The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-04-14

mind Time would have straghtehed
everything out for him. He could have
had his Lydia, even though he went
away with me Once away from here,
DO you think that he would ever re-
turn? No, Even though he knew you
to be his father. he would not forget
that he has never been your son. You
have hurt him since he was babe.
Would he forget? Would he forgive?
No. When you came into this room
and found US, | was about TO go down
on my knees 10 him 10 thank him for
saving me from my own designs.
realized then. as | had come to sus-
Lect IN the past few months, that ! had
not counted on my own conscience.
James, II would not have carried out
my plan. had faltered and my cause
vas lost. what have / accomplished?
Am ! able to glOat over you? What
have wrought, after all? ! weakened
under the love she bore for you, per
mtted II to creep in and fill my heart
DO YOU understand? | do not hate you
now II is something to know that you
have worshiped her all these years
You were true to her. What you dld
long, long ago was not your iault. fou
believed that she had wronged you.
But YOU went on loving her. That Is
what weakened my resolve. You loved
her to the end, she loved you to the
end Well, In the face of that, could
go on hating you? You must have
Deen worthy OF her love She knew you
better than all the world. You came
TO me with love for her in your heart.
You took me, and you loved her all the
time. | am not sure, James, that you
are not entitled to this miserable, un-
happy love have come to feel for you
my own love. not Matilde's.'
"You-you are saying this so that !
may refrain from throwing you OUT in
to the street"
no" she cried, coming to her feet.
Il shall ask nothing Of you. II am
to 70 it shall be because have failed,
/ have been a blind, yaiE glorious fool.
The trap has caught me instead Of you.
and / shall take the consequences. |
nave lost-eyerything,
Yes. you have lost everything" said
he steadily.
You despise me-"
Il cannot ask you to stay here
after this
But | shall not go ! have a duty
TO perform bt1ore.I leave this house.
intend to save the life Of that poor boy
downstairs, so that ne may not die be-
lieving me to be an evil woman. a
faithless wife. Thank God, ! have ac-
complished something, You know that
he is your SON You know that my sis
ter was as pure as snow. You know
that you killed her and that she loved
YOU in spite OF the death you brought
to her That is something. That"
Brood dropped into the chair and
buried his face on his quivering arms.
I'm mufiled tones came the cry from his
soul They've all said that he is like
me. have seen it at times, but would
not believe. fought against it, reso-
lutely. madly, cruelty! Now it is too
late and see see, feel. Damn YOU
oh. damn you-you have driven me
10 the killing OF my own SOM"
She stood over him. silent for a long
time. her hand lowering above his
head
He is not going to die" she said at
last. when she was sure that she had
full command OF her voice. Il can
promise you that, James. | shall not
20 from this house until he is well.
shall nurse him back to health and
give him back to you and Mstilde, for
now | know that he belongs 10 both OF
you ana not to her alone. Now, James.
YOU may 20 down to him. He 10 not
conscious He wiz not hear you pray
ing at his bedside. He"
A knock came at the door-a sharp.
imperative knock Il was repeated sew