The Carlisle independent., 1915-07-01


 faintest indication in his manner that it was to bring a crisis in his own af- fairs. His brow was clear, his eye sparkling, his serenity undisturbed If there was a thought in his mind of Yvonne he did not betray it by single outward manifestation His in- terest was centered in the two young people and their immediate future It would have been easy to believe, as he stood there chatting gayly, that there was no one else in all the world so far as he was concerned. Quite casually he expressed regret that poor old Dawes and Riggs were to be left behind, but of Yvonne not so much as word
 Lydia was something of a diploma tist. She left father and son after a few minutes, eXcusing herself on the ground that she wished to have good. long chat with Yvonne. She did not delay her departure, but hurried into the house, having rather adroitly pro- vided Frederic with an opening for an intercession in behalf of his lovely stepmother. Her meaning glance was not wasted on the young man.
 He lost no time in following up the advantage. See here, father, 1 don't like the idea of leaving Yvonne out in the cold. so to speak. It's-it's pretty darned rough, don't you think? Down in your heart you don't blame her for what she started out to do, and after all she's only human. Whatever hap pened in the past we-well, it's all in the past She"
 Brood stopped him with an impera- tive gesture. My son, l will try to explain something to you. You may be able to understand things better than 1. l fell in love with her once because an influence that was her own overpowered me. There was some thing of your mother in her. She ad- mits that to be true and 1 now believe it. We'll, that something-whatever it was-is gone. It can never return. She is not the same. Yvonne is The rese. She is not the woman I loved two months ago. She"
 Nor am I the boy you hated two months ago." argued Frederic. Isn't there a parallel to be seen there, fa- ther? I am your son. She is your wife. You"
 There never was time when l really hated you, my son. tried to- but that is all over We will not rake up the ashes. As for my wife-well, have tried to hate her. It is impossible for me to do so. She is wonderful woman. But you must understand on the other hand that I do not love her. did when she looked at me with your mothers eyes and spoke to me with your mothers lips. But-she is not the same"
 Give yourself a chance, dad"
 "A chance? What do you mean?"
 Just this: You will come to love her for herself if only you will let go of yourself. You are trying to be hard. You"
 Again Brood interrupted. His face had gone very pale and his eyes grew dark with pain.
 You don't know what you are say ing, Frederic. Let us discontinue the subject"
 T want you to be happy-I want"
 T shall be happy. I am happy. Have not found out the truth? Are you not my beloved son? Are"
 And who convinced you of ali that, sir? Who is responsible for your pres ent happiness-and mine?"
 q know, I know" exclaimed the fa- ther in some agitation.
 You'll regret it all your life if you fail her now, dad. Why, hang it all, you're not an old man. You are less than fifty Your heart hasn't dried up yet. Your blood is still hot. And she IS glorious. Give yourself chance. You know that she's one woman in mil lion, and-she's yours! She has made you happy-she can make you still happier"
 No, am not old I am far younger than I was fifteen years ago. That's what I am afraid of-this youth 1 real ly never possessed till now. If I gave way to it now Pd-well. I would be like putty in her hands. She could 6o Ou lduSuilS dI iue, lTluluS Wltu ne fooling me to"
 She wouldn't do thati" exclaimed his son hotly.
 T don't blame you for defending her. It's right that you should I, too defend her in way. You are forget ting the one important condition, how ever. She has point of view of her own. my son. She can never reconcile herself to the position you would put her in if l permitted you to persuade me that"
 T can tell you one thing, father, that you ought to know-if you are so blind that you haven't discovered it for yourself. She loves you"
 My son. you are dealing with graver mystery than you can possibly suspect-the secret heart of wom- an."
 Well, I'm sure of it. father-I am absolutely sure of it."
 You speak of giving myself a chance. Why do you put it in that