The state herald., 1915-10-01
BY ANNA KATHARINE GREEN

i'd. Mead d Company

to appeal to you, let that of young
and innocent girl, lovely as few are
lovely. either in body or mind"
Yourself. madam"
No. my daughter! Oliver Ostrander
has done us that honor. sir. He had
every wish and had made every prepa-
ration to marry my child. when
Shall ! 60 on?"
You may"
1t was shortly said, but n burden
seemed to fall from her shoulders at
Its utterance. Her whole graceful
form relaxed swiftly into its natural
curves, and an atmosphere of charm
from this moment enveloped her,
which justified the description of Mrs.
Yardley. even without sight OF the
features she still kept hidden.
Il am widow, sir" Thus she be-
gan with studied simplicity. with
my one child have been living In De-
troit these many years-ever since my
husbands death, in fact. We are not
unliked there. nor have we lacked re.
spect. When some six months ago
your son. who stands high in every
ones regard. as BELTS his parentage
and his varied talents, met my daugh-
ter and fell seriously In love with her,
no one. so far as ! know. criticized
his taste or found fault with his choice
thought my child safe. And she
was safe. to all appearance, up to the
very morning OF her marrlage-the
marriage OF which you say you had
received no intlmation though Oliver
seems very dutiful SON"
"Madam!"-The hoarseness of his
tone possibly increased its peremptory
character-'I really must ask you to
lay aside your veil"
II was rebuke and she felt 1t to
be SO: but though she blushed from
behind her veil, she did not remove 1t.
Pardon me-" she begged. and very
humbly. but cannot yet Let me
reveal my secret first. Judge 0stran-
der, the name under which had lived
in Detroit was not my real one.
had let him court and all but marry
my daughter. without warning him In
any way of what this deception on my
part covered. But others-one other.
have reason now to believe-had de-
| tected my Identity under the altered
circumstances Of my new life. and
surprised him with the news at that
late hour. We are--Judge ostrander.
you know who We are. This Is not
the first time you and I have seen
each other face TO face" And, lifting
up hand. trembling with emotion.
she put aside her veil.
You recognize me!''
Too we'll" The tone was deep with
meaning. but there was no accusation
In Il; nor was there any note OF relief.
II was more as II some hope deeply.
and perhaps unconsclously cherished,
had suffered n sudden and complete
extinction. Put back your veil"
Trembling. sbe complied. mnrmur.
ing as she fumbied with its folds:
! Disgrace TO an Ostranderi know
that ! was mad TO risk 1t for a mo.
ment Forgive me for tn. attempt.
I
willing TO marry my child. even after
he knew the shame II would entail.
But Reuther would moi accept the
sacrifice. Judge OstraDder. 4 am not
worthy Of spch child. but such she
is. II John"
We will not speak his name" broke
In Judge ostrander. assuming per.
enpiory bearing quite unlike his for.
mer one of dignihed reserve Il should
like to hear. instead. your explanation
OF hcw my son became inyeiried into
AN engagement Of which you. n no
one else. knew the preposierous ma.
ture.'
Judge Ostrhnder. you do right to
blame me, should never have given
my consent. never. Hut thought our
past 10 completely hidden-our iden.
tity no entirely lost under the accepted
name OF Ayeriii"
You thought" lie lowered over
her In his anger lie looked and acted
m IN the old days. when witnesses
covered under his eye and voice. SAY
that you knew. madam. that you
planned this unhoiy trap fof my sou
Judge Osirander. I did not plan
their meeting. not did | nj hrrt Ell
courage his addresses. Not tiii ras
the extent Of their mutual attachment
did ! yield TO the event and accept III.
consequences. Hut was wrong.
wholly wrong To allow him To visit
her second time. but nov tina, N.
mischief II dome
Judge ostrandcr was not listening
= have n question to put you" said
he. when he realized that she had
ceased speaking oliver was never
fool when he was told who your
daughter was what did he say OF the
coincidence which made him the lover
Of the woman against whose father bio
father had uttered sentence OF dca,hi
Didn't he marvel and call II exiraordl
nary-thc work OF the deyll1"
"posaibly. but N he did IL wna mt