Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1915-01-22

lCHo anu btHuNtu Ilt
smiled at the lady In way to cause
her to doubt Il decision she had just
made that he was not her husband. A
quick glance Of inquiry. followed by
step forward, then n step backward,
and she sprang toward him. He caught
her in his arms. and her head sank ON
his bosom.
Donald was facing, as 1t happened,
n mirror, and when he caught sight of
his reflection holding in his arms n wo-
man whom .he had permitted to think
was her husband sense Of the dis
honor Of his act and Its probable con
sequences rose within him to plague
him.
What confounded fool and vii
lain | am!' he mentally exclaimed.
Shocked Mt what he had done, he be.
gan at once to conjure up some method
OF getting out Of the trap he had laid
for himself Taking her hands In his,
he dlsengaged her embrace, and, hold
ing her apart so that he could look her
In the eyes. he set about framing
statement that would put the matter
back where 1t was before he had made
the break. But one look out of those
brown eyes bereft him OF the will to
do so. He was like one in deep water
struggling to rlsa. As soon as he got
to the surface a heavy hand pushed
him back again. He felt as though he
were sinking deeper and deeper In n
moral quicksand.
Forgive me-" he muttered and took
her In his arms again.
Now, II doesn't matter whether he
asked her to forgive him for thus de-
ceiving her or for having deserted her,
for Mt that moment he saw reflected In
the glass the sister-ln-law who had
freed him from the imputation OF be-
ing the deserter. She was looking at
the pair locked In n mutual embrace
with an expression OF extreme dissat-
lsfactiOn.
He was appalled,.
The lady he was holding in his arms,
fortunately for him, looked and, seeing
the intruder, relieved him from the ne
cessity Of dlsengaging himself.
"Given!" said she who had entered
reproachfully.
Ruth" replied the other, you were
mistaken, after ALI He Is Walter"
Ruth gave Donald look which he
remembered to his dying day.
Il grant" she said, that you may
be Walters twin brother, for vlllainy
seems to run in the blood"
M H..
temporary escape,
"You are right" he said, catching Mt
a straw. IL am Walters twin broth
err"
Both women drew back and stared
at Donald, who stood like Ajax defy
ing the lightning.
"Walter Scholeld had no twin broth
err" said Ruth
"NOne that he would acknowledge.
| was regarded as the black sheep OF
the family At twelve years Of age
ran away. and my name was never
after mentioned in the family"
The grass widow by this time had
returned to state of wondering doubt.
1--WE have had said Ruth, zone
black sheep Of your family In ours, and
we have no use for another"
She pointed to the door
Assuming proud innocence the very
opposite Of what he felt Donald said:
81 am aware Of my brothers inJus-
tlce to his angel wife. | have been
tempted to do evil that good might
come. was disposed to take advan.
tagc OF the resemblance between us TO
right the wrongs he has done. have
failed. An revoir."
with low bow he strutted out Of
the room and the house. Ruth looking
after him with glance Of indignant
contempt. while Given evidently did
not know whether to let him go or de.
tain him.
A month passed, during which Don
aid Brewer dreaded every day lest he
should In some way be punished for
having yielded to temptation and
formed lnnumerable plans to set him
self right In the matter. There Is but
one way for persons who have erred
to set themselves right, and that il
confession When Donald had turned
down plan or two a day he finally
arrived at the confessional state.
He wrote long letter to the wife
Of his twin brother" giving detailed
account Of his temptation and the
cause Of It and acknowledging that his
final statement was false from begin
ming to end. His excuse was one
which with u woman will always win.
II was that he had found her so charm
ing and sympathlzed so deeply with
her and her lovely child that he sim
ply couldn't help 1t.
And here Is the beginning TO a So.
quel Of this story Of which only the
bare facts can be given. Donald call
cd by invitation on the widow and was
forgiven, and his call was followed by
II number OF others. The lady was
about to apply for n divorce In order
that she might marry him when her
husband conveniently died, thus say.
ing trouble, expense and time, which
last to Donald was the most important
Of the three for he was madly In love
and had been waiting long enough al
ready.
All this happened years ago. What
was at one time serious matter II
now one on which Donald Brewer oc-
casionally ventures to crack joke.
He Is an affcctlonate stepfather TO his
wife's child and her aunt Ruth has
come to n point where she considers
that nc had some excuse for his alto
gether Objectionable action. But WON
en- are apt TO think that love Govern
n multitude Of sins.