The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1915-06-03

we 90 tomorrow sne cTleu out
in an ecstasy OF triumph. She was
convinced that he would 60! La
Provence!"
Good God in heaven!" he gasped.
dropping suddenly into a chair and
burying his face in his shaking hands
What will this mean to Lydia-what
will she do-what will become OF her"
A quiver OF pain crossed the wom-
ans face, her eyelids fell as il 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 a sharpness Of tone that
caused him to shrink inyoluntarilY. 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. ut 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 l we're 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 l
would consider it a noble means of
self-justification! What do you think
of that? He But wait! What is
this that we are proposing to do?
Give me time to think! Why-why,
l can't take you away from him,
Yvonne! God in heaven, what am I
thinking of? Have no sense Of
honor? Am L"
"You are not his son." she said,
significantly.
But that is no reason why should
SLOOp W d lOul IilCh Ilhc Iulos OO
do you know what you are suggest
ing% He drew back from her with a
look of disgust in his eyes. mo! I'm
not that vile! L"
Frederic, you must let me-"
81 don't want to hear anything
more, Yvonne. What manner Of wom-
an are you? He is your husband, he
loves you, he trusts you-oh, yes, he
does! And you would leave him like
this? You would"
Flush! Not so loud!" she cried, in
great agitation.
"And let me tell you something
more. Although l can never marry
Lydia, by heaven, l shall love her to
the end of my life. will not betray
that love. To the end of time she shall
know that my love for her is real and
true and"
wait! Give me time to think" she
pleaded. He shook his head reso-
lutely. do not judge me too harshly.
Hear what have to say before you
condemn me. ! am not the vile crea-
ture you think, Frederic. Wait! Let
me Think"
He stared at her for a moment In
deep perplexity, and then slowly drew
near. Il do not believe you mean to
do wrong-I do not believe 1t OF you
You have been carried away by some
horrible"
Listen to me-" she broke in, fierce
ly. II would have sacrificed you-ay,
sacrificed you, poor boy-for the Joy
1t would give me to see James Brood
grovel in misery for the rest of his
life. OH" She uttered a groan OF
despair and self-loathing so deep and
full of pain that his heart was chilled
Good Lord, Yvonne!" he gasped
dumfounded.
DO not come near me-" she cried
out, covering her face with her hands
For full minute she stood before him
straight and rigid asa statue, tragic
figure he was never to forget. Sud
denly she lowered her hands To his
surprise, smile was on her lips. "Yot
would never have gone away with me
I know it now. All these months
have been counting on you for this
very hour-this eliminating hour-anC
now l realize how little hope have
really had, even from the beginning
You are honorable. There have beer
times when my influence over you wal
such that you resisted only because
you we're loyal to yourself-not Il
Lydia, not to my husband-but t.
yourself. l came to this house will
but one purpose in mind. l came herr
to take you away from the man whit
has always stood as your father.
would not have become your mistress
-pah! how loathsome 1t sounds! Blu
would have enticed you away, be
lieving myself to be justified. woul'
have struck James Brood that blow
He would have gone to his grave be
lieving himself to have been paid II
full by the son Of the woman he ha'
degraded, by the boy he had reare'
for the slaughter, by the blood"
"In Gods name, Yvonne, what /
this you are saying? What have yo1
against my-against him%
What! shall come to that.
did not stop to consider all that
should have to overcome. First, ther
was your soul, your honor, your In
tegrity to consider. could see moth
ing else but triumph over Jane
Brood. To gain my end 1t was necet
sary that should be his wife. bt
came his wife-I deliberately took tina
step in order to make complete m
triumph over him. / became the wifi
Of the man hated with all my SOU
: Frederic. So you can see how far
was willing to go to-ah, 1t was har
thing to do! But l did not shrink.
went into 1t without faltering, withou
single thought of the cost to mysel
He was to pay for all that, too, in tn
end. Look into my eyes, Frederic.
want to ask you question. Will yo