The Washington times., 1918-03-16

Harold Joins Esther.
Harold returned to her at last. He
stopped a little as he walked, and
his face was very troubled. He
took a chair and drew 1t to her side.
Esther, darling" he whispered.
my mother is calmer now. She
wants to speak TO you and wishes
you to tell the whole story TO her
and to me. Then she can Judge
what We must DO. She says there are
things which for my sake-and
yours, too she cannot explain,
that 1t would only cause us useless
misery IL she did SO. She hopes
that everything may still be well.
God grant that she is right. hate
this mystery, and would far sooner
know everything at once, but what
can ] do? II she agrees that we can
marry l shall be content. for ! want
nothing better than that"
For q few moments they did not
move. Esther leaned her head
against her lovers shoulder. and he
kissed her fair hair. "At least, Har-
DID," she murmured, Il shall have
told you everything. There will be
no secret between US when we are
all in all to each other-if that day
ever comes. j shall feel the happier
for having spoken"
Esther Tells Her Story.
At last he drew her gently back
to the drawing-room. where his
mother still lay on her sofa, her
face composed. but expressive Of
NnN NnNf ~
drawing UP her chair. began her
story with fsltering words, which
gathered strength as she went on.
AS when she had told her story to
Guy, SO again now Esther was met
by constant interruption They
came solely from Harold. His moth
er listened in silence, though now and
again she inclined her head as II
In assent or TO hear more distinctly
the words that fell from Esther's
lips. Her face, remained impsssive,
and only Harold. from the depth OF
the love he bore for his mother,
knew how bitterly she was suffer
ing.
AS the tale progressed his excite
ment intensified. "Is this all true?
Ny God, mother, is it true? This
Undesirable creatures he the
curse of the Borradales7
what Is the Borradale Curse?"
what Is he, and what has he to
do with us7 1 must know; have
q right to know. And what have
all these people to do with our
property of Adderley?"
The questions poured forth at
every pause which Esther made in
her story. Sometimes il was SYM
pathy for her which moved him;
sometimes IL was anger, white
burning anger. that such things
should have been without his
knowledge.
1T is l who am responsible for
all this" he cried. The world
will hold me guilty. II seems as
II every crime could be committed
with impunity at Adderley. Muir
der-is It pothing to you. mother,
that murder has been done? You
were a party to IL all. to Esther's
ili-treatment, and, God in heaven.
what she must have suffered. a
weak girl without a friend to turn
to-to the insane documents which
she was called upon 10 sign
Hush, Harold" Said Esther.
He paraded the room with long
strides. He hardly knew what he
was saying. II was Esther who in
tcrrupted him, and bads him hush.
Mrs. Borradals made no attempt TO
speak in her own defense. Her
white, beautiful face was turned
to Esther; she made no movement,
except that her hands gently rub
bed each other in turn, and now
and again her fingers clenched to-
Gether.
Esther finished her story. She
told all without reservation. When
che came to the description OF her
terrible experience in the Borra-
dale vault Harold gave away to a
fresh access Of passion
You sent her to 1t, mother, you
let her go, though you must have
suspected. My God. 81 had
known" His rage carried him
away. Never before had he spoken
TO his mother in anger. He did not
stop to measure his words. His
mothers silence added TO his irrI-
tstion. He could not tell tho in
tensity OF her suffering. To his ir-
responsible Imagination she seem
ed cold and csllous.
Mother, You Must Speak."-Harold
You must explain all this now,
mother, and make what reparatIon
you can TO Esther. There t. no
course possible but that. There
must be nothing kept from me.
] know too much not to be told
the rest. Then I will make II tbs
business OF my life 10 see that these
criminals are brought to Justice at
whatever cOst-you understand
ct whatever cost 20 ourselves. Muir
ders-at least three. What about
the man in his convict clothes left
10 perish In our vault, among the
ancestors whom you. mother. have
taught me to respect? Mad folk
the place must reek with the odor
OF madness. But there seems TO
be some object in II all which you
Will have to explain before / can
net Then I'll rAze the vile house
to the ground and have done with
it."
Esther Burst Into Tears.
Esther clunE TO his arm. "Har-
old. Harold. don't" she cried. you
are hurting your dear mother. oh,
don't you see it?" She burst into
the tears which she had SO long
restrained. 'If could have kept
silent" she Eobbed, "ss meant 10
do. What have done by sp.akinE?
1t is worse now thousand times
worse"
Continued Monday
t1rnrrfsht - ~ n 49,