The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1915-04-29


Certainly. intend to speak plain
ly to you"
Frederic loves me. He does not
love Yvonne. He is fascinated, as
also am fascinated by her, and you
too, Mr.. Brood. The spell has fallen
over all of us. Let me go on. please.
You say that Frederic loves like his
father before him. That is true. He
loves but one woman. You love but
one woman, and she is dead. You will
always love her. Frederic is like you.
He loves Yvonne as you do-oh, /
know it hurtsl She cast her spell over
you, why not over him? Is he stronger
than you? Is It strange that she
should attract him as she attracted
you? You glory in her beauty. her
charm, her perfect loveliness, and yet
you love-yes love, Mr.. Brood-the
woman who was Fredeic's mother. Do
make my meaning plain? Well, 20 1t
is that Frederic loves me. l am con-
tent to wait. l know he loves me-"
Through all this, Brood stared at
her in sheer astonishment. He had no
feeling of anger, no resentment, no
thought of protest.
"You-you astound me, Lydia. Is
this your own impression or has it
been suggested to you by-by an
other%
81 am only agreeing with you when
you say that he loves as his father
loved before him-but not lightly. All,
not lightly, Mr.. Brood"
You don't know what you are say
ing" he muttered.
"Oh, yes, l do" she cried earnestly.
You invite my opinion; I trust you
will accept it for what it is worth. Be-
fore you utter another word against
Frederic, let me remind you that l
have known both of you for long,
long time. In all the years l have
been in this house, have never known
you to grant him tender, loving
word. My heart has ached for him.
There have been times when l almost
hated you. He feels your neglect,
your harshness, your-your cruelty.
He"
Cruelty"
1T is nothing less. You do not like
him. l cannot understand why you
should treat him as you do, He shrinks
from you. Is it right, Mr.. Brood, that
a son should shrink from his father as
a dog cringes at the voice of an un-
kind master? l might be .ble to un'
derstand your attitude toward him II
your unkindness was of recent origin,
but"
Recent origin?" he demanded
quickly.
"If it had begun with the advent of
Mrs. Brood" she explained frankly,
undismayed by his scowl. 81 do not
understand all that has gone before. Is
it surprising, Mr.. Brood, that your
son finds 1t difficult to love you? Do
you deserve"
Brood stopped her with gesture of
his hand.
THE time has come for frankness
on my part. You set me an example,
Lydia You have the courage of your
father. For months l have had it in
my mind to tell you the truth about
Frederic, but my courage has always
failed me. Perhaps l use the wrong
word. 1t may be something very un'
like cowardice that has held me back
l am going to put direct question to
you first of all, and l ask you to an.
swer truthfully. Would you say that
Frederic is like-that is, resembles his
father?" He was leaning forward, his
manner intense.
Lydia was surprised. What an odd
thing to say! OF course he resembles
his father. l have never seen a por
trait of his mother, but"
"You mean that he looks like me?'
demanded Brood.
when he is angry he is very much
like you, Mr.. Brood. l have often won
dered why he is unlike you at Other
times. Now / know. He is like his
mother. She must have been lovely
gentle, patient"
Wait! Suppose l were to tell vol
that Frederic is not my son."
Il should not believe you, Mr.
Brood" she replied fatty. What is i
that you are trying to say to me?"
"Will you understand if say to yol
that-Frederic is not my SOM"
Her eyes filled with horror. "HoV
can you say such thing, Mr.. Brood
He is your son. How can you say"
His father was the man who wrot'
the accursed waltz he has just beel
playing! Could there be anything
more devilish than the conviction 1
carries? After all these years, he"
stop, Mr.. Brood"
II am sorry if hurt you, Lydia. Yol
have asked me why hate him. Neet
l say anything more?"
81 do not believe all that you hav,
told me. He is your son. He is, MI
Brood"
81 would to God l could believ,
that" he cried, in voice of agony.
would to God it were true"
You could believe it if you chose t,
believe your own eyes, your owl
heart" She lowered her voice to
half-whisper. "Does-does Frederi
know? Does he know that his mothe
oh, can't believe it,"
"He does not know"
"And you did drive her out of thi
house?" Brood did not answer. "Yo,
sent her away and-and kept her boy
the boy who was nothing to you
Nothing!"
Il kept him." he said, with a quee
smile on his lips.
"All these years? He never knev
his mother?"
HE has never heard her nam
! spoken"
"And she?"
Il only know that she is dead. Sh
never saw him after-after that day.
| (TO BE CONTINUED.)