Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-12-21
Copyright. 1909. by
Edward j. Clode

Edward j. ClOde II,
--I
pulsiye action seemed to sanctify the
deed.
Il did not regret, have never regret
ted, the outcome of the duel. He WAS
MORALLY wounded and WAS carried to
his house to die. fled from Paris TO
escape arrest. but the woman In whose
defense l encountered him behaved
most cruelty. She deserted me and
went to him. Ask Mrs. Sheppard. She
was Your English nurse ut the time.
Constance 1t was she who brought
you To England. | never met my wife
again. | believe. on my soul. that she
was innocent of the greater Offensc. l
think she rebelled against the thought
that had slain one who said he wor-
SHIPPED her Anyhow. she had her price.
She remained with him, in sheer de-
fiance Of me, until his death, and her
reward was his wealth. Were it not
for this we might have come together
again and striven to forget the past in
mutual federation. The knowledge that
she was enriched with that mans gold
maddened me. / could not forget that.
I loathed all that money could give
the diamonds. the dresses, the Insane
devices Of society-tO pour out treas
ure on the vanitieS Of the hour. BY
idle chance I was drawn to the light
house service. 1t was the mere whim
Of friend into whose sympathetic
ears gave my sorrows. 1t is true
did not intend to devote my life to my
present occupation. But its vast ST.
lences, its isolation. its seclusion from
the petty, sordid, money grabbing life
ashore, attracted me. found quiet
joys, peaceful days and dreamless;
nights in its comparative dangers and,
privations. Excepting my loyal serv-'
ant and friend, Mrs. Sheppard, and the
agent and solicitors of my estate. none
knew Of my whereabouts. I was
lost man and. as imagined, fortu-
nate one. Now, in the last week Of
my service-for l would have retired
In a few days. and 1t was my inten-
ton to tell you something. not oil. Of
my history, largely on account Of your
lovemaking. Enid the debacle has
come, and with it my wife,"
Father" asked Constance, lis my
mother still your wife by lawT
'She cannot be otherwise"
IL wonder II you are right. am too
young to judge these things, but she
spoke Of her approaching marriage
with Mr.. Trail in a way that suggest
ed she would not do him a grievous,
wrong. She docs not love him rs
understand love She regards him as
q man admirable in many ways, but
sho impressed me with the idea that,
she believed she was doing that which
was right, though she feared some un-
forasaan difficulty.
Brand hooked at her with troubled
eyes. 1t 10 always amazing to parent
to find unexpected powers Of divination
In a child. Constance was still q little
girl in his heart. What had conferred
this insight into q complex nature like
her mother's7
There Is something to be said for
that view," he admitted. Il reccllect
now that Pyne told me she had lived
some years In the western states. but
be said. too. that her husband. the man
whose name she bears. died there. My
poor girls. do. indeed, pity you II all
this story Of miserable intrigue, this
BQualid romance Of the law courts, is
to be dragged into the light In town
where you are honored. Enid, you see
now how doubly fortunate you are in
being restored to a fathers arms~-.
"Oh. no, nor walled Enid. do not
say that. It seems to cut us apart.
What have you done that you should
dread the worst that can be said? And
why should there be any scandal at
all? I cannot bear you to say such
things"
Il think understand you, dad" said
Constance. her burning glance striving
to read his hidden thought. MATTERS
cannot rest where they are. You will
not allow-my mother-to go away-a
second time-without a clear state
ment as to the future and an equally
honest explanation Of the past"
This was precisely the question he
dreaded. 1t had forced its unwelcome
presence upon him in the first moment
OF the meeting with his wife, but he
was a man Of order, Of discipline. The
habits Of years might not be flung
aside 80 readily. 1t was absurd, he
held, to inflict the self torture of USE
less imaginings on the first night Of
their home coming after the severe
trials Of their precarious life on the
rock.
Above all else 1t was necessary to re-
assure Constance, whose strength only
concealed the raging fire beneath, and
Enid, whose highly strung tempera-
ment was on the borderland Of hys-
terra.
He was still the arbiter of their
lives. the one to whom they looked for
guidance. He rebelled against the
prospect Of a night of sleepless misery
for these two, and 1t needed his en-
phatlc dominance to direct their
thoughts into a more peaceful chan
mel.
SO he assumed the settled purpose
he was far from feeling and sum-
moned kindly smile to his aid.
Surely we have discussed our diff
culties sufficiently tonight" he said.
I'm the morning. Constance. will
meet Mr.. Trail. He is a gentleman
and man Of the world. I think, too,
that his nephew will be resourceful
and wise in counsel beyond his years.
Now we are all going to obtain some
much needed rest. Neither you nor
! will yield to sleepless hours Of brood
ing. Neither Of you knows that not
forty-eight hours ago I made myself
a thief in the determination to save
your lives and mine. It was a need
less burglary. persuaded myself that
1t was necessary in the interests Of
the Trinity Brethren. those grave gen.
tlemen in velvet cloaks, Enid, who
would be Mortified by the mere sug-
gestion. I refuse to place myself on