Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-16
CHAPTER XXIX-(continued)

CHAPTER XXIX-(Continued).
"EtAN you blame him II lie does?" Then
~ Maud's composure gave way. She
sprang beside her mother Mother, do
tell me it's not true! That father wasn't
a traitor! That would be worse, much
worse than what you told me! You might
have turned on him in a fit of anger.
he-he might have been jealous and in
suited you. The girl covered her face
with her hands, trying to shut out the
hateful picture of her mothers crime,
and yet to invest excuses for 1t. II
could forgive that But, for an officer
AN admiral-to sell his cOuntry's secrets!
Oh, could die of shame to think 1 was
the daughter of such mani!
yet that was what / had to confess
to Arrol at Brighton" said Mrs. Plessy.
you told him2 Then-then it's true
what Gilbert says, that he is going to
expose father!" The girl clasped her
hands to her brow and stumbled on to
her feet. He couldn't be so cruel! III
appeal to him! I'm sure he won't!'
Mrs. Plessey rose ana smoothed out the
thin tight skirt which her daughters enl-
brace had creased. you have brought
all this upon us by your infatuation Tor
that man." she said almost fiercely, but
YOU have yourself 10 blame II you are
to learn something equally painful 10
what has gone before
LAS II that were possible!' Maud NUT
tered staring at her mother.
"Oh, yes, II is, AS 10 your fathers hav-
ing intrigued with a foreign Power and all
that we need not go into that now. There
is a circumstance which concerns us
much more closely, you and me. Your
father did not play straight with mel
Mother"
Yes: you wanted the truth and now
YOU shall have it, Mrs Plessey "as
very white beneath her careful makeup.
and she applied herself to pencilng her
eyebrows with an air of great calmness
and deliberation. ''You know who l was
when your father met me2'
.'You were at the Hilarity, weren't
you?' faltered Maud. 'in the chorus?"
"Yes, and I wasn't earning more than
R2 los a week-less than l give you for
pocket money l had a hard struggle TO
live, my dear-you don't know what life
means down therel" Mrs Plessey made
a grimace. Never mind who my people
were. They were not exactly in society,
and you are never likely TO meet them
She smiled bitterly, MY father drank
and my mother was incapable OF earning
a penny. had 10 support them. 1 had
a good many temptations, l can tell you,
but 1 resisted them. / was out for a
eoronet Unfortunately, like you, 1
hadn't got my feelings under control, and
one day / fell genuinely In love. Oh. no
not with your father"
Mrs. Plessey paused, the eyebrow pencil
In her hand. and leaning forward studied
her face critically IN a hand-glass She
appeared satisfied with the result laid
down pencil and mirror and threw her
self into a luxurious easy-ehair opposite
her daughter
Il had never intended TO fall in love.
she continued. "A tremendous number of
girls couldn't II they wished to, for that
matter. l dare say you have noticed that
you're a clever girl in your own way as /
was in mine. / don't know why any OF
us ever fan IN love" she reflected.
And I'm obliged TO tell you" broke in
Maud impatlently. that I'm not in
terested Just now IN your views OF men
with which. by the way. you have favored
me on several previous Occasions. You
have told me that, Ia spite of these Views.
YOU did Fan IN love on one occasion.
am, however 10 know with whom as q
seems TO be pertinent 20 this CHASTITY
story"
ION. Gilbert Huron, OF course. It
seems absurd now when he's iat and has
white hair. But be was really quite
Mo- bov when vas at the Hilarlty
re lived by his wits. which for q man
were considerable. He was hookmaker
AZ the moment / made his acquaintance,
but / don't think be had many clients.
AnvhaH. as rye said Ike q liltis TOOL.
felI IA love with him ana ha With
NE / believe 7 actually promised 10
marry aim - alWaxs s"ears ihat / did.
Ita cutie ikzit ko9r oi4 atprz1i ~
1cf & very eaalywEsselfee 81 ta qtef