Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1915-08-06

him He was loyal to Lydia and to
himself"
And what did he think Of you?" de-
mauded Brood scorufully.
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 | 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 what shall | say"
"A bad woman? Perhaps. did not
care. 1t was part Of the price | was to
pay in advance. | would have told him
everything as soon as the ship on
which we sailed was outside the har-
Dor yonder. That was my intention,
and | know you believe me when ! 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? 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 yor
have worshiped her all these years
You we're true to her. What you dit
long, long age was not your fault. Yo'
believed that she had wronged you
But you went on loving her. That !
what weakened my resolve. You love'
her to the end, she loved you to tn
end. Well, in the face OF that, could
20 on hating you? You must hav'
been worthy of her love. She knew yo'
better than all the world. You cam
to me with love for her in your hear
You took me, and you loved her all tn
time. | am not sure, James, that 20
are not entitled to this miserable, III
, happy love | have come to feel for 20
my own love, not Matilde's."
, "You-you are saying this so that
, may refrain from throwing you out II
to the street"
. "No!" she cried, coming to her fee
81 shall ask nothing of you. II al
to 20 it shall be because | have faile'
: I have been a blind, vain-glorious foe
The trap has caught me instead OF yo
and | shall take the consequences.
u have lost-eyerything!"
Eyes, you have lost everything" sa.
. he steadily.
You despise me!'
u 81 cannot ask you to stay here
u after this"
But | shall not go. have a du
G. to perform before | leave this house
intend to save the life of that poor b'
70 downstairs, so that he may not die I
10 lievtng me to be an evil woman,
faithless wife. Thank God, / have 9
10 complished something! You know tn
lg he is your son. You know that my S
10 ter was as pure as snow. you knt
re that you killed her and that n low
you in spite of the death you broug
to her. That is something. That
80 Brood dropped into the chair a
=, buried his face on his quivering arm
"a In mufled tones came the cry from
=. soul. They've all said that he Is II
~ me. | have seen it at times, but wol
80 not believe. fought against 1t, re
W lutely, madly, cruelty! Now 1t is
.a late and | see! | see, | feel! Damn y
oh. damn you-you have driven
to the killing of my own son!"
I'D She stood we him, silent for a lc
.,I time, her hand lowering above
head.
mo HE is not going to die" she said
II last, when she was sure that she !
%. full command of her voice. Il
promise you that, James. ! shall
h,s 90 from this house until he Is well
10 shall nurse him back to health
90 give him back to you and Matilde,
,ed now / know that he belongs to botf
i'm YOU and not to her alone. Now, Jan
you may go down to him. He is
WOW conscious. He will not hear you pl
ma ing at his bedside. He"
,on A knock came at the door-a sh'
ov imperative knock. 1t was repeated
NOS eral times before either of them &C
70. summon the courage to call out. 7
were petrifed with the dread OF SC
thing that awaited them beyond
closed door. 1t was she who mn
~ called out: Come in"
Doctor Holder, coatless and b
armed, came into the room.
self CHAPTER xxi.