The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1915-08-20

dear"
"You are mistaken. do understand
myself" she said gravely. May I
speak plainly, Mr.. Brood?"
Certainly. l intend to speak plata
ly to you"
Frederic loves me. He does Mt
love Yvonne. He Is fascinated, %
also am fascinated by her, and PEA
too. Mr.. Brood. The spell has falDsn
over all of us. Let me go on, please.
You say that Frederic loves like his
father before him. That iG true. He
loves but one omar You love bnt
one woman, and she is dead. You viii
always love her. Frederic is like yea
He loves Yvonne as you do-oh. l
know it hurts! She cast her spell over
you. why not over him? Is he stronger
than you? Is it strange that a
should atty4ct him as she attracted
you? Yor glory in her beauty. her
charm, he1 perfect loveliness, and yet
you love-yes love. Mr.. Brood-the
| make my meaning plain? Well, so 1t
is that Frederic loves me. ! am con-
tent to wait. l know he loves me-"
Through all this, Brood stared at
her in sheer astonishnent. He had no
feeling of anger, no resentment. no
thought Of protest.
"You-you astounA me, Lydia. 10
this your own impression or has 1t
been suggested to Jou ay-by an
other" :
Il am only agreeing with yoN when
you say that he lovss as his father
loved before him-bu~ .4ot lightly. Al,
not lightly, Mr.. Brood"
You don't know what you are say
ing he muttered.
'Oh, yes, | do" she cried earnestly.
"You invite my %opinion; l trust YOU
will accept it for what 1t Is worth. Be-
fore you utter another word against
Frederic, let me remind you that I
have known both of you for a long.
long time. In all the years l have
been in this house, l have never known
you to grant him a tender, loving
word. My heart has ached for him.
There have been times when almost
hated you. He feels your neglect.
your harshness, your-your cruelty.
| He"
Cruelty"
1T is nothing less. You do Aot like
him. l cannot understand why you
should treat him as you do. He shrinks
from you. Is it right, Mr.. Brood, that
n CON chru1I ch rip II Pro" his fafhnp %
a dog cringes at the voice Of an un-
kind master? / might be ;.ble to I'M
derstand your attitude toward him IL
your unkindness was Of recent origin.
but"
Recent origin?" he demanded
quickly.
IF it had begun with the advent 1t
Mrs. Brood she explained frankly,
undismayed by his scowl. Il do not
understand all that has gone before. Is
it surprising, Mr.. Brood, that your
son finds it difficult to love you? Do
you deserve"
Brood stopped her with q gesture OF
his hand.
The time has come for %frankness
on my part. You set me an example,.
Lydia. You have the courage of your
father. For months | have had it in
my mind to tell you the truth about
Frederic. but my courage has always
failed me. Perhaps | use the wrong
word. 1t may be something very un-
like cowardice that has held me back.
i am going to put a direct question to
you first of all, and | ask you to an
swer truthfully. Would you say that
Frederic is like-that is, resembles his
father?" He was leaning forward. hts
manner intense.
Lydia was surprised. What an odd
thing to say! OF course he resembles
his father. l have never seen a por
trait of his mother, but"
You mean that he looks like me!"
demanded Brood.
when he is angry he is very much
like you, Mr.. Brood. have often won
dered why he 10 unlike you at other
times. Now !. know. He is like his
mother. She must have been lovely.
gentle. patient"
Wait! Suppose / were to tell you
that Frederic is not my son.
Il should not believe you, Mr..
Brood she replied fatty. What is it
that you are trying to say to me?"
will you understand If l say to you
that-Frederic is not my SOM"
Her eyes filled with horror. "How
can you say such a thing, Mr.. Brood?
He is your son. How can you say"
His father was the man who wrote
the accursed waltz he has just been
playing! Could there be anything
more devilish than the conviction It
carries? After all these years. he"
Stop, Mr.. Brood"
Il am sorry If l hurt you, Lydia. You
have asked me why I hate him. Need
| say anything more?"
Il do not believe all that you have
told me. He is your son. He is, Mr..
Brood"
Il would to God could believe
that" he cried. In a voice nf agony "T