Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1914-08-21
CHAPTER xxJ.-continued.

L OlU not see the TeSiStcI dl tuo
inn. I 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 supper
served in the ROOM I did not eat any
thing. Somehow l was beginning to
understand. vaguely Of course, but
surely-and bitterly, Mr.. Wrandail.
Suddenly he threw of the mask.
He coolly informed me that ne
knew the kind of a girl | was. ! had
been on the stage. He said 1t 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 were
his words. / was Mortified, stunned.
when l began to cry out in my fury,
he laughed at me but swore he would
marry me even at that II 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 l could break away. i
l tried to scream. A little
later on, when | was absolutely des-
perate. II snatched up the knife.
There was nothing else left for me
to do. / struck at him. He fell back
on the bed. I stole out Of the
house-oh. hours and hours afterward
1t seemed to me. l 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.
IL think your story IL 60 convinc'
ing that we've could not endure the
shame Of having 1t repeated to the
world"
IL cannot ask you to forgive me,
sir. I only ask you to believe me. q
she murmured brokenly. IL am
sorry 1t had to be. God il my witness
that there was no other way"
Mr.. Carroll came to his feet. There
were tears in his eyes.
Il think. Mr.. Wrandall. you will now
appreciate my motives in"
Pardon me. Mr.. Carroll. II I sug.
gest that Miss Castleton does not re.
Quire any defense at present." said
Mr.. Wrandall stiny. "Your motives
were doubtless good. Will you be 20
good - to conduct us to q room where
We may-may be alone for q short
whIle?'
There was something tragic in the
mans face. His son and daughter
arose - II moved by an instructive
realisation of . duty. and perhaps foI
= the first time In their lives were sub
missive to IN influence they had never
quite recognised 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 well that to ques
ton her strength now would be but to
invite weakness. She was strong. He
knew her we'll.
She stood straight and firm for q
few seconds. tranefxing Hetty with q
look that seemed to bore into the very
soul Of her. and then spoke.
"You ask US to be your judges?"
II ask you to Judge not me alone
but-your son as WE'LL" 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