The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1914-07-03
CHAPTER xII.-continued.

SFISAF Ntts-SSuet"eSSs
mot now. Not since l have found
you out. The thing I 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 a
new sensation. My change of heart
will appear quite natural"
Are you sure that the world will
applaud your real design? You hate
the Wrandalls. Will they be charitable
toward you when the truth is given
out? Will 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 accursed than /. The world
will pity me, it may even forgive me.
1t will listen to my story, which Is
more than you will do, and it will be-
lieve 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
tshed 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 l 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-
tion-and even worse
There is no moral wrong in mar
riage with Leslie Wrandall," said
Sara, returning to her own project.
mo moral wrong!" cried Hetty,
aghast. mo, suppose not" she went
on, moment later. ct is something
much deeper, much blacker than moral
wrong. There is no word for it. And
If 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"
Il am no such fool as that. The
secret would be forever safe in that
event. My triumph, as you call it.,
we will not discuss"
How you must hate me, to be will.
ing to do such an infamous thing to
mel"
81 do not hate you, Hetty."
In heavens name. what do you call
ft?"
Justification. Listen to me now
I 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 all that I 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"
Il do not intend to marry" said
Hetty.
But Leslie will marry some one,
and l 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 that!
Don't assume that look of virtuous
horror! Let me say what have to
say. This much of your story shall
they know, and no more. They will be
proud of you'll"
Hetty's eyes were blazing. you use
that name-you call me that--and yet
you have kissed me, caressed me-
loved mel" she cried hoarse with pass
sion.
He will ask you tonight for the
second time. You will accept him.
That Is all"
You must take back what you
have just said to me-of me-Sara
Wrandall. You must unsay it! You
must beg my pardon for that"
Il draw no linz between mistress
and prostitute"