The Raymer enterprise., 1914-12-03
CHAPTER tv.--Conslnued.

CHAPTER tV.-Eontlnued.
Beside Sara WrandaIi. on the small,
pink divan. sat stranger In this som,
per company: young woman In
-6lack. whose pale face WAS uncovered,
Had whose lashes were lifted so rarely
that one could not know OF the deep.
real pain that lay behind them. In her
Irish blue eyes.
She had arrived At the house an
hour or two before the time set for
the ceremony. In company with the
widow True to her resolution, the
widow OF ChallIs Wrandaii had re-
mained away from the home OF his
people until the last hour She had
been consulted. to be sure. In regard
10 the final arrangements, but the
meetings had taken place ia her own
apartment. many blocks distant from
the house In lower Fifth avenue. The
afternoon before she had received
Redmond Wrandall and Leslie, his
son. She had not sent for them They
came perfunctorily and not through
eny sense OF obligation These two
at least knew that sympathy was not
what she wanted. but peace Twice
during the two trying days. Leslie had
come to see her, Vivian telephoned.
On the occasion OF his first visit,
Leslie had met the guest Ia the house.
The second time he called he made
IT point to ask Sara all about her.
" was he who gently closed the
door after the two women when, on
the morning OF the funeral, they en-
tered the dark. aower.laden room In
which stood the casket containing the
body OF his brother. de left them
alone together in thai room for half
an hour or more, and II was he who
went forward to meet them when they
came forth. Sara leaned on his arm
Ms she ascended the stairs to the room
where the others were waiting. The
ashen-faced girl followed.
Mrs. Wrandall. the elder. kissed
Sara and drew her down beside her
IN the couch. To her own surprise, as
well as that of the others, Sara broke
down and wept bitterly. After all,
che was sorry for Chailis' mother. 1t
was the human instinct. she could not
hold out against IL. And the older
woman put away the ancient grudge
she held against this mortal enemy
and dissolved into tears OF real com.
passion.
A little later she whispered broken.
" in Saras ear; my dear. my dear,
this has brought US together. | hope
you will learn to love me"
Sara caught her breath. but uttered
Go word. She looked into her mother.
tn-law's eyes. and smiled through her
tears. The Wrandalls. looking on in
amaze, saw the smile reflected in the
face OF the older woman Then IL was
that Vivian crossed quickly and put
ter arms about the shoulders OF her
slsterin.law. The white tag Oh both
sides
Hetty Castleton stood alone and wa.
vering. Just inside the door. No
stranger situation could be imagined
than the one in which this unfortunate
Girl found herself at the present mo.
1ent. She was virtually In the hands
of those who would destroy her; she
was in the house OF those who most
deeply were affected by her act on
that fatal night Among them all she
stood. facing them, listening 10 the
means and sobs, and yet her limbs did
not give way beneath her
Some one gently touched her arm.
II was Leslie, She shrank back, a
fearful look in her eyes. In the semi.
darkness he failed to note the expires.
sion.
Won't you sit heres" he asked, In.
aicating the little pink divan against
the wall. Forgive me for letting you
stand so long"
She looked about her. the wild light
etill In her eyes. She was like a rat
IN trap
Her lips parted. but the word OF
thanks did not come forth. A strange.
tnarticulate sound. almost gasp.
came instead. Pallid as ghost, she
dropped Imply to the divan, and dug
her fingers into the satiny seat. As
n fascinated. she stared over the
black heads OF the three women imme.
tiately In front Of her at the full.
sength portrait hanging where the
light from the hall fell upon It: the
portrait Of a dashing youth In riding
togs.
A moment later Sara Wrandall came
over and sat beside her. The girl
uhivered ~ with . mighty chill when
tho warm hand Of her friend fell upon
hers and enveloped II In q nrm clasp.
"FIis mother kissed me-" whispered
Bara- ibid you sect"
The sisi could not reply. She could