The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-13

1mM8M9hisWmt4dlM4AA1s Mz AlI nAia MM8A.". :, you would not talk like that. The child
 must live; he must be rich, happy, well
 cared for. One day must be tn.
 owner of the Tankefiane estates. | have heard they are not entailed."
 "oh. mol" cried Laura, in horror. He | can never be that--never, never" l Look here, Laura" said the actress. l taking her friend by the al m ano i~ac- | ing her to chair by the window, you
 must control yourself and be sensible
 woman. I have come here to help you,
 and you must listen to me Enough
 mischief has been done already. It lies in your power to put everything straight Where is William Tanker lane? Why has he deserted you at this
 time? Why are you here. in this slun, penniless and starying?"
 | T am here of my own free will'' | Laura replied slowly. He does not know where am; he>lknows nothing of the child. I do not wish him to know. | I do not wish to see him again"
 sThen all this is your own hand iwork?'' Leonore continued sternly. .sThe child here. i'll, perhaps dying; your own misery; your poverty; your de- all thfs.''
 l "It is my own handiwork," Laura an-
 swered mechanically.
 And are you proud of it?" Leonore continued. Do you like to think of
 the future, of your own position in the
 world: of your son--without name, handicapped in the fierce struggle of tfife from his very birth? Do you like I to think of all this?"
 ''when think of it." Laura replied, I .I only see osss remedy-and that Is
 death
 1 yet if you married Tankerlane." said
 Leonore. "all would be we'll"
 '1 will never marry William Tanker
 Iane," cried Laura fercely. never. I
 would rather die.'
 "You talk like a fool.' Leonors re- piled sharply.
 '.ffow can you suggest such thing
 to mer' Laura continued-"you. his
 wife. 1t is wicked. horrible for you to 1 talk of it."
 s"It is not nice thing to talk about. certainly" said I-eonore, but it has te be discussed. You forget that this ns.. i has been nothing to me for years. As fer as am concerned. he is dead. He | is not so much to me as the boots on my feet. Whether you marty him or
 not. intend to divorce him before
 three months are over"
 I And make the whole story public said Laura. "and bring all my shame l into the newspapers"
 l "oh. mo-" replied the actress win s smile. "We manage these things more quietly in America. Divorce is so com mon that 1t Is not worth a paragraph in the papers. Tn three months tune Tankerlane will be free man.. "I will not marry him." said Laura firmly. T loathe him."
 "Your own feelings are nothing" Leofore replied. You have to think of the
 child---of his present condition--of his | future life. No sacrifice Is too hard | for mother who loves her child Are 1 you going to put your own likes and | dislikes before the welfare of your son?' -,.
 T loathe William Tankerlane,''5 z whis. l pered Laura, T loathe him. ca. Very we'll" said Lseonore, moving towards the door. T will leave you. If
 these are your plans for your child's
 future, 1t Is certainly better that he
 should die."
 Leonore had reached the door before | Laura realized the full force of the | threat. A faint wall came from the l chiids lips. and the distracted mother
 sank on her knees beside the bed. 1 "oh. God,p she muttered- "oh, God, 1 have pity!"
 l Leonore paused at the door. l Have pity!" Laura moaned. Do | not leave me, Leonore. He is so Ill :. 1 I must have z money. We shall be 1 turned out of here if do not pay Mrs. 1 Burton money!
 The actress turned, and her lips l uuivered. The scene was a cruel and a painful one. and would have moved | the heart of a colder adn more deter 1 mined woman than Leonore Tanker ! lane And, to do her justice. she had 1 no Intention of leaving Laura to. her | fate She was merely playing game | of bluff. She saw that little pres- | sure might force the wretched mother l TaI1 nA tn l 1 weapon that lay 50 readily to her hand {. l She resolved, in a word, to be cruel | that she might be kind. for. she had already persuaded herself that she was
 acting entirely In Laura's interests. and l that she had thrust all thought of self
 from her mind. She crossed the room | to the side of the bed, and laid her hand on Laura's shoulder. Laura dear," she said gently, q
 have tried to persuade you to do that | which is best for the child and best 1 for yourself. But you seem to have | hardened your heart, You cannot ap- | parently think of anything but your own hatred of William Tankerlane. 1 Yet he loves you, and will be good l husband to you. and if you marry him. l you ensure your own future and that I of the child l cannot think you are so selfish as to refuse to do this. If | you think of 1t calmly, you will see i that 1t Is the right thing to do, and the only thing to do. I have argued with | you in vain. Do not force me to use | threats to friend"
 | Laura was silent. She still knelt by | the bedside, and her face was still | buried in her hands. She did not | move; she d,d not speak; she did not | even cry. Her form seemed 70 have | been frozen into stiffness. | Laura, my dear Laura" said the &C., | tress, speaking as a mother might | speak to her child. T beseech you to | do the only thing you can do with hon. | or and self-respect. There is surely