Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-10-01
CHAPTER XIX Con.


~ will tell you," she replied. q
don't care red cent what happens te
YOU. and would rather you were mis-
erable than happy But the happiness
Of my friend, Laura Vane, is very dear
to me. wish you to marry her.
"Unfcrtunately she does not wish tc
marry me-" he ans wered drlly, and
she has taken the greatest possible
trouble to hide herself from me.
have not seen or heard Of her since
she left me in Paris, though l have
searched high and low for her"
'T saw her few Jays ago., Leo
more replied, land she is willing to
marry you"
William Tankerlane leant forward
suddenly in his chair, and hungry
look came into his eyes.
''Is this true" he cried, cor are you
foo1ing me?"
at is perfectly true" Leonore re-
piled. when 1 have fixed up terms
4 will take you to her.
'Why has she changed her mind?"
ne asked suspiciously. HAS absence
hnade the heart grow fonder?" And
Then he laughed bitterly. He had not
forgotten the scene in Paris, when he
had last pleaded with Laura Vane.
"Her feelings towards you have not
changed" said Leonore. II will not
heceive you on shat point. She still
i1oathes the very mention of your
name"
/ "Ah, she is starving he exclaimed
eagerly. "Her spirit is broken. She
iaongs for comfort, for luxury, for fine
clothes and jewels, nd all that wealth
Ean purchase. She dare not go back
TO her father; she dare not go to John
EShil. She has been forced to come
black to me. It Is rot fattering to me,
Ibut am glad. l vii. welcome her
with open arms; will forgive her; ]
will make her love me-"
mo" replied Leonore gra, ely "She
thas faced poverty and misery -lthout
lAinchins. But something else has
come into her life-a great joy-a
lgreat sorrow-and 1t Is because this
has come into her life that she is will
Hing to marry you"
/ William Tankerlane looked at her
with parted lips and staring eyes.
I .I do not understand" he faltered.
IssWhat do you mean?" Then he rose
to his feet with cry and his face
was flushed and his eyes sparkled.
do you mean" he cried, that
Laura-that I-.oh Heaven, had not
thought of this! 1t is lie!"
Tt is the TRUTH" said Leonure quiet
1y; you have son, born five months
ago, and it is for the child's sake that
Laura Is willing to marry you. She
is going to sacr fee herself to save
her child from shame. And that is
why I have sent for lou, and that is
why am going to cut the rope that
still holds us together"
"A son!' muttered Tankerlane, and
his hard-lined face was lit up with
Joy. But he had the decency to give
no utterance to his thoughts. He re-
membered he was in the presence of
the woman who was still his wife in
name.
yes said Leonore coldly, "and you
have every reason to be glad. Laura
would never have consented to marry
you If 1t had not been for this
seYet she did not tell me-" he cried
hastily; "she did not write to me. She
was hard and stubborn even in the
face Of this. The Guild was born five
months ago and it Is only today that
Eyou-there is something in this I do
mol uHueT6LdHu. f1OW she must nave
suffered! How she must have suf-
ffered!"
YES" replied Leonore, and she
Ewould still be suffering in silence If
III had not persuaded her to do the
fright thing-if had not put the whole
situation clearly to her-but there,
i have done my part. It remains for
fyou to do yours"
Take me to her at once" he ex.
claimed. Give me her address"
BE calm, "Leonore said, with
ghost of smile. "I'here are matters
to be arranged between you and me
[before bring you to the woman you