The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1915-05-27


not come. Brood was regarding him
with eyes from which every spark of
compassion had disappeared We'll,
II may interest you to know that in
tend to marry Lydia this very day"
Brood advanced a few steps toward
him. In the subdued light of the room
his features were not clearly dis
tinguishable. His face was gray and
shadowy; only the eyes were sharply
defined They glowed like points Of
light unfiickering
Il shall be sorry for Lydia" be said
leveliy.
"You needn't be-" said Frederic hot
ly. she understands everything"
Have you told her that you love her
and no one else?"
Certainly"
Then you have lied to her"
There was silence-tense silence.
do you expect me to strike you for
that?" came at last from Frederic's
lips, low and menacing.
you have always considered your
self to be my son, haven't your" pur-
sued Brood deliberately. Can you say
to me that you have behaved of late as
a son should"
Wait! Well settle that point right
now. did lose my head. Head, say,
not heart. l shan't attempt to explain
i can't, for that matter. AS for
Yvonne-well, she's as good as gold.
She understands me better than un-
derstand myself. She knows that even
honest men lose their heads some
times. can say to you now that
would sooner have cut my own throat
than to do more than envy you the
possession Of one you do not de-
serve have considered myself
your son. I have no apology to make
for my-we'll call it infatuation. l
shall only admit that it has existed
and that have despaired. AS God is
my witness, have never loved any
one but Lydia have given her pain,
and the amazing part of it is that l
can't help myself. Naturally, you can't
understand what it all means. You are
not a young man any longer You
cannot understand"
Good Cod" burst from Brood's lips.
Then he laughed aloud-gr grotesquely
"Yvonne is the most wonderful thing
that has ever come into my life. l
adored her the instant saw her. l
have felt sometimes that knew her a
thousand years ago. l have felt that
l loved her a thousand years ago." A
calm seriousness now attended his
speech, in direct contrast to the violent
mood that had gone before. II have
thought of little else but her. con-
fess 1t to you. But through it all there
has never been an instant in which l
did not worship Lydia Desmond. l.
l do not pretend to account for it. 1t
is beyond me-"
Brood waited patiently to the end.
Your mother before you had some
what similar affliction," he said, still
in the steady, repressed voice. Per
haps 1t is a gift-a convenient gift
this ability to worship without effort"
Better leave my mother out of it,
said Frederic sarcastically. A look of
wonder leaped to his eyes That's
the first time you've condescended to
acknowledge that l ever had a
mother"
Brood's smile was deadly. III you
have anything more to say to me, you
would better get 1t over with. Purge
your soul of all the gall that embitters
it. / grant you that privilege Take
your innings" H<
A spasm of pain crossed Frederic's
face. "Yes, / am entitled to my in-
nings. I'll go back to what ! said down.
stairs. thought loved and honored
you last night. l would have forgiven
everything II you had granted me a
friendly-fr1endly, that's ADJUST a
friendly word. You denied"
Il suppose you want me to believe
that it was love for me that brought
you Sinking to the theater," said the
other ironically.
Il don't expect you to believe any
thing. was lonely. l wanted to be
with you and Yvonne. Cant you un-
derstand how lonely I've been all my
life? Can't you understand how hun
cry am for the affection that every
other boy I've known has had from his
parents? I've never asked you about
NY mother. used to wonder a good
deal. Every other boy had mother. l
never had one. / couldn't understand.
no longer wonder. know now that
she must have hated you with all the
strength of her soul. God, how she
must have hated to feel the touch of
your hands upon her body! Something
tells me she left you. and if she did, I
hope she afterwards found someone
who-but no, won't say it. Even now
haven't the heart to hurt you by say
ing that" He stopped, choking up
with the rush of bitter words. We'll,
why don't you say something?"
I'm giving you your innings. Go
on?" said Brood softly.
"She must have loved you once-or
she wouldn't have married you. She
must have loved you or l wouldn't be
here in this world She"
Hal" came sharply from Brood's
stiff lips.
didn't find you out until 1t was
too late. She was lovely, know. She
was sweet and gentle and she loved
happiness. can see that in her face.
in her big, wistful eyes. You"
What's this?" demanded Brood,
startled. What are you saying?"
"Oh, I've got her portrait--an old
photograph. For month I've carried
it here in this pocket-case, over my
heart l wouldn't part with 1t for all
the money in the world. When look
at the dear, sweet. girlish face and her
eyes look back into mine, know that
she loved me-"
"Her portrait?" said Brood. unbe-
IieVing.