Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1915-04-24

son viii cost you great deal. my
dear"
You are mistaken i do understand
myself" she said gravely- May
speak plainly. Mr. Brood2.
Certainly I intend to speak plain
Iy to you
Frederic loves me- He does not
] love Yvonne- He is fascinated. as 1
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 hurts, She cast her spell over
you. why not over him? Is he stronger
than you? Is il strange that she
should attract him as she attracted
you? You glory in her beauty. her
charm. her perfect loneliness. and yet
you love-yes love, Mr.. Brood-the
woman who was Fredeic's mother Do
I make my meaning plain? Well, so it
is that Frederic loves me- l am con-
tent to wait know he loves me-"
Through all this. Brood stared at
her in sheer establishment 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?"
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; l trust you
will accept it for what it is worth. Be
fore you utter another word against
/ Frederic, let me remind you that /
have known both of you for a long.
| long time. In all the years i have
been in this house, 1 have never known
/ you to grant him a 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
| fror1 you. Is it right, Mr.. Brood, that
dog cringes at the voice of an I'M
kind master? l might be ;-bIe to IN
| derstand your attitude toward him If
| 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 it 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 1 have had it in
my mind to tell you the truth about
Frederic, but my courage has always
failed me. Perhaps 1 use the wrong
word 1t may be something very un-
like cowardice that has held me back
l am going to put a direct question to
you first of all, and 1 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 1 were to tell you
that Frederic is not my SON.
q should not believe you. Mr..
Brood" she replied fatty. What is it
that you are trying to say to me?"
"WiIl you understand if 1 say to you
J that-Frederic is not my son2''
Her eyes filled with horror. How
can you say such a thing, Mr. Brood
He is your SON. How can you say"
His father was the man who wrote
the accused waltz he has just been
playingi Could there be anything
more devilish than the conviction 1t
carries? After all these years. he
stop, Mr.. Broodi''
Il am sorry if hurt you, Lydia You
have asked me why 1 hate him. Need
;