Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1910-01-19
The Battle
By
! Cleveland MOffett
Copyright. 1909. by G. w.
Dillingham; Co.

certainty. to dismay.
You are the daughter he began
Eyes, am the daughter of William
Lawrence. the man you ruined and
dishonored."
Business made it unavoidable, Miss
LAWRENCE
Business! Yes, business as you
practice it,"
ooh, now, that's going too far! /
want to explain to you"
Margaret shook her head.
II won't listen to YOU" she said, vio-
Iently agiLated.
You have strong prejudices, Miss
Lawrence"
Yes, against disloyalty and dishon-
esty."
Haggleton reflected This complica-
ton dismayed him. Was the ghost of
his guilty past. which he had made
harmless through Philips promise
never to allow Gentle to tell him of
it, to be conjured up against him by
this young woman? A second later
he was again Haggleton, master of
circumstances
Suppose l admit that did your
father a wrong. Suppose also that !
wish to make amends"
II don't believe it."
Suppose l tear down this block,
lung block'-suppose l tear it down
and make a fine playground of it in
memory of your father-and call ii
Lawrence park?"
Lawrence park?" Margarets eyes
shone with enthusiasm.
Lawrence park where lung block
used to stand" she repeated softly to
herself. But her grievance welled up
suddenly.
You know how to tempt me-" she
said bitterly. but l could never be
friends with you"
If it isn't friends" he said briefly,
then il is enemies"
Yes, enemies always! / do not
trust you. John j. Haggleton. Why
are you living in tenement under an
assumed name? You must have some
selfish purpose"
mo; my purpose is not selfish
why do you want to make friends.
with me?' she continued. why do
you care what l do?"
Again Haggleton changed his tactics.
She was bewildered already.
I'll tell you frankly" be answered.
II do not want you to influence Philip
against me-"
The effect was what Haggleton had
81, 4
from her own grievance to a new and
nearer preoccupation.
Influence Philip against your she
wondered. What do you care for
Philip? Influence a poor master diver
against John j. Haggleton?"
Her. glance strayed to Phil's picture
on the wall. Something that she had
never seen before in it struck her.
she remembered what Gentle had told
her concerning the mystery of her
lovers parentage:
She turned to Haggleton. scrutinized
his features, then sank down in
chair.
oh" she cried in horror, you are
Philips father
she was overwhelmed.
Phil" she said. whom | love and
whom have promised to marry. You
are his father. and you ruine& minel
1t is horrible"
Haggeton waited a few moments
patiently 1t was wiser TO let these
overwhelming impressions make their
effect one by one for q little while in
her mind than to hustle them out of
it. to return later perhaps with ten
fold strength He still held much in
reserve. When he judged that the
proper moment had come-AIargaret
had wiped her eyes several times and
finally tucked away her handkerchief
he resumed the interview.
philip knows nothing of this"
Il will tell him. she said, rising. 81
will warn him"
"Warn?"
You think that this boy has Inherit
ed tendencies which you can appeal to.
I'll appeal to Philips better nature"
Suppose you fail?"
II cannot fail. love him."
Haggleton sat down opposite her.
LET me tell you something. Miss
Lawrence" he said very quietly. 81
am telling you because you are wom-
ana good woman. But, Miss Law
rence"-he raised his voice skillfully
to deepen her attention-''it is aston
ishing how much harm is done in this
world by good women"
What do you mean" she asked.
81 will show you what mean right
in my own life. You think it has been
all hard and cruel, no love in 1t at all
Just scheming for money. grabbing
everything in sight. But who made me
that way? A woman-a splendid, high
principled woman like you"
You mean your wifeW
Eyes. my wife," in a very low voice
any Wife" he continued. did not ap
prove of certain things did in bust
ness. but instead of helping me she
left me. She stole away my little boy
my son. and when she took him sh'