The Carlisle independent., 1915-06-24

| him. lie was loyal to Lydia ana to himself"
 And what did he think of you?" de- manded Brood scornfully.
 If you had not come upon us here. he would have known me for who am and he would have forgiven me. had asked him to go away with me He re- fused. Then l was about to tell him the whole story of my life, of his life and of yours. Do you think he would have refused forgiveness to me? No! He would have understood"
 But up to that hour he thought of you as a-a what shall say?"
 "A bad woman? Perhaps. did not care. It was part of the price was to pay in advance. I would have told him everything as soon as the ship on which we sailed was outside the har- bor wonder. That was my intention. and l know you believe me when 1 say that-there was nothing more in my mind. Time would have strengthened everything out for him. He could have had his Lydia. even though he went away with me. Once away from here, do you think that he would ever re- turn? Nol 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? l do not hate you now, It is something to know that you have 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. We'll, in the face of that, could 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. l am not sure, James, that you are not entitled to this miserable, un- happy love I have come to feel for you my own love, not Matildes"
 "You-you are saying this so that l may refrain from throwing you out in to the street."
 "No!" she cried, coming to her feet. T shall ask nothing of you. If l am to go it shall be because 1 have failed. I have been a blind, vain-glorious fool. The trap has caught me instead of you, and I shall take the consequences. l 1 have lost-everything!
 Yes, you have lost everything" said he steadily.
 You despise me-"
 'I cannot ask you to stay here after this
 But I shall not go. I have a duty to perform before I leave this house. intend to save the life of that poor boy downstairs, so that he may not die be- lieving me to be cn evil woman, faithless wife. Thank God. have ac- complished something! You know that he is your son. You know that my sis ter was as pure as snow. You know that you killed her and that she loved you in spite of the death you brought to her. That is something. That"
 Brood dropped into the chair and buried his face on his quivering arms. In muffled tones came the cry from his soul They've all said that he is like me. have seen it at times, but would not believe. I fought against it, reso- lutely, madly. cruelty! Now it is too late and I see, see, feeli Damn you -oh, damn you-you have driven me to the killing of my own son!"
 She stood over him. silent for a long time, her hand lowering above his head.
 He is not going to die," she said at last when she was sure that she had 1 full command of her voice ''I can promise you that. James. l shall not go from this house until he is well. I shall nurse him back to health and give him back to you and Matilde, for now know that he belongs to both of you and not to her alone. Now, James, you may go down to him. He is not conscious. He will not hear you pray ing at his bedside. He" A knock came at the door-a sharp, imperative knock It was repeated sev 1 eral tunes before eltner or them cOulu summon the courage to call out. They were petrified with the dread of some thing that awaited them beyond the l closed door It was she who finally called out: Come in!"
 Doctor Holder, coatless and bare armed, came into the room. CHAPTER XXI.