The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-07-16

I MIN, He was loyal to LYDIA ana u
| himself"
And what did he think OF you w
manded Brood scOrnfuily,
IF YOU had not come upon Us Hei v
he would have known me for VIM an
and he would have forgiven me- i nas
asked him to go away with me- nc ~
fused. Then | was about to ten n,.'
the whole story of my life, OF his III.
and of yours. Do you think ne "ou', !,
have refused forgiveness to me 1--WE
He would have understood"
But up to that hour he thought u
you as "a what shall say
"A bad woman? Perhaps. ola ho'
care. 1t was part of the price was ~
pay in advance. | would have toiu h'li'
everything as soon as the snip oh
which we sailed was outside the mar
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 nave
had his Lydia, even though he "eh'
away with me. Once away from mere
do you think that he would ever IT.
turn? No. Even though he kne" you
to be his father. he would not iofee'
that he has never been your son. YOU
have hurt him since he was a pane
Do you understand? | do not hate you
now. 1t is something to know tha' w"
have worshiped her all these years
You were true to her. What you dlu
long, long ago was not your fault YOU
believed that she had wrOnged you
But you went on loving her mat Is
what weakened my resolve. You ioVeu
her to the end, she loved you to the
end. Well, 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. | am not sure, James, that you
are not entitled to this miserable, uh'
happy love l have come to feel for you
my own love, not Matilde's.'
"You-you are saying this so that
may refrain from throwing you out IN
to the street."
"No!" she cried, coming to her feet
81 shall ask nothing of you. If am
to 60 it shall be because | have failed
| have been a blind, vain-gl0rlous fool
The trap has caught me instead OF you
and l shall take the consequences.
have lost-everything!"
Yes, you have lost everything" said
he steadily.
You despise me?"
81 cannot ask you to stay here
after this"
But l shall not 60. l have a duty
to perform before leave this house.
intend to save the life OF that poor boy
downstairs, so that he may not die be-
lieving me to be On evil woman, a
faithless wife. Thank God, have &C
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"
aRroodu~ Observation-Disclosures
buried his face on his quivering arms.
In muffied tones came the cry from his
soul. They've all said that he is like
me. I have seen it at times, but would
not believe. l fought against it. reso.
lutely, madly, cruelty! Now it is too
late and see! see, | feel! Damn you
oh, damn you-you have driven me
to the killing of my own SOM"
She stood over him, silent for LONG
time, her hand lowering above his
head.
He is not going to de- she said al
last, when she was sure that she had
full command of her voice. 81 car
promise you that, James shall not
go from this house until he Is we'll.
shall nurse him back to health anG
give him back to you and Matilde, fol
now know that he belongs to both o.
you and not to her alone. Now, James
you may go down to him. He is mo-
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 coult
summon the courage to call out. Thel
were petrifed with the dread of some
thing that awaited them beyond thu
closed door. 1t was she who finally
called out: Come I'M"
Doctor Holder, coatless and bare
armed, came into the room.
CHAPTER XXI.
The Closed Door.
The doctor hlinked for q moment