The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1915-07-22

AS othts oAS oah4
speak plainly. Mr.. Brood?"
Certainly. l intend to speak plain
ly to you"
Frederic loves me. He does net
love Yvonne. He Is fascinated. 40 l
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 oma and she is dead. You viii
always love her. Frederic is like ySu.
! He loves Yvonne as you do-ob, l
know it hurts! She cast her spell over
you. why not over him? Is he stronger
than you? Is it strange that she
should attract him as she attracted
| you? Yoe glory in her beauty, her
charm, hel perfect loneliness, and yet
you loye-yes love. Mr.. Brood-the
woman who was Fredeic's mother. dc
| make my meaning plain? Well, so 1t
is that Frederic loves me. l am con-
tent to wait. / know he loves me-"
Through all this, Brood stared at
her in sheer astonish-nent. He had no
feeling Of anger, NJ resentment. no
thought of protest. .
"You-you astoun.s me, Lydia. Is
this your own impression or has 1t
been suggested TO Jan ay-by an
other?"
II am only agreeing with you when
you say that he loves as his fasAer
loved before him-bu> lot lightly. All.
not lightly, Mr.. Brooa."
You don't know what you are say.
ing" he muttered.
oh, yes, l do she cried earnestly.
you invite my opi.ion; ] trust y0d
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 | have
been in this house, l 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"
Cruelty"
1T is nothing less. You do not like
him. | cannot understand why you
should treat him as you do. He shrinks
from you. Is it right. Mr.. Brood, that
a son should shrink from his father as
a dog cringes at the voice of an II
kind master? l might be able to un-
derstand your attitude toward him IL
your unkindness was of recent origin.
but"
Recent origin?" he demanded
quickly.
IF it had begun with the advent &c
Mrs. Brood" she explained frankly,
undismayed by his scowl. Il 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"
his hand.
THE time has come for frankness
IN my part. You set me an example,
Lydia. You have the courage of your
father. For months / have had it in
my mind to tell you the truth about
Frederic. but my courage has always
failed me. Perhaps l use the wrong
word. x may De something very ua-
like cowardice that has held me back.
i am going to put a direct question to
you first of all, n | ask you to an
swer trnthfnlly. Would you say that
ErnInrsc ic lilo that &. - IL.
father?" He was leaning forward, his
II intense.
Lydia was surprised. what an odd
thing to say! OF course he resembles
his father. l have never seer 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. / 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 l were to tell you
that Frederic is not my son."
Il should not believe you, Mr..
Brood" she. replied fatty. What is 1t
that you are trying to say to me?"
"Will you understand If l say to you
that-Frederic is not my SON."
Her eyes filled with horror. How
can you say such a thing, Mr.. Broodf
He is your son. How can you say"
His father was the man who wrote
the accursed waltz he has just been
playing! Could there be anything
more devilish than the conviction It
carries? After all these years. he"
Stop, Mr.. Brood!"
Il am sorry il l hurt you. Lydia. You
have asked me why l hate him. Need
| say anything more?"
II do not believe ali that you have
told me. He is your son. He is, Mr..
Brood"
II would to God could believe
that" he : lied, In a voice of agony. 81
would IL God It were true"
"You could believe 1t IL you chose To
believe your w eyes. your own
heart" She lowered her voice TO a
half-whisper. "Does-does Frederic
know? Does he know that his mothe,
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