The Cook County news-herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Cook County, Minn.) 1909-current, 1916-08-30
CHAPTER VIII.
Ooubly a Villain.

V0Nf GH WI.
Doubly a Villain.
Larry Redmond paused, dazed, and
dropped her hand, while he looked at
Ethel uncomprehendingly
''AIarried?' he stammercd. "No, no,
it can't be! You're playing some
game! It can't be true!
''I'm secretly married." she con-
fessed
He looked at her in amazcmcnt.
"Secretly? But why-why:'
II can't explain, even to you, Larry
except that It's for my happiness to
keep it secret, now"
Bitter realization came to him then.
But he would not press her further.
And you're happy?' His eyes sought
hers sadly.
She could not keep back the whole
truth from him, no matter how much
she wished to. Larry Redmond's lion
esty was too patent to make disscm-
bling an easy matter in his presence.
ooh, yes, Larry! was happy-un-
til you came back Just now" she said.
''Thcn why did you marry him ?" he
demanded. There was no anger in his
voice-only regret and wonder.
Because when you left was-des-
perate," she admitted.
Your he exclaimed, more than ever
at loss to understand her.
''Yes!' Ethel said. II waited-wait-
ed for you until month ago. I'd
never heard from you-never heard of
you. I thought you were dead. If
you'd been alive, l felt that my love,
my wanting you so very much would
bring you back to me"
"Dear God!' There was no mock
reverence In that soul-wrung wall.
straight from his Celtic heart.
"And ali my money had gone Oh:
1t doesn't matter now! And l came
here as goyerness to Sir Georges
daughter. He's been very helpful.
And this mainly husband
came along. He seemed very fond of
me" she smiled wanly-"quite des-
peratcly in love. was wretched, mis-
cradle, lonely, and Oh! so tired!
wanted someone to take care of nc.
And so, l married.
"And it's all my fault!' That was
like Larry Redmond--to condemn him
self instead of her.
She could not bear to hear him I'D
braid himself.
"Please, aren't we suffering enough
now?" she protested.
| He made up lis mind, then, that for
her sake he must put things in differ
ent light. And goading himself to his
duty, he sat down and looked ut her
| YEARLY.
"But you've got to realize" lie be-
gan, you've got to realize that it's
best you shouldn't have married a
coward-and was tnat. Two months
ago I nearly finished 1t ALL"
"Larry" Ethel exclaimed in sudden
fear. The mere mention Of such a
thing shocked her inexpressioly.
"Ah, yes! I meant tor he continued
ruthlcssly. "And it was another man
almost stranger-Who stopped me-"
"When was it," Anxious as she
was, she could not forbcar asking him
that. It seemed uncomfortable that the
g"y Larry she used to know should
ever have been near self-destruction.
"rwo months ago" he said. And
he stopped abruptly then, as If his
thoughts had momentarily taken him
far away. 1.-TWO months ago, in Ber-
lin," he resumed, pulling himself to-
gether by visible effort. 1T was one
of those gorgeous, moonlight nights.
was thinking Of you, my dear, and
thinking how futile it all was. What
was the use? It was in one
of those little side streets off Inter den
Linden. I stood there behind a tree
when suddenly this fellow came up
from behind and grabbed my re-
volver."
All Mt once his recital brought back
to Ethers mind another similar story.
In her agitation she could not at first
recall exactly where or under what
circumstances she had heard it. And
then, in fash, she remembered. Her
husband had told her a tale like that
only an hour before. :.
I'm Berlin this was-not PARISH" she
asked him quickly.
"Ne-Berlin."
That's, curious, she said, Il heard
lust such another story a little while