The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1915-10-15

MN. lie was ioyss ~ l1d1a aaA q
himself.
And what did he think Of your T.
mandod Brood scornfully.
If you had not come upon US here,
he would have known me for who l am
and he would have forgiven me. l 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 a. IA what shall / say"
"A bad woman! Perhaps. did not
care. It was part Of the price ! was to
pay In advance. l would have told him
everything as soon - the ship on
which we sailed al outside the har.
Dor yonder. That was my intention,
and ! know you believe me when l 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 lever 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 you
have worshiped her al these years.
You we're 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 10
what weakened my resolve. You loved
her to the end, she loved you to the
end. Well. in the face Of that, could l
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 al the
time. ! am not sure, James, that you
are not entitled to this miserable. un-
happy love have come to fesl for you
my wi love. not Matilde's."
"You-you r saying this SO that I
may refrain from throwing you out IN
to the street"
mol" she cried, coming to her foet.
Il shall ask nothing Of you. II l am
to 60 1t shall be because l have failed.
l have been . blind. vain-glorious fool.
The trap has caught me instead q you,
and l shall take the consequences. !
have lost-everything!"
Yes, you have lost everything" said
he steadily.
You despise nof'
Il cannot ask you to stay here
after this"
But l shall not 80. have . duty
to perform before l leave this house. /
intend to save the life OF that poor boy
downstairs, 30 that he may not die b.
lieving me to be An evil woman, q
faithless wife. Thank God. l have ae-
complished something! You know that
he II your son. You know that my sis
ter was - pure ~ 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. l have seen it at times. but l would
not believe. ! fought against It. reso-
lutely. madly, cruelty! Now it is too
late and | see! see, l feel! Damn you
oh, damn you-you have driven me
to the killing OF my own son!"
She stood owe him. silent for q long
time, her hand lowering above his
head.
HE il not going to die" she said at
last. when she was sure that she had
full command Of her voice. II can
| promise you that. James. / shall not
60 from this house until he il we'll. l
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. 1t was repeated sew
| eral times before either OF them could
| summon the courage to call out. They
were petrifled with the dread of some
thing that awaited them beyond the
!, closed door. It was she who finally
called out: Come I'M"
Doctor Holder, coatless and bare
armed, came into the
CHAPTER XXI.