Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-05-07
CHAPTER XIII.

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ana would have done had there
been no interference, for she had
worked herself into n of those
Ehries which women of her type can
Httain when they feel the occasion
demands it. But Rameau threw his
arms about her, Mr.. Percy came to his
assistance, and Ward and I sprang n
between her and the too fearless lady
She strove to reach. Even at that the
dnger nails Of Mariana's right hand
kouched the pretty white hat, but only
kouched it and no more.
Rameau and the little spy managed
10 get their vociferating burden across
The courtyard and into her own door.
professor Keredec"- Mrs. Hartman
began, resisting and turning to the
professor appealingly.
"Oh, let him come, tool" said Miss
Elizabeth desperately. Nothing could
be worse than this"!
She led the way back to the pavilion
mot a SOU at Quesnay," sobbed the
mortified chatelaine-''not one but wiz
know this before dinner: They'll hear
the whole thing within two hours"
There is nothing they shouldn't
know" said Mrs. Hartman.
George turned to her with a smile
DO bravely managed that l was proud
Of him. "Oh, yes, there u.s." he said.
"We're going to get you out of all
this"
"All this" she repeated.
"Au this mire!!" he answered. Were
going to get you out Of it. I don't
know whether your revelation to the
Spanish woman will make that easier
or harder. but l do know that it makes
the mire deeper"
Her anxious eyes grew wider. Glow
have / made it deeper for him? Wasn't
It necessary that the poor woman
should be told the truth?"
She turned to Keredec with a fright
ened gesture and an unintelligible word
Of appeal.
cit was because" he repeated. run
ming a nervous hand through his
beard-"because the knowledge would
put us so utterly in this peoples pow
er. Already they demand more than
we could give them; 10Y they can do
still more"
George interviewed. and he spoke with
out ITO put it roughly. these
people have been asking more than
the Hartman estate is worth-that was
on the strength of the woman's claim
rs a wife-but now they know she is
not n her position is immensely
strengthened. for she has only to go
before the nearest commissaire de po-
lice."
"Oh, now Mrs. Hartman cried pas
sionately. II haven't done that"
"Never!" he answered. There could
not be a greater lie than to say you
have done it. The responsibility Is
with the wretched and vicious boy
who brought the catastrophe upon
himself. But don't you see that you've
got to keep out Of it. that we've got
to take you out Of it,"
you can't! I'm part Of it. Better
or worse, It's as much mine as his.
My separation from my husband is
over. I shall be with him now for
II won't listen to you" Miss Eliza
beth lifted her wet face from Georges
shoulder. and there was a note Of deep
anger In her voice. you haven't the
faintest idea Of what a hideous situa-
ton that creature has made for him
self. Don't you know that that awful
woman was right? You talk OF being
with him! Do you imagine they en-
courage family housekeeping in French
prisons?"
You're going much too far" Cres-
son Ingle said. touching his betrothed
upon the arm. my dear Elizabeth,
there is no use exa%ggerating. The case
Is unpleasant enough just as it is"
I'm what have l exaggerated? 2" she
demanded.
why. I knew Larrabee Harman,"
he returned. II knew him fairly well.
I went as far as Honolulu with him,
and l remember that papers were
served on him in San Francisco. He
was travelling continually, and I don't
think he knew much Of what was go
ing on, even right around him, most Of
the time. He began with cognac and
absinth in the morning. you know.
For myself, l always supposed the suit
had been carried through. So did peo-
pie generally. I think. He'll probably
have to stand trial, and Of ours he's
technically guilty, but I don't believe
he'd be convicted, though / must say
It would have been a most devilish
good thing for him IL he could have
been got out Of France before la Muir
siana heard the truth"
Nothing is changed" Louise Har-
man said finally. her eyes still fixed
gravely on Miss Elizabeth's.
At that the others face famed up,
and she uttered a half choked excla-
nation. "Oh," she cried, you've fall
en- in love with playing the martyr!
Its self love! No one on earth could
make me believe you're in love with
this degraded imbecile. It's because
you want to make a shining example
OF yourself. You want to get down on
your knees and wash Oh the vileness
from this befouled creature. You
want
Madame" Keredec interrupted trem-
ulously, you speak out Of no knowl-
edge! There Is no vileness. No one
who is clean remains befduled because
Of the things that are gone"
.They do not?" She laughed hys-
tsrically. !
'.eshe sc::! :!::. stands cleen ~: S::>
today Is clean and pure" insisted the