The Southern herald., 1915-08-20

convinced that he would gol La
Provence!"
Good God in heayen!" he gasped,
dropping suddenly into chair and
burying his face in his shaking hands.
what will this mean to Lydia-what
will she do-what will become Of herG"
A quiver of pain crossed the wom-
ans face, her eyelids fell as II to shut
out something that shamed her In
spite Of all her vainglorious protesta-
tions. Then the spirit Of exaltation re-
sumed its sway.
you cannot marry Lydia now" she
said, affecting sharpness Of tone that
caused him to shrink involuntarily. 1T
is your duty to write her a letter to-
night, explaining all that has hap
pened today. She would sacrifice her
self for you today, but there is--to-
morrow! A thousand tomorrows, Fred
eric. Don't forget them, my dear.
They would be ugly after all, and she
is too good, too fine to be dragged
into"
"You are right" he exclaimed, leap
ing to his feet. 1T would be the vilest
act that a man could perpetrate.
Why-why it would be proof of what
he says Of met would stamp me
forever the bastard he-No, no, could
never lift my head again If were to
do this utterly vile thing to Lydia. He
said to me here-not an hour ago
that he expected me to go ahead and
blight that loyal girls life, that
would consider 1t noble means Of
self-justification! What do you think
Of that? He But wait! What is
this that we are proposing to dol
Give me time to think! Why-why
l can't take you away from him
Yvonne! God in heaven, what am
thinking Of? Have l no sense Of
honor? Am +"
"You are not his son." she said
significantly.
But that is no reason why Should
stoop to a foul trick like this. Do
do you know what you are suggest
ing% He drew back from her with (
look of disgust in his eyes, mo! In
not that vile! L"
Frederic, you must let me-"
II don't want to hear anything
more, Yvonne. What manner Of won
an are you? He is your husband, h
loves you, he trusts you-oh, yes, h
does! And you would leave him lik
this? You would"
flush! Not so loud!" she cried, il
great agitation.
"And let me tell you somethin
more. Although can never MARI
Lydia, by heaven, shall love her I
, the end Of my life. l will not betra
that love. To the end Of time she shal
! know that my love for her is real an
! true and"
wait! Give me time to think" sh
pleaded. He shook his head rest
J lutely. do not Judge me too harshl!
Hear what have to say before 20
a condemn me. am not the vile crei
ture you think, Frederic. Wait! Ii
= me think"
He stared at her for moment
deep perplexity, and then slowly dre'
=" near. "I do not believe you mean
do wrong-I do not believe it of yo1
. You have been carried away by som
horrible"
Listen to me-" she broke in, fierc
Q ly. "I would have sacrificed you-a,
sacrificed you, poor boy-for the 10
. 1t would give me to see James Broo
grovel in misery for the rest of h
) life. Obi" She uttered groan
despair and self-loathing so deep an
full of pain that his heart was chile
Good Lord, Yvonne!" he gaspe
y dumfounded.
o DO not come near me-" she erie
d out, covering her face with her hand
q For full minute she stood before hiI
VI straight and rigid as statue, trag
y figure he was never to forget. Su
Il denly she lowered her hands. To b
U surprise, smile was on her lips. "Yt
II would never have gone away with m
Ie know it now. All these months
'e have been counting on you for tn
very hour-this eliminating hour-al
IT, now | realize how little hope l ha'
T. really had, even from the beginnin
You are honorable. There have be-
v times when my influence over you W
lg such that you resisted only becau
le you were loyal to yourself-not
20 Lydia, not to my husband-but
I'd yourself. l came to this house wi
Ill but one purpose in mind. / came he
~ to take you away from the man W
es has always stood as your father.
er would not have become your mistre
to -pah! how loathsome 1t sounds! B
10 l would have enticed you away,
le lieving myself to be justified l wou
OF have struck James Brood that bio
'u He would have gone to his grave
lieving himself to have been paid
o. full by the son of the woman he b
ed degraded, by the boy he had rear
ne for the slaughter, by the blood"
ut "In Gods name, Yyonne, what
lg this you are saying? What have y
40 against my--against him?"
what! I shall come to that
y did not stop to consider all that
M should have to overcome, First, the
i was your soul, your honor, your
all tnrrit,. tn nnncidnr nnnld coo ~