Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1915-02-11

and innocent girl. lovely as few are
lovely. either in body or mind"
Yourself. madam"
No, my daughterl Oliver ostrander
has done us that honor, sir. He had
every wish and had made every prepa-
ration to marry my child. when
Shall go on?"
"You may"
It was shortly said. but burden
seemed to fall from her shoulders at
its utterance. Her whole graceful
form relaxed swiftly into its natural
curves, and an atmosphere OF charm
from this moment enveloped her,
which justified the description of Mrs.
Yardley, even without a sight of the
features she still kept hidden.
II am a widow, SIR" Thus she be-
gan with, studied simplicity. with
my one child have been living In De-
troit these many years-ever since my
husbands death, in fact. we are not
unliked there, nor have we lacked re-
spect. When some six months ago
your son, who stands high In every
ones regard, as BELTS his parentage
and his varied talents, met my daugh-
ter and fell seriously in love with her.
no one, so far as l know, criticized
his taste or found fault with his choice.
thought my child safe. And she
was safe. to all appearance. up to the
very morning of her marriage-the
marriage Of which you say you had
received no intimation though oliver
seems very dutiful son."
"Madam!"-The hcarseness OF his
tone possibly increased its peremptory
character-'T really must ask you to
lay aside your VEIL"
II was a rebuke and she felt It to
be so; but though she blushed from
behind her veil, she did not remove it.
Pardon me-" she begged. and very
humbly, but cannot yet. Let me
reveal my secret first. Judge Ostran-
der, the name under which had lived
in Detroit was not my real one. !
had let him court and all but marry
my daughter, without warning him in
any way Of what this deception on my
part covered. But others-one other,
| have reason now to believe-had de-
tected my identity under the altered
circumstances Of my new life, and
surprised him with the news at that
late hour. We are-Judge Ostrander,
you know who We are. This is not
the first time you and / have seen
each other face to face" And, lifting
up a hand, trembling with emotion,
she put aside her veil.
You recognize me?"
TOO WELL" The tone was deep with
meaning, but there was no accusation
in it; nor was there any note Of relief.
It was more as If some hope deeply,
and perhaps unconsclously cherished,
had suffered a sudden and complete
extinction. Put back your veil"
Trembling, she complied, murmur
ing as she fumbled with its folds:
Disgrace to an Ostrander! l know
that was mad to risk 1t for q mo-
ment. Forgive me for the attempt,
and listen to my errand. Oliver was
willing TO marry my child, even after
he knew the shame 1t would entail.
But Reuther would not accept the
sacrifice. Judge Ostrander, l am not
worthy OF such a child, but such she
Is. II John"
I'VE will not speak his name," broke
in Judge Ostrander, assuming per.
emptory bearing quite unlike his for.
mer one Of dignifed reserve. II should
like to hear, instead, your explanation
of how my son became inveigled into
an engagement Of which you. II no
one else, knew the preposterous ma.
ture."
Judge ostrander. you do right to
blame me. ! should never have given
nv consent, never. But l thought our
past 30 completely hidden-our iden.
tity so entirely lost under the accepted
name OF Averill."
You thought" He lowered over
her in his anger. He looked and acted
as in the old days, when witnesses
covered under his eye and voice. Say
that you knew. madam; that you
planned this unholy trap for my SON.
Judge 0strander, l did not plan
their meeting, nor did at first en-
courage his addresses. Not till | saw
the extent Of their mutual attachment
did l yield to the event and accept the
consequences. But was wrong,
wholly wrong to allow him to visit
her a second time; but now that the
mischief is done"
Judge Ostrander was not listening.
81 have a question to put you" said
he. when he realized that she had
ceased speaking. "Ollver was never
a fool. When no was told who your
daughter was what did he say Of the
coincidence which made him the lover
of the woman against whose father his
father had uttered sentence OF deathi
Didn't he marvel and call II extraordi'
nary-the work Of the devil?"
Possibly; but II he did It was not |
In any conversation he had with me-"
And your daughter? Was he as
close-mouthed In speaking Of me to |