The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-04-02
A GROWN OF FAITH
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CHAPTER HIy-(Continued.)

CHAPTER NIN.-(Conti1u
Then what do you mean to do? Have
Fou told Mrs. Wycherly how much you
aetest being made a prisoner of for life?'
All you do not know mamma" re-
piled Ella, with shudder. You think
ue daring, defiant. full of spirit? So
I'm when not in her presence: but before
her l am cowed, abject. frightened. Have
you not seen it? / cannot account for
this. have been afraid of my mother
ever since / can remember. l never dare
to tell her how mad and miserable the
idea of this imprisonmnt makes me, or
If | hint even at it, she annihilates me,
scorches me, withers me with her scorn.
What an awful woman ~ said Lionel
passionately
''She is my mother" said Ella, with
a dreary smile; land she fancies she is
doing right"
How can she fancy 500" asked Lionel
sxcitedly. ANY clergyman of any de-
nomination would tell her she was doing
evil. Only what crime is this which has
to be expiated?"
do not ask me now, Nsaid Ella. Il
was about to tell you, but l have lost
the courage. Some other time l will tell
you
She looked at him strangely, sorrow
fully, and his blood curded at the unwel-
come thought that this delicate creature
should in any way be tainted by so much
as the shadow of evil. He longed to say,
Whose crime" But he dared not ask
the question. nor dared he allude again to
that love OF his-that strong passion for
IL al l.
in his very soul. and twined about the
very fbers of his being. Something in
her look conveyed to him that he was not
the ideal hero whereof she had spoken.
'But you ask my help. Miss Wycher-
ly," he said. you know how far you
may command me-
Il know" she answered quickly; "and
now we come to the pith of the subject.
l am only eighteen. and my mother can
claim possession of me for three years
longer. Now she designs this autumn TO
take me over to Italy. | must escape
long before then. / must earn my own
living. | should like to go upon the
stage. VIII you assist me?"
Willingly. But a public career is full
Of difficulties. You would need money"
Il will give you my jewels to sell for
me-" said the girl quickly; they are my
own. and worth two thousand pounds. /
wish to be independent"
Il see you do replied Lionel, with a
sigh. But have you thought of the fact
that in presenting yourself in public, there
Is danger of your being recognized and
claimed by Mrs. Wycherly:'
II was only talking nonsense" she
said. II do not wish to go upon the
stage. / only wanted to observe how my
grave and reverend tutor would like the
idea % my becoming an actress. No, Mr..
Leigh / should like to do something. Let
me give lessons in singing; that is my
forte; and let me earn my living quietly
under another name. / have been well
taught in London and abroad"
'But to cast yourself upon the world
Of London-alone?" hcsitated Lionel.
"Ah. l am sure could take care of
myself" said Ella.
Pardon me; you know nothing of the
world. Is there no one-no woman friend
whom you could trust where you would
be safe?"
II hate women friends ~ cried Ella.
In burst of temper, for which Lionel
was at a loss to account. No; have no
friends-women friends, nor any of the
nobler sex. l see l must depend upon
myself"
Il an not deemed worthy to be called
friend, of course" said the tutor.
NO" replied the capricious Ella. II
think you mean well, of course: but it
would be quite impossible that you should
comprehend me, or sympathize with me-"
Lionel was wounded to the core by
this caprice. He flushed holly.
''You are Miss Wycherly, OF Wyche,-
iy," he said proudly. THAT constitute
a barrier between you and mere teacher
of languages"
Il am Miss Wycherly. of Wycherly,' -
she replied. flashing on him q look of in
tense scorn; and / will have the hon Jr
to wish you good afternoon"
She pointed TO a path across the fields
IF you follow that" she said, lit will
take you to Wycherly. l shall return
through the wood"
And without another word she swept
down the narrow woodland path. leaving
him in sorrowful amazement to watch
her receding form.