Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-29

were an easy task to lay BARE as he had already
done, his own heart; his love, his anxiety, his
disappointment his despair but to invade the
sanctity of Marguerite's heart, to lay bare the
miserable secret which burdened her life-and
now bid fair to destroy not only happiness Dut
life itself-seemed impossible. For moment It
seemed as if it were better that he should meet
whatever fate the trial held in store for him than
unveil the mystery of her life at the bidding OF
his friends The blood forsook his brain; he
could not think; then rushing back to his neart,
left his cheeks pallid as he cast about in his
mind for words with which to begin, for her
sake the pitiful story. His words came orokeniy
as he spoke; telling them first of the mountain
home where dwelt love and peace and napplness'
of the fond parents and their only child whom
they cherished as the idol of their heart OF the
tragic death of the father, leaving desoate home
and of heartbroken wife, the only protector
of their child.
"a mere child" he cried, "over whom scarce six
teen summers had passed, when he, the monster.
the serpent, entered this paradise, to rob II OF
its chiefest treasure" His voice was broken by
a sob and his breath came fast in keeping with
the pusing of his heart. He seemed to lose sight
of his surroundings He forgot that he was speak
ing to others; he thought aloud.
"It was into the seclusion OF this home-tnls
life-the innocent life of young girl he came
a mere child, pure as the lilies she wore on her
breast" At the thought, DarralPs face was trans
formed. His livid trembling lips could scarce
frame the words he wished to utter; they were
incoherent.
'He dared to fold her in his arms, to bid her
good-bye!-to pollute her chaste lips with KISS
-. Then-with false viows of love, with false
promises he lured this innocent, trusting child
who knew nothing of the world, to leave with him
her home; lured her away from her mothers
protecting care, she thinking, that like her father
he meant to steal her away as her father had
said he would have stolen her mother, II his suit
had been denied" For a moment he paused
for his mind was in a tumult-only for moment
while he sought fitting words for Marguerltes
vindication.
"Don't forget, my friends, she was young, very
young; without experience of the world and It's
ways. The false-seemed true to her. The das.
tards honied words, had all of the sweetness OF
a true mans VOWS AS she listened she gave him
her faith-and-and he gave to her In return-he
gave to her-a false name bound her to him
with false ceremony of marriage. He ruined
her life and left her! But-he left her aoth q
soul unSulHed By contact aoith his gross nature"
Completely unnerved by the recital, Darrall paced
back and forth, the narrow confines OF his CELL
while Sothern and Randolph talked together in
low tones apart
Having finally succeeded in regaining sufficient
composure to proceed with his story, Darral re-
sumed his seat.
INV friends there is but little left to add to
this recital of Marguerite's story, which 1 see
has stirred you, as it has me- 1t was by degrees
that the mother learned of the wrong to her
child; for in the wildness those days news trav
eled slowly. Sothern supplied to me the missing
link, accounting for his sudden departure. In
her own heart the mother buried her secret, and
with loving wies persuaded her daughter to ac
company her to Virginia representing that she
had business with her husbands financial agent
Col. Carter, to whom she revealed her secret
anxiety The suspense, the strain of the conceal
ment of her fears for her child, combined with
the grief with which her heart was already bur-
dened, soon told upon her health Her physician
ordered a change of scene. Col Carter advised
her return to the ancient home of her people in
the south of France.
"The journey was made to no purpose. Mar
guerite there Her devoted love and tender
socitude served to keep the wounded heart
bleeding and 1t was not long until the mother
1;.ol tlant .ah1r could hind the