The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1915-06-17

convinced that he would go! La
Prcvencel"
Good God in heaven!" he gasped
dropping suddenly into chair and
burylng his face In his shaking hands
What will this mean to Lydia-whai
will she do--what will become Of herr
A culver OF pain crossed the won
ans face, her eyelids fell as II 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 lnvoluntarily. 'It
Is your duty to write her a letter to-
night, explaining all that has hap.
pened today. She would ,.crifice 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. 1T would be the yiiest
act that a man could perpetrate.
Why-why II would be proof of what
he says of melt would stamp me
forever the bastard he--No, no, could
never lift my head again II | were 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 /
would consider II a noble means Of
self-justlhcation! What do you think
of that? He But waitl What Is
this that we are proposing to do?
Give me time to think Why-why,
| can't take you away from him,
Yvonnel God in heaven, what am
thinking Of? Have / no sense OF
honor? Am +"
"You are not his son." she said,
significantly.
But that Is no reason why should
stoop to a foul trick like this. Do
do you know what you are suggest
ing?" He drew back from her with
look OF disgust In his eyes. mo! I'm
not that vile! I"
Frederic, you must lei me"
Il don't want to hear anything
more, Yvonne. What manner of WON.
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 loudl" she cried. in
great agitation.
"And let me tell you something
more. Although | can never marry
Lydia, by heaven. | 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-
utely. DO not judge me too harshly.
Hear what have to say before you
me. am not the vile crea-
-ure you think. Frederic. Wait Let
me think"
He stared at her for a moment in
ieep perpleXity, and then slowly drew
near. 81 do not believe you mean to
10 wrong-I do not believe II Of you.
You have been carried away by some
Listen to me-" she broke in, fierce
y. 81 would have sacrificed you-ay.
sacrificed you, poor boy-for the JOY
I would give me to see James Brood
srovel in misery for the rest of his
ife. OH" She uttered a groan of
despair and self-loathing so deep and
ull of pain that his heart was chilled.
Good Lord, Yvonne!" he gasped.
do not come near me-" she cried
,ut, covering her face with her hands. !
Nor full minute she stood before him,
straight and rigid as a statue, tragic
igure he was never to forget. Sud
lenly she lowered her hands. To his
smile was on her lips. "You
would never have gone away with me.
know it now, All these months
lave been counting on you for this
'ery hour-this eliminating hour-and
low ! realize how little hope have
eally had, even from the beginning
You are honorable. There have been |
lines when my influence over you was |
uch that you resisted only because |
'ou were loyal to yourself-not to
lydia, not to my husband-but to
'ourself. | came to this house with |
'ut one purpose in mind. came here
o take you away from the man who |
las always stood as your father
would not have become your mistress
-pah! how loathsome II sounds! But |
would have enticed you away, be-
ieving myself to be justified. would
ave struck James Brood that blow.
lie would Rave gone to his grave be-
Ieving himself to have been paid in
ull by the son of the woman he had
egraded, by the boy he had reared
or the slaughter, by the blood"
I'm Gods name, Yvonne, what is
his you are saying? What have you
gainst my-against him?"
What! shall come to that.
i'd not stop to consider all that |
hould have to overcome. First, there
'as your soul, your honor, your in
egrity to consider. could see moth
lg else but triumph over James
'rood. To gain my end 1t was neces-
airy that | should be his wife. ! be-
anne his wife-I deliberately took that
tep in order to make complete my
riumph over him. | became the wife
I the man | hated with all my soul,