Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-02-12

made him-and 1t is your wife who casts
1t in his teeth"
"Grace," he said in a low voice, you
must be just to me. You are not an
enemy-like Vertigan was, You must be
just 1 did not mean to kill Rockford.
1t was an accident. I have suffered all
these years-as we'll as you.'
'Tt was right that you should suffer
There is justice In this world. Talbot,
the man who paid for your crime, my
self, my son-the sufferings OF all of us
cry out for justice. But has the debt
been pald?"
is for my work-for the school. If the
world knew-of this hideous thing-the
school-Grace, for PHYS sake do not
wreck the work of years"
She lay back on her pillow and closed
her eyes.
Grace" he said gently. "you are ILL.,
We must not talk of this any more
until you are better, Grace, was a
boy when l did this terrible thing. Try
and remember that, and remember that
1t was an accident You cannot think
calmly until the first shock of 1t has
died away"
She did not speak or open her eyes
He came to the bedside and touched her
hand. She moved 1t sharply away from
him and sat bolt upright.
Leave me alone" she said. Heaven
knows what shall do-as yet. will
write to you. But do not come here
again; cannot bear the sight OF you.
And the touch of your hand-you had
better go at once. Perhaps when you
have gone I can think more calmly, see
things more clearly. At present-all
know i5-that / wish you to suffer-"
He turned and left the room without a
TaaaI -. lN..l..
round the two young people, seated on
chairs some distance apart, but both look
ing flushed and happy. He spoke a few
words to Jim TraYers, asked him about
his work. and told him to see that his
mother had the best medical advice that
could be obtained Then he and Joan took
their departure.
For little while they sat In silence in
the cab. Then Joan said;
'Father-we have made II up"
Made what up, child2"
'I-and Jim-we quarreled the day OF
your weddlng-about selehsstsr. But We
have made 1t up. You must persuade
mother to let me marry him."
I'm do my best. Joan. But you
you must make mother understand
that ! shall marry no one else-that III
walt for years and years-waste all my
life, II mother insists upon II"
IN do my best, my dear child" he
faltered. But you know how things are
between me and your mother-I do not
think anything l may say will do much
good"
She took his arm and looked up visit
fully into his face II am going 10 make
that all right" she said in a low voice.
II won't even think Of myself until have
made that all right"
He patted her hand and smiled-as a
brave man might smile who is face 10
face with death.
A week later. as John ErleiEh WAS
returning from taking the Upper
Sixth in Greek verse, he saw a cab OUT
side the door OF the schoolhouse and
when he entered his study ne found his
wife sitting In q chair before the nre.
"AnneF'' he said as eagerly as a boy
''oh. this Il splendid-for you to have
come back"
She rose sharply TO her feet as he came
toward her, ana IS he saw her face, he
stopped ana stood as motionlesa as
though ne had suddenly been turned into
stone
Anne" he said, ana then he stared At
her with fear In his eyes.
Il have come here on business Jack.
she replied. i have had q letter from
youf sister, II appears that Vertigan had
bequeathed her legacy. She knows the
truth about you, and the-the father of
her child You had Letter rcad the let-
teE tt yin save . lot Of unnecessary
conversation
shs took ths letter oal q ~ zsia bag