The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1915-05-06

| NY btlit but bdlu HIHNtlys MHy \
speak plainly. Mr.. Brood?"
Certainly. intend to speak plain
ly to you"
Frederic loves me. He does not
love Yvonne. He Is fascinated. as I
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 II hurts! She cast her spell over
you. why not over him? Is he stronger
| than you? Is II strange that she
should attract him as she attracted
you? You glory In her beauty. her
charm. her perfect lovellness. and yet
you love yes love, Mr.. Brood-the
woman who was Fredeic's mother. Do
| make my meaning plain? Well, so II
Is that Frederic loves me. am con-
tent to wait. know he loves me-"
Through all tais. 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 1.
been suggested to you by-by an
other?"
Il 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. do" she cried earnestly.
"You invite my opinion; trust you
will accept II for what II is worth. Be
fore you utter another word against
Frederic, let me remind you that |
have known both of you fer a long.
long time. In all the years have
been In this house. have never known
you to grant him a tender. loving
word. My heart has ached for him.
There have been times when ! almost
hated you. He feels your neglect.
your harshness. your-your cruelty.
He"
"crueltyl"
1T is nothing less You do not like
him. ! cannot understand why you
should treat him as you do. He shrinks
from you. Is II right, MIR. Brood. that
son should shrink from his father as
dog crfnges at the voice of an un.
kind master? | might be .ble to un-
derstand your attitude toward him II
your unkindness was of recent origin.
but"
Recent origin?" he demanded
quickly.
III II had begun with the advent Of
Mrs. Brood" she explained frankly.
undismayed by his scowl Il do not
understand all that has gone before. Is
II surprising, Mr.. Brood. that your
son finds II difficult to love you? Do
you deserve"
Brood stopped her with a gesture Of
his hand.
THE time has ccme for frankness
on my part. You set me an example.
Lydia. You have the courage of your
father. For months l have had II In
my mind to tell you the truth about
Frederic. but my courage has always
failed me. Perhaps use the wrong
word. II may be something very un-
like cowardice that has held me back.
am going to put direct question to
you first OF all. and | 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 ! have never seen 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. 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 we're to tell you
that Frederic is not my son."
Il should not believe you. Mr..
Brood" she replied fatty. what is II
that you are trying to say to me?"
"wnl you understand II say to you
that-Frederic is not my son?'
Her eyes filled with horror "How
can you say such thing. Mr. Brood,
He is your son. How can you say"
His father was the man who wrote
the accursed waltz he has Just been
playingl Could there be anything
more devilish than the conviction 1t
carries? After all these yea-s. he"
} stop. Mr.. Broodl"
II am sorry y hurt you. Lydia. You
have asked me why hate him. Need
| say anything more?"
] IL do not believe all that you have
told me. He is your son. He is. Mr..
Brood"
81 would to God l could believe
that" he cried, in voice OF agony. II
!. would to God II were true"
you could believe II II you chose to
} believe your own eyes. your own
} heart" She lowered her voice to a
/. | n