The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1914-08-01
CHAPTER xxI.-continued d.

CHAPTEH H<l.-Continued.
Il did not see the register at the
inn. did not know till afterwards
that We were not booked. Once up
stairs, refused to remove my hat or
my veil or my coat until he brought
his friend to me. He pretended to be
very angry over his friends failure
to be there beforehand, as he had
promised. He ordered a supper
served in the room. did not eat any
thing. Somehow | was beginning to
understand. vaguely Of course. but
surely-and bitterly. Mr.. Wrandall.
Suddenly he threw of the mask
He coolly informed me that he
knew the kind of a girl was. l had
been on the stage. He said it was no
use trying to work the marriage game
on him. He was too old a bird and
too wise to fall for that. Those we're
his words. l was Mortified, stunned.
When began to cry out in my fury,
he laughed at me but swore he would
marry me even at that If 1t were not
for the fact that he was already mar
ried. ! tried to leave the room.
He held me. He kissed me a hundred
times before / could break away. /
i tried to scream. A little
later on, when / was absolutely des-
perate, IL snatched up the knife.
There was nothing else left for me
to do. / struck at him. He fell back
on the bed. stole out of the
house-oh, hours and hours afterward
IT seemed to me. | cannot tell you
how long l stood there watching him.
/ was crazed by fear. II"
Redmond Wrandall held up his
hand.
I'VE will spare you the rest, Miss
Castleton." he said, his voice hoarse
and unnatural. There is no need to
say more"
"You-you understand? You do be-
lieve meT she cried.
He looked down at his wife's bowed
head. and received no sign from her;
then at the white, drawn faces Of his
children. They met his gaze and he
read something in their eyes.
II think your story is 80 convinc-
ing that we've could not endure the
shame Of having 1t repeated to the
1Prld."
VI cannot ask you to forgive me,
CL I only ask you to believe me-"
M murmured brokenly. II am
~ 1t had to be. God is my witness
eXthere was no other way"
Carroll came to his feet. There
pfiiears In his eyes.
haSiink, Mr.. Wrandall. you will now
ciate my motives in"
tnsrdon me, Mr.. Carroll. II sug-
that Miss Castleton does not re-
re any defense at present." said
ar. Wrandall stif1y. "Your motives
were doubtless good. viii you be SO
good a. to conduct US to q room where
We may-may be alone for a short
while?"
There was something tragic In the
mans face. His son and daughter
arose as II moved by an instructive
realisation of duty, and perhaps for
the frst time in their lives were sub
missive to an influence they had never
quite recognized before-a fathers
unalterable right to command. For
once In their lives they were meek
In his presence. They stepped to his
side and stood waiting. and neither
of them spoke.
Mr.. Wrandall laid his hand heavily
on his wife's shoulder. She started,
looked up rather vacantly, and then
arose without assistance. He did not
make the mistake of offering to assist
her. He knew too we'll that to ques-
ton her strength now would be but to
invite weakness. She was strong. He
knew her well.
She stood straight and firm for a
few seconds. transfixing Hetty with
look that seemed to bore into the very
soul of her, and then spoke.
you ask US to be your judges?"
Il ask you to Judge not me alone
but--your son as WELL" said Hetty.
meeting her look steadily. you can
not pronounce me innocent without
pronouncing him guilty. 1t will be
hard"
Sara raised her head from her arms.
You know the way into my sitting.