The state herald., 1916-10-01
By ANNA KATHARINE GREEN
copyrisht, 1914. By Dodd, MeaA : companyl


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to appeal to you, let that of young
and innocent girl, lovely as few are
lovely. either In body or mind"
Yourself, MADAME"
No. my daughter! 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" --te
1t was shortly said. but a 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 . sight of the
features she still kept hidden.
Il am 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 befits 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.
l thought my child safe. And she
was safe. to all appearance. up to the
very morning Of her marrlage--the
marriage Of which you say you had
received no intimation though oliver
seems . very dutiful SON."
'Madam!"-The hoarseness of his
tone possibly increased its peremptory
character-'I really must ask you to
lay aside your veil."
It was rebuke and she felt It to
be SO: but though she blushed from
behind her veil. she did not remove II.
Pardon me-" she begged. and very
humbly. but I cannot yet. Let me
reveal my secret first. Judge Ostran.
der. the name under which had lived
In Detroit was not my real one. l
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 do.
tected my Identity under the altered
circumstances OF my new life. and
surprised him with the news at that
late hour. We are-Judge Ostrxnder,
you know who we are. This 10 not
the first time you and I have seen
each other face to face" And. lifting
up a hand. trembling with emotion.
she put aside her veil.
You recognise aey'
TOO WELL" TIE tone was deep with
meaning. but there wss no accusation
b It: nor was there any note Of relief.
II was more - II some hope deeply.
and perhaps vaconsciously cherished.
had suffered 4 sudden and complete
extinction. -Put back your veil"
Trembling. she complied. murmur.
Ing as she fsmbied with Its folds:
''Dixgrsce to an Ostrander! | know
that was mud to risk II 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 Il would entail.
But Reuther would not accept the
sacsitice. Judge Ostrsnder. I am not
worthy OF such n child. but such she
10. II John"
I'VE will not speak his name" broke
In Judge Ostrander. askuming q per.
emptory bearing quite unlike his for.
mer one Of dignined reserve. Il should
like to hear. instead. your explanation
Of how my son became inveigled into
an engagement Of which you. u no
one else. knew the preposterous ma.
ture."
Judge Ostrsuder. you do right to
blame me. shoR'd never have given
my consent. never. But I thought our
past 20 completely hidden---our iden
tity % entirely lost under the accepted
name OF Averiii.'
You thought" lie lowered over
her In his anger. He looked and acted
an IN the old days. when witnesses
covered Under his eye and voice. Say
that you knew. madam: that you
planned this unhoiy trap for my son
Judge Ostrander. did not plan
their meeting. nor did at first Ell.
courage bic addresses. Not tiii ! saw
the extent Of their mutual attachment
did I yield to the event and accept the
consequences. But Was wrong.
wholly wrong TO allow him TO visit
her u second time; but now that the
mischief is done"
Judge ostrander WAS not listening
Il have question to put you.' sad
he. when he realized that she had
ceased speaking. oliver WAS never
n fool. When he wns told who your
WAS what did he sny Of the
which made him the lover
Of the woman against whose father his
father had uttered sentence OF death 7
Didn't he marvel and call II cxtraordi.
- al a.