The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-07-10
him. He was loyal to Lydia and to

him. He was loyal to Lydia and {
himself"
And what did he think of your" d.
manded Brood scornfully.
IF you had not come upon us here
he would have known me for who an
and he would have forgiven me. ! ha,
asked him to go away with me- He re
fused. Then ] was about to tell hin
the whole story of my life. of his lif,
and OF yours. Do you think he woult
have refused forgiveness to me? No
He would have understood"
But up to that hour he thought o.
you as "a what shall say?"
"A bad woman? Perhaps. did moi
care. 1t was part of the price was tc
pay in advance. / would have told him
everything as soon as the ship on
whlch we sailed was outside the har
Dor yonder. That was my intention
and l know you believe me when say
that-there was nothing more in Sny
MIND. Time would have Strengthened
everything out for him. He could have
mad his Lydia. even though he went
away with me. Once away from here,
do you think that he would ever re-
turn? No! Even though he knew you
to be his father, he would not forget
That he has never been your son. You
have hurt him since he was a babe.
do you understand? | do not hate you
now. 1t is something to know that you
nave worshiped her all these years
You were true to her. What you did
long, long ago was not your fault You
believed that she had wronged you.
But you went on loving her. That is
what weakened my resolve. You loved
her to the end, she loved you to the
end. Well, in the face of that, could I
go on hating you? You must have
been worthy of her love. She knew you
better than all the world. You came
to me with love for her in your heart
You took me, and you loved her all the
time. / am not sure, James, that you
are not entitled to this miserable, un-
happy love have come to feel for you
my own love. not Matildes."
"You-you are saying this so that /
may refrain from throwing you out in
to the street."
moi" she cried, coming to her feet.
Il shall ask nothing of you. If am
to go 1t shall be because have failed. |
have been blind, vain-glorious fool |
The trap has caught me instead of you,
and / shall take the consequences. / |
nave lost--everything!"
Yes. you have lost everything" said
he steadily.
You despise me?"
Il cannot ask you to stay here
lfter this"
But / shall not go. l have a duty
o perform before / leave this house. /
intend to save the life of that poor boy
downstairs, so that he may not die be-
leving me to be an evil woman. a
aithless wife. Thank God, l have &C.
omplished somethingi You know that
e is your son. You know that my sis
er was as pure as snow. You know
hat you killed her and that she loved
GU in spite of the death you brought
her. That is something. That"
Brood dropped into the chair and
uried his face on his quiveriny arms.
muffied tones came the cry from his
oul. They've all said that he is like
lie. / have seen it at times, but would
OF believe. / fought against it, reso-
ltely. madly, cruelty! Now it is too
tie and see! see, l feel! Damn you
oh, damn you-you have driven me
the killing of my own son!"
She stood over him, silent for a long
me. her hand lowering above his
cad.
He is not going to de-" she said at
st. when she was sure that she had
III command of her voice. 81 can
'omise you that, James. l shall not
from this house until he is we'll. IL
lall nurse him back to health and
We him back to you and Matilde, for
wv know that he belongs to both of
u and not to her alone. Now, James.
u may go down to him. He is not !,
nscious. He will not hear you pray.
g at his bedside. He" o
A knock came at the door-a sharp. ID
operative knock. 1t was repeated sew.
al times before either of them could q
mmon the courage to call out. They "
ere petrified with the dread of some G.
Ing that awaited them beyond the !"
osed door. It was she who finally &c
lied out: Come I'M" q
Doctor Holder, coatless and bare W
med. came into the room. 81
cl