Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1914-06-18
CHAPTER xll.-contInued.

Not now Not since | have found
you out. The thing / have feared all
along has come to pass. | am relieved,
now that you show me just where
truly stand. But. asked: what OF
your
THE world Is more likely to applaud
than to curse me, Hetty. 1t likes
new sensation. My change of heart
viii appear quite natural
Are you sure that the world will
applaud your real design? You hate
the Wrandalls. VIII they be charitable
toward you when the truth is given
out7 VIII Leslie applaud you? Listen,
please: am trying to save you from
yourself, Sara. You will fail In every
thing you have hoped for, You will
be more accused than l. The world
will pity me, 1t may even forgive me.
1t will listen to my story, which is
more than you will do. and 1t will be-
heve me. All, / am not afraid now
At first was in terror. had no hope
to escape All that is past. Today
am ready to take my chances with the
big. generous world. Men will try me,
and men are not made of stone and
steel. They punish but they do not
avenge when they sit in jury boxes.
They are not women. Good God, Sara,
is there man living today who could
have planned this thing you have cher
ished all these months? Not one! And
all men will curse you for it, even
though they send me to prison or to
the-chair. But they will not con-
denim me. They will hear my story
and they will set me free. And then,
what of your
Sara stood perfectly rigid. regarding
this earnest reasoner with growing
wonder.
My dear" she said, you would bet
ter be thinking Of yourself, not of me. =
Why, when / tell my story, the
world will hate you, Sara Wrandall
You have helped me, you have been
good to me. no matter what sinister
motive you may have had in doing So
1t is my turn to help you."
ITO help mel" cried Sara, aston
ished in spite of herself
Yes. To save you from execra-
ti0n-and even worse"
There is no moral wrong in mar
rage with Leslie Wrandall," said
Sara. returning to her own project.
No moral wrong!" cried Hetty.
aghast. mo, suppose not she went
on, moment later. 1T is something
much deeper, much blacker than moral
wrong There is no word for it. And
If I marry him, what then? Wherein
lies your triumph? You can't mean
that-God in heaven! You would not
go to them with the truth when it was
too late for him TOTO cast me Off"
7 am no such fool as that. The
secret would be forever safe in that
event. My triumph, as you call ii,
we will not discuss"
How you must hate me, to be will
ting to do such an infamous thing to
mel"
Il do not hate you, Hetty."
In heavens name, what do you call
TT"
Justification. Listen to me now.
] am saying this for your good sense
to seize and appreciate. Would it be
right In me to allow you to marry any
other man, knowing al that know?
There is but one man you can In Just
Ice marry: the one who can repair the
wreck that his own blood created. Not
Brandon Booth, nor any man save Les.
lie Wrandall. He is the man who must
pay"
4 DO not intend to marry" said
Hetty.
But Leslie will marry some one,
and ! intend that 1t shall be you. He
shall marry the ex-chorus girl, the
artists model, the-the prostitute!
Wait! Don't fly at me like thati
Don't assume that look OF virtuous
horror! Let me say what | have to
say. This much Of your story shall