The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-10-13

t
There was long silence. Then Mrs
Merrldew asked: Did that girl hear
anything?' The tone was very low
and nervous
Not word. She was 40 scared
when I forced my way UP here ia
you that she was pretty we'll out of
her silly senses" He lied glibly and
win the GOODNESS of long experience.
Why did you come here?"
That's a good one, that Is. Where
should come IL not--home? sup
pose you thought should trot OFF to
chicago. eh? Suited you deal better,
wouldn't it?"
HOW did you learn I wns here? 2"
Does 1t matter? If you want to
Know I heard all about you from
gentleman who Is still serving His
Majesty where 1 come fron1-snne
service. you know, that YOU helped
so kindly to get me into. / heard ali
about that. too, years ago." He paused
and laughed unpleasantly.
She rnurmured q protest.
his angered him and the laugh
turned to sort OF snarl. "Don't lie. i
Know II. swore then that I'd have
your HE for It; and every day since
then I've taken that oath night and
morning. It's kept ME alive in all that
neli time in prison. And 1t kept me
straight there. earning every good
marx could so that the time should
come as soon az possible when I could
begin to look for you But / dtdn,t
hope then I'd be able to walk strairht
out of the prison to you like this"
She made no reply. and DIV.
guessed she was too frightened
80 you went back to the old mama
en-, Mrs. Merridew? Not Parmenter
Nnousht that 'ud put me off the scent
= 81 elt suppose? But you see got the
once all right. and here an1.s
pause followed. you've done yourselr
we'll Rachel." he went on, with an
ga IN. could scarcely believe I was
On the right track when they brought
She did not reply. Don't fool about
with, with me-" he added savagely. ut
won't pay yoll'
1T is common KNOWLEDGE" rcn,,ea
MIS-. Merridew. in firmer tone than
81! sne mad before been able to command,
inherited 1t from Gregory Parmen.
"Whatr His astonishment WAS a..
tense. He whistled. and then auora
FROM Parmenter! And how IN tha
name nn OF everything did he get it?"
Married again. rich wife, and
piled up a fortune"
Married again, and you'-He broke
on and burst out into peal OF hois.
ferrous laughter. If that doesn't beat
.he band" After a pause he added in
. very Inherent tone. II see. And that
.e'o,e from chicago was crooked, eh?
a dodge to get me out there. so thar
you might enjoy all your we'll earned
t t quietly on this side. Oh.
flachel, you're beauty"
meant to provide for Won ana
give you ample means,
fou thoughtful darling. You dear.
uhselnsh creature! And as big a liar
as ever, en-, Rachel? You sly. treacher-
Gus devii. you know your ample
mean, Enough to drink myself to
aeath on. eh? And do IT quickly. Ell?
So that you might enjoy all this by
yourself, eh? Well. you sec. I've come
TO enjoy 1t with you--to have mv
share of 1t all, se? Half. or more
than half If chess to take it, see?
10 help my sweet. Affectionate wife
to spend her fortune. And damme. d
mean to have 1t, too!'' and he dashed
inst down on the table
There was another pause ana +hen
he laughed.
Unless you, too, have married
again. BY Heaven. that would cap il
Il have not married again"
hanged II I'm not sorry to hear it: &
for I'd have jagged you for 1t, to let
you have taste of the hell life YOU
sent me to" Intense vindictiveness
was IN every syllable Of the threat.
Gilbert Is with me-
Oh. that young blackguard-is hao
We'll, don't let ME see too much OF him,
He'd better get out. The same house
won't hold us TWO long; and I'm go
ing to nave the say SO in this house.
Mind that
self"
"oh, I'll tell him fast enough. don't
you fear. Where is hep
Out in his motor carr
oh. his motor car. he scoffed, in
an affected tone. He's q swell, too.
suppose. Curse the young beast. I'll
motor-car him." And he swore again
vciously. Then another change came
in his tone. There was feeling in 1t
as he put the next question. And
.Selma?- is she here, too?"
NO. George" She spoke with hesl-
Triton. using his name for the first
time.
And why not? Tell me. Don't lie.
Isn't my child good enough to be here
If that swine of son OF yours Is
here? Dontyou dare to lie to me about
her. tell YOU Bring her here. There's
only one soft spot left in my heart
and she fills it. The only thought that
ever made me waver in that resolve
to have your life for your Internal
treachery was Selma. Don't you dare
to lie to me about Selma.
you had better know the truth. she
never knew ygou We're her father.
When you were--when you went
away''--
When was jagged through YOU.
you mean? You may as Well say it,
he broke in tiercely.
when YOU were convicted and u
went hack to the name of Merridew
[ gave her another name'--->
Why not Merridewa Why not Your
own curse you?"
II went back to the stage. I was
poor and mine wasn't exactly the life
she should know her mother was liv-
Ing, am not lying, George. / did 1t
TOR her sake. And she never Knew
right up to the time of'-and she
paused as ii either affected by what
she had to say, or afraid TO say il.
A moment of tense silence followed.
Are you going TO say she Is dead.
Rachel?" he asked then In q hushed
tone,
"She died in Chicago. George. Years
and years ago, ~1t was tar better" !,
n The interview had lasted already so