Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1915-05-14
EE.R xxvv!-con:!nvea

IL WAS L1duG Ill NleHId, luLSII uULcu
Frederick, not without a strange thrill
Of satisfaction in his soul, and before
you were married, I'd say. On the
back of it is written: TO my own
sweetheart-in Hungarian, Yvonne
says. There! Look at her. She vas
like that when you married her. God.
how adorable she must have been. To
my own sweetheart Ho ho!"
A hoarse cry of rage and pain bust
from Brood's lips. The world went red
before his eyes.
""To my own sweetheart" he cried
out. He sprang forward and struck
the photograph from Frederic's hand.
It fell to the floor at his feet. Before
b young man could ecover from his
surprise, Brood's foot was upon the
bit of cardboard. Don't raise your
hand to me! Don't you dare to strike
me! Now I shall tell o who that
sweetheart was!"
Halt an hour later James Brood de-
scended the stairs alone. He went
straight to the library where he knew
that he could find Yvonne. Ranjab,
standing in the hall, peered into his
white. drawn face as he passed. and
started forward as IL to speak to him.
But Brood did not see him. He did
not lift his gaze from the floor. The
Hindu went swiftly up the stairs. a
deep dread in his soul.
The shades were down. Brood
stopped inside the door and looked
duly about the library. He a on
tho @nninf ~ vafirin0 xr,hnv vunnrn
spoke to him out Of the shadowy cor
ner beyond the fireplace.
"Cl0se the door," she said huskiiy.
Then she emerged slowly, almost like
q specter, from the dark background
formed by the huge mahogany book
cases that lined the walls, from 1oor
to ceiling. you we're a long time
up there" she went On.
why is it SO dark in here. Yvonne?"
he asked ~lifelessly.
$50 that it would not be possible for
me to see the shame In your eyes,
James"
He leaned heavily against the long
table. She came up and stood across
the table from him, and he felt that
her eyes were searching his very soul.
II have hurt him beyond all chance
for recovery" he said hoarsely,
"sOh, you coward" she cried, lean
ing over the table, her eyes blazing.
Il can understand 1t in you. You have
no soul Of your own. What have you
done to your son. James Brood?"
He drew back as IL from the impact
OF a blow. Coward? II I have crushed
his soul, It was done in time, Yvonne.
to deprive you Of the glory of doing it"
What did he say to you about me?"
You have had your fears for moth
ing. He did not put you In jeopardy"
he said lscornfully.
Il know. He is not a coward" she
said calmly.
I'm your heart you are reviling me.
You Judge me as one guilty soul
judges another. Suppose that ! were
to confess to you that I left him up
there with all the hope, all the life
blasted out Of his eyes-with a wound
In his heart that will never stop bleed
n hat I left him because I was
sorry for what l had done and could
stand tby and lock sren the wreck
] had created. Suppose"
II am still thinking OF you as a GOV
ard. What is 1t to me that o are
sorry now? What have you done to
that wretched. unhappy boy?
; He viii tell you soon enough. Then
ycr will desnise me eve more than l
despise myself. God! He he
looked at me with his mothers eyes
when l kept on striking blows at his
very soul. Her eyes-eyes that were
always pleading with me! But. curse
them-always scoffing at me! For q
moment l faltered. There was a wave
OF loye-yes. love, not pity. for him
as / saw him go down before the
words I hurled at him. 1t was as ii I
had hurt the only thing In all the
world that / love. Then it passed. He
was not meant for me to love. He was
born for me to despise. He vas born
10 torture me as l have tortured him"
.You poor fool" she cried. her eyes
g~littering.
sSometimes I have doubted my own
reason" he went on as II he had not
lA.