was alive,
though found could not, oh. God, could
not after she was dead and gone! had
not realized what that would mean; TO
never acknowledge her as my wife, dead or
alive ] found that when 1t came to the
death certificate, and the notice In the pa
per. and the erection OF stone 10 her
memory, that could not keep up the de-
ception. no matter what the consequence
My God, Elliot. I cannot commit sacriiege
against the dead! Dead, she must have
her due. I anticipated this. There was
something last night in the Stanbrfdge
Record. and yesterday while you were out
three reporters from New YORK came.
told them that had done what l had Tor
good and sufficient reasons. which were not
dishonorable to myself or to others, and be-
yond that I would say nothing. suppose
the poor fellows had to tax their imagina-
what the result will be with regard to Glenn
ency, but could not help 1t. There was
something painfully appealing In Gordon
look and manner. He seemed so broken
that James was alarmed. He said every
thing that he was able to say to soothe
him. commended the course which he mao
taken. and told him what he had said al
the store. without repeating the inslnuations
which had led him to fabricate such tale.
Gordon smiled bitterly. "All your fellow,
men want of you is food for their animal
appetites or their mental" he said Ihey
must have meat and drink Tor their stonh
achs, as well as for their curiosity and
malice 1 have lived here all these years,
and labored for them for mighty poor
recompense, and sometimes for none at all,
and I'll warrant that today lam more In
their minds than 1 have ever been before.
because they have found out my secret,
which has been the torture of my life. L
wonder if Clemency has heard anything
about it,"
IT will go and see" replied James.
The minute he saw Clemency, who was
In the parlor, he knew that she knew. By
her side on the floor was the Stanbridge
Record. She looked at James and pointed
to 1t without a word. Her face was white
as death. James took up the paper. That
merely announced the fact of Mrs. Gordon's
death. dwelt upon her many beautiful quail
tiles of mind and body, her great suffering,
a md fofn tndx str ict,v
which the news was received that she was
Doctor Gordon's wife and not his sister. as
people had been led to suppose. Little
Annie Goldman just brought 1t over" said
Clemency. "She said her. mother sent 1t.
1t is just like her mother. Mr.. Goldman
never would have done such a thing"
Mr.. Goldman was the minister.
James. for a second did not know what to
say. He thought of the absurd story which
he had told. or rather suggested. at the
store. and realized that such fabrication
would not answer here.
Immediately Clemency fired point-blank
question at him. "Who am II" she asked.
You are DR.. Gordon's niece. dear"
"But-she was not my mother"
mo, dear"
WHO am I?''
"You are the daughter of DIR. Gordons
youngest sister, who died when you Were
born"
Clemency sat rejecting, her forehead knit
keen look in her blue eyes, II knew my
Uncle Tom has always told me that he
passed away three months before 1 was
born. but" She raised puzzled,
shocked. grieved face to James. What is
my manner" she asked. My real Manner
James hesitated. Then his mind reverted
to the tale which he had told at the store.
He could see no other way out Of the diff
f1culty. did you never hear Of two broth
ers marrying two sisters dear?" he asked.
Clemency gazed at him with a puzzled.
almost suspicious, look. Il knew had an
aunt and cousin in England named Ewing"
she said, "but I always supposed that my
English aunt was not my real aunt, only
my aunt by marriage, that she had mar
ried my fathers brother"
Your English aunt Is your uncle's own
sister," said James.
IT see-my own mother and my aunt were
sisters. and they married brothers." Glenn
ency said slowly.
THAT Is unusual, but not unprecedented"
said James. He had never been involved in
such web of fabrication. He felt his
cheeks burning. He was sure that he
looked guilty, but Clemency did not seem
to notice it. She was rejecting, still with
that puzzled knitting of her forehead and
that retrospective look in her blue eyes.
II wonder If I look in the least like my
own mother?" she said in a curious voice,
as of one who feels her way.
"Once your uncle said to me that you
were your own mothers very image" re-
piled James eagerly. He was glad to have
the chance to say anything truthful.
Clemency's face lightened. She spoke
with that fatuous innocence and romance
of young girls, and often of older women,