The Press., 1911-02-22

the girl something which had driven her to despair.
 ssWe will all know more tonight" he said. "We must not ask her too many questions. We will talk about every thing but her trouble, whatever it is. She needs a rest. We will not tell her that the theater is to be closed because of her, but we will say that it is on account of rehearsals, and next Mon- day night we will open-we will open with a success"
 It was a simple plan and humane one. vavin asked her no questions He talked lightly and gayly, and, as he called 1t when they were rehears- ing. their laughter was soon panic. !"
 Only when Holcomb left them for a moment as they were nearing the sta tion did she have an opportunity to speak of her trouble.
 "I suppose" she said to Vavin, ''you think me a very queer girl"
 "I think you are a very brave girl, " he replied, land you are going to be still braver."
 T am,'' she replied. II am going to a little hotel where some members of the company are living"
 "Very good, my dear," he answered. ''But first you are going to my hotel, where Professor Fullerton will be-"
 "You know that?'' she said.
 q talked with him over the tele- phone before we left" replied Vavin, "and besides him there will be Mir: Winthrop, Mrs. Winthrop and Aunt Cornelia."
 "Oh, no, can't" the girl exclaimed. You do n0t know.'
 ''You left Mrs. Winthrop's house this morning. have asked them to be ehere."
 But it Is 4 family matter" said the girl. ''and it's about my mother. and I don't want to see all those people. ,
 The old man took her hand and told her that, as he had been her friend in the past, he asked her to trust him this time and to say whatever she had to say to Professor Fullerton not only before Aunt Cornelia, but before Mrs. Winthrop and the rest of Cornelia' s friends.
 Ut is awfully hard," said the girl. Il don't mind myself, but 1t doesn't seem fair to my mother"
 'It is fair to your mother," said Va win. q knew her. Hush!" he added as she turned to him in surprise and HOlcomD came up.
 Vavin had left word at the hotel that Fullerton and the rest of the party should be shown to his room the mo- ment they arrived. They were waiting when the three travellers entered.
 "Dora, my daughter!" exclaimed Full lerton, rushing up to her. What in heavens name has happenedW
 Il think" said Mrs. Winthrop, "that it is possibly some family matter to be talked over that doesn't need the presence of outsiders"
 If you do not mind," said Vavin, eft !; family matter which has had the assistance of outsiders and now needs them as witnesses. Will you not tell them now, little Dora, why you left Mrs. Winthrop's this morning the way you did"
 q cannot" said the girl, choking.
 "Then," said Vav1n, q will"
 "YouI" exclaimed Cornelia.
 "Yes, l." said Vavin. T will save you the trouble, Miss Fullerton, You went home last night and you an- nounced your marriage to MT. Hol- comb. Yes? You were congratulated by all'-he indicated the Winthrops- 'but this lady. After you had gone to your room she called on you. She was with you twenty minutes. There were loud words. She told you things. She told you things about your mother-as she knew them. You did not sleep all night. You took the first train in the morning to see this man, your father. g
 "She told me that he was not my father" said the girl bravely.
 Professor Fullerton arose. "You said that, COrnelia ?" he exclaimed excited ly.
 What If did. It's true, isn't it?' Professor Fullerton swore. "I have stood great deal from you because l thought you intended to do what was right
 "She was going to disgrace our household as her mother had already done."
 ''That is what she said last night 'as my mother had done' She said that my mOther''-
 T said that your mother was not married woman when you were born"
 Say it isn't true," pleaded Dora to Fullerton.
 What difference does it maker said Fullerton, putting his arm around Dora. 'It is just the same as if you were my own daughter"
 Vavin took Fullerton's arm from around Dora.
 ''I think it is at this time that I shall tell what I know" he said. "I have with me a man who has been my servant for many years. 'Henriy 5 he called. "He will bear me out" Va. win continued as the man entered. ssin what I say.
 ''MademoiseiIe is very like her moth CT, is she not?" he said
 ''She is, monsieur"
 "Henri noticed the resemblance when we first came here. He was garcon for the man who-mademoi- selle, he was the servant of your fa- ther."
 My father?' repeated Dora.
 You mean this2" said Fullerton.
 ''Wait a minute" continued Vavin. '"This man and Mime. Fullerton met in Paris. The French law says that a divorced woman must wait nearly a year before she may marry, and so she and this man, the master of Henri there, went to England, and they were married there after Mme Fullerton obtained her divorce from you, pro- lessor. They lived there for awhile and then came back to Paris. There was a quarrel, domestic quarrel, such as frequently occurs between people who are very much in love. The man was French romomhor TIo