New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-02
CHAPTER XIII.
Showing How Tollemaehe Took Charge.

Showing How Tollemaehe Took Charge.
Yvonns found her father hunched up in his so-
eustomed chair he was smoking, and broodng,
his gaze centred IN the pine logs cracking on the
hearth. Thus had she found him each night since
his return from Concarnesu. He, seldom with
out q book after daylight failed, unless some
crony called in for chat, had not opened a
book during many days. he had the aspect Of
man crushed by misery. 1t was borne in on his
daughter that he was slowly yielding under an
intolerable strain; yet It had become her bitter
portion to add materially to load carried SO IN
complainingly.
He looked up as she entered, and essayed well
coming smile which conveyed a ghostly reminis-
cence Of joyous past now utterly remote. II
cut her to the quick, but she strove to emulate hi,
seeming nonchalance.
81 thought my message would have brought you
sooner" he said "But perhaps you helping
your mother to overhaul her boxes Mere Pitou
gave me the news Of the salvage which has sur
prised our local experts. This is the first time in
the memory Of man that Les Verres have dis
gorged their prey"
What message, dad?"
Yvonne removed her hat and coat and seated
herself on q sheepskin rug by her fathers side
She had that to say which would be hard for
both and she did not wish to the agony In
his face.
Haven't you seen Lorry them" he inquired
NO. dear"
"But that is strange Lorry left here quite
half hour ago, meaning to ask you to come
home didn't think Pont Aven could hide you
from Lorry il he was bent the chase"
Sorry Dad. Nothing-no one-would have
kept me rad / known But I understand what
happened I quilted Julia's about half hour
since. Mr.. Raymond was anxious for a brief talk
and we walked to the top Of the quay Lorry
would go to Jua's by the mills That is how he
missed me"
She felt her fathers body culver, as a mette-
some horse might finch under the touch Of
SOUR, and knew that the mention Of Ray
monds name had affected him. IL her habit
when seated at his knee, to catch his hand and
draw It over her shoulder, holding it in both Of
hers, and using it a sort Of stay. She had done
this insensbly, and her downcast eyes dwelt on
the thin, nervous fngers-they seemed to have
shrunk during that time Of suffering. The dis
covery affected her strangely. She could not, she
dared not, unburden her soul then. No matter
what the cost to herself and others, he must be
spareo-at any rate till another day Of wretched-
ness was upon them. She realized just in time
that hot tear stealing down her cheek would
drop on that dear hand and bring about instant
demand for en- explanation.
With jerk she averted her head, and the tear
fell scading on her own wrist. Her father msin-
terpreted the movement.
Don't stir, Girly," he said ~ have something
TO say, a confession to make. Remain where you
are. shall cause you pain and If find my
anguish mirrored in your eyes may fslter in my
duty"
So father and daughter were animated by the
same thought. Each desired only to tighten the
shock for the other Yvonne nestled closer. More
than ever was she resolved to keep her woes to
herself for the hour. With effort that cost
cruel biting Of her under lip she contrived to
murmur without a catch in her voice:
you're tired, darling. Don't tell me you're not.
You ought to be in bed and asleep Let US wait
till the morning and have nice long chat after
petit dejeuner."
mo-" said Ingersoll firmly 81 promised Lo--y
I would speak tonight. He-expects it of me-"
"Lorry!" she gasped in a sudden fright born
Of the knowledge that had come to her in the
gloom down there by the whispering river, when a
cold blooded traficker in her mothers difficulties
had offered to sell his secret at the price of all
she held dear. "Lorry! How is Lorry concerned
in our present troubles"
"Your troubles are his sweetheart Lorry loves
you True knight errant that he is, he wants TO
slay the dragon that would devour you"
"But, father, dear, how could he know? How
could any one know"
In her quick alarm the cry slipped out unaware.
Happily. as it Transportation there is no telling
what John Ingersoll might have done in his anger
II Raymond's infamous suggestion had reached
him in the present state of tension-he misun-
derstood a second time.
"Lorry didn't know; he only guessed he said
gently "He is a good fellow, and l ached for the
sympathy of some man TO whom could talk free
w. So, TO remove the cloud between US, of which
each has been sensible since we came ashore on
that Thursday night, told him the truth, and the
whole truth. He urged that you should be told,
too He is right. oddly enough, despite my
Wanted repute for wisdom, he saw into the mud
die more clearly than /. Yvonne, did not d.
vorce your mother Il regret my action now,
when regret comes too late. According to English
law she never could have been Walter Carmac's
welded wife while | lived. Girly, forgive me!
have wronged both her and you grievously.'