Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-06-13

lasseioss b Ellsworth Yemg
s;:xz - - = 49, g. -, = go : 60
A. Hstty arose. Mr.. Wrandall SEN
lor lowered her eyes and not once did
The look up during the recital that
followed. Her hands were lying Imply
In her lap, and she breathed heavily.
almost stert0riously. The younger
Wrandalls leaned forward with their
clear. unwavsring gaze fixed on tho
earnest face Of tho young English.
woman who had slain their brother.
you have heard Sara accuse her
sslf." said the girl slowly, disposition
atsly. :The shock was no greater to
you than It was to me. All that she
has said is true, and yet IL would
70 much rather she had left herself
unarraigned. We were agreed that l
should throw myself on your mercy.
Mr.. Carroll said that you were fair
and Just people. that you would not
condemn me under the circumstances.
But that Sara should seek to take the
blame -"
ALAS, my dear, am to blame" said
Sara, shaking her head. But for me
your story would have been. told
months ago, the courts would have
cleared you, and al the world would
have execrated my husband for the
thing he did-my husband and your
son, Mn. Wrandall-whom We both
loved. God believe me, think loved
him more than al Of you put to-
getherl"
She sat down abruptly and buried
her lace in her arms on the edge Of
the table.
III could only induce you to for.
give her." began Hetty. throwing out
her hands to tho Wrandalls. only to be
met BY gesture Of repugnance from
the grim old man.
Your story. Miss Castleton." he
said hoarsely.
From tho beginning. II you please. y
added the lawyer quietly. Leave out
nothing"
Clearly, steadily and with the ut
most sincerity in her voice and man
ner. the girl began the story Of her
life. She passed hastily over the ear
lier periods. frankly exposing the un-
happy conditions attending her home
life. her subsequent activities as .
performer on the London stage after
Colonel Castlet6n's detection: the few
months devoted to posing for Hawk
right, the painter. and later on her
engaGen. It a. governess In the
wealthy Budlong family. She devoted
/ some time and dehniteness to her drst
encounter with Challis Wrandall on
board the west-bound steamer, an IN
cident that came % pass in perfectly
natural way. Her deck chair stood
next to his. and no was not slow In
making himself agreeable. It did not
occur to her till long afterwards that
he deliberately had traded positions
with an elderly gentleman who occu-
pied the chair on the first day out.
Before tho end Of the voyage they
were very good friends. I.
when We landed in New York, he
assisted me In many ways. After
wards, on learning that was not to
70 70 California, I called him up on
tho telephone to explain my predica-
ment. He urged me to stay in New
York; he guaranteed that there would
be nc. difficulty In securing . splendid
position in the east. had no means
Of moving that he was married.
accepted him for what thought him
70 be: genuine American gentleman.
They are supposed to be particularly
considerate with women. His conduct
toward me was beyond reproach.
have never known q man who was 20
courteous, 10 gentle. To me, he was
the most fascinating man In the world.
No woman could have resisted him.
am sure Of that"
She shot quick, appealing glance
at Booths hard-set face. Her Lip
trembled for . second.
II fell madly In love with him" she
went on resolutely. II dreamed OF
him, I could hardly wait for the time
to come when I was to see him. He
never came to the wretched little lodg.
Ing house have told you about. IL
met him outside. One night he told
me that he loved me. loved mo pas.
sionatsly. II said that would be
his wife. Somehow It seemed to me
that he regarded me very curiously
for moment or two. He seemed to
be surprised. uncertain. remember
that hs laughed rather queerly. II
did not occur to me 70 doubt him. Ono
day he came for me. saying that he
wanted me to sec the little apartment
10 had taken, where We were to live
after We were married. I went with
him. He said that II liked It, could
move In at once. but ! would not con
sent to such IN arrangement. For the
arst time began TO feel that every.
thing was not ~ It should be. FL
remained In the apartment but . few
minutes. The next day he came to
me- greatly excited and more demon
& strative than ever before, to say that
hs had arranged for . quiet, jolly
little wedding uD In the country
Strangely enough, experienced q
queer feeling that all was not ~, II
should b. but his eagerness, his per
A. H. ~ = A.