The Carlisle independent., 1915-04-29

are young. you are trusting. Your ies. son will cost you a great deal. my dear"
 You are mistaken. l do understand myself" she said gravely. May speak plainly, MT. Brood?"
 Certainly l intend to speak plain ly to you"
 Frederic loves me. He does not ] love Yvonne He is fascinated, as also am fascinated by her, and you 1 too, MT. Brood. The spell has fallen over all of us. Let me go on, please. You say that Frederic loves like his father before him. That is true. He | loves but one woman. You love but one woman, and she is dead. You will always love her. Frederic is like you. i He loves Yyonne as you do-oh, | know it hurts! She cast her spell over you, why not over him? Is he stronger 1 than you? Is it strange that she should attract him as she attracted you? You glory in her beauty, her charm, her perfect loveliness, and yet | you loVe-yes love, Mir. Brood-the woman who was Fredeics mother Do l make my meaning plain? Well, so it 1 is that Frederic loves me. l am con. tent to wait. know he loves me-
 Through all this, Brood stared at her in sheer astonishment. He had no feeling of anger, no resentment. no thought of protest.
 "You-you astound me, Lydia. Is this your own impression or has it been suggested to you by-by an- other?"
 T am only agreeing with you when you say that he loves as his father loved before him-but not lightly. Ah, not lightly, Mr Brood"
 You don't know what you are say : ing" he muttered.
 "Oh, yes, do," she cried earnestly. You invite my opinion; 1 trust you will accept it for what it is worth. Be- fore you utter another word against l Fs4Seric, let me remind you that l have known both of you for long, l long time. In all the years 1 have been in this house, have never known you to grant him tender, loving word My heart has ached for him. l There have been times when l almost hated you. He feels your neglect, your harshness, your-your cruelty. He"
 "Cruelty!"
 Tt is nothing less. You do not like him. I cannot understand why you should treat him as you do He shrinks fror1 you. Is it right, MT. Brood, that a son should shrink from his father as a dog cringes at the voice of an un- kind master? I might be ;.ble to un- derstand your attitude toward him If your unkindness was of recent origin, but"
 Recent origin?" he demanded quickly,
 If it had begun with the advent of Mrs. Brood" she explained frankly, undismayed by his scowl. q do not understand all that has gone before. Is it surprising, MT. Brood, that your son finds it difficult to love you? Do you deserve"
 Brood stopped her with gesture of his hand.
 The time has come for frankness on my part. You set me an example, Lydia You have the courage of your father. For months I have had it in my mind to tell you the truth about Frederic, but my courage has always failed me. Perhaps 1 use the wrong word. It may be something very un- like cowardice that has held me back. l am going to put direct question to you first of all. and I ask you to an- swer truthfully. Would you say that Frederic is like-that is, resembles his father?" He was leaning forward, his manner intense.
 Lydia was surprised. What an odd thing to say Of course he resembles his father. I have never seen a DOT trait of his mother, but"
 You mean that he looks like me?" demanded Brood
 When he is angry he is very much like you, MT. Brood. I have often won- dered why he is unlike you at other times. Now 1 know. He is like his mother. She must have been lovely, gentle, patient"
 " alt. 0QppOS6 l we're u lGll you that Frederic is not my son."
 q should not believe you, Mir. Brood" she replied fatly What is it that you are trying to say to me?"
 Will you understand if I say to you that-Frederic is not my son?"
 Her eyes filled with horror. How can you say such a thing. MT. Brood? He is your son. How can you say"
 His fathor was the man who wrote the accursed waltz he has just been playing! Could there be anything more devilish than the conviction it carries? After all these years. he"
 Stop, MT. Brood!"
 T am sorry if hurt you. Lydia. You have asked me why hate him. Need I say anything more?"
 q do not believe all that you have told me- He is your son. He is, MT. Brood"