Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-09-26

tresS, taxing nef friend by the arm
and leading her to chair by the win
dow, you must control yourself and
be a sensible woman. | have come
here to help you and you must listen
to me. Enough mischief has been done
already. 1t lies in your power to put
everything straight. Where Is Will
liam Tankerlane? Why has he desert
ed you at this time? Why are you here
| in this SUM, penniless and starving 2"
II am here of my own free will"
Laura replied slowly. "He does not
know where l am; he knows nothing
OF the child. | do not wish him to
know. l do not wish to see him again"
Then all this is your own handi-
work?' Leonore continued sternly
"The child here, Ill, perhaps dying;
your own misery; your poverty; your
! despair. Tankerlane is not to blame
for all this
st is my own handiwork,' Laura
answered 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
|
to think Of all this?"
when | think of it," Laura re.
piled, II can only see one remedy -
and that is DEATH"
"Yet if you married Tankerlane,'
said Leonore, call would be we'll"
Il will never marry William Tan
kerlane," cried Laura fercely, never
| would rather die"
'You talk like fool" Leonore re-
piled sharply.
How can you suggest such thing
to me?" Laura continued you, his
wife. 1t is wicked horrible for you to
talk Of it,
"It is not nice thing to talk about
certainly" said Leonore, "but it has
to be discussed. You forget that this
man has been nothing to me for years
AS far as l am concerned, he is dead
He is not so much to me as the boots
on my feet. Whether you marry him
or not, intend to divorce him before
three months are over"
"And make the whole story public?''
said Laura: "and bring all my shame
into the newspapers?"
ooh, no." replied the actress with
a smile. eve manage these things
more quietly in America. Divorce is so
common that it is not worth a para.
graph in the papers. In three months
time Tankerlane will be free man."
IT will not marry him. said Laura
family. 81 loathe him.
"Your own feelings are nothing
Leonore replied "You have to think
of the child Of his present condition
of his future life. No sacrifice is too
hard for a mother who loves her
child. Are you going to put your own
likes and dislikes before the welfare
Of your SOM"
81 loathe William Tankerlane,"
whispered Laura, 81 loathe him"
Every well. said Leonore, moving
! towards the door, 81 will leave you If
these are your plans for your child IS
| future, it is certainly better that he
should die"
| Leonore had reached the door be-
fore Laura realized the full force of
| the threat. A faint wall came from
the child's lips, and the distracted
mother sank on her knees beside the
bed.
ooh. God" she muttered, ooh God,
| nave pity.
Leonore paused at the door.
"Have PITY" Laura moaned. "Do
not leave me, Leonore. He is so 81.
l must have money. we shall be turn-
ed out of here if do OF pay Mrs.
Burton money"
The actress turned end her lips
quivered. The scene was a cruel and
| painful one, and would have moved
| the heart of a colder and moro deter.
mined woman than Leonore Tanker.
lane. And, to do her justice she had
no intention of leaving Laura 20 her
fate. She was merely playing a game
of bluff. She saw that little pressure
might force the wretched motner TO
yield. and she resolved TO nse sho
weapon that lay so readily to her hand
She resolved, in word, to be cruel
that she might be kind, for she had
already persuaded herself that she
was acting entirely in Laura's inter
Tests. and that she had thrust all