South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-10-21
WHY MIR. GORDON SAID TO
DICKY, Il CANNOT TELL YOU
WHAT THIS MEANS
Mrr-
TO ME-"

DO not be alarmed am all
right-only a momentary faintness.
I assure you"
Mr.. Gordon, the mysterious
stranger who. after trailing my
movements and staring me out Of
countenance for several days. had
finally secured an Introduction 20
Dicky. and through mim 10 me,
opened his eyes and smiled at US
wanly.
7 knew that Dicky was as much
relieved as I at our guests return
TO self-command That he was re-
sentful as well as mystihed at the
singular behavior OF Mr.. Gordon I
also cleaned from his darkened face
and a little steely CLINT in his eyes.
I could not blame Dicky Mr.. Cor
don's actions were xtraOrdinary. He
had explained his persistent pursuit
OF me by saying my resemblance
20 a very dear friend Of his bOyhood
was most startling. then. when he
had asked my name before marriage
and I had replied. Margaret Spen-
GER" he had reeled as II suddenly
smitten, and we had thought was
about 20 faint away.
ct hope that you will forgive me, -
Mr.. Gordon went on, and his rich
voice was so filled with regret ana
humility that 1 felt my heart soften
toward him.
'I trust YOU have not gained the
s.rrf fl rHNH
faintness had anything 70 do with
your name" he said My attack
at that time was merely a coinci-
dence I am subject to these spells
Of faintness. hope this one did
not alarm you"
Your Mothers Name"
He looked at me directly as If
expecting an answer.
CT am not easily alarmed I re-
turned, trying hard to keep out Of
nv voice anything same an indiffer-
ert courtesy which one would be-
stow upon a stranger, for the atmos-
phere OF mystery seemed deepening
about this stranger and me. / did
not believe ne had spoken the truth
when ne said that my utteranct ~
my maiden name. in response to his
question. had nothing TO do with his
faintness. I was as certain as I was
Of anything that il was the utter
ance OF that name, the revelation Of
my identity thus made 10 him. that
caused his emotion. I sat thrilled,
tense. in anticipation OF revelations
TO follow.
Mr. GOrdon's voice was quiet. but
a poignant little thrill ran through
1t which I caught as he spoke again.
WAS not your mothers name
Margaret Beckett and your fathers
Charles Spencer" he asked.
you are quite correct" forced
the words through lips stiffened by
excitement.
I saw Dicky look at me curiously,
almost impatiently. but I had no
eyes. no ears, save for the mysteri-
Gus stranger who was quizzing me
about my parents
my other Self"
One Of Mr. Gordon's hands was
beneath the table. as he was sitting
next 10 me 7 saw what no one else
did-that the long. slender, sensitive
fingers pressed themselves deeply.
quiveringly into the palm at the af-
frmation OF his question. But except
for that momentary grip there was
no evidence OF excitement in his
demeanor as he turned TO me.
81 thought So" he said quietly. "I
have found the daughter OF the
dearest friends ever had. Your re-
semblance to your mother is mar
velous. remember that YOU looked
much like her when you were
tiny girl"
You were at our home in my
childhood. then o" I asked, wonder
ing II this might be the explanation
OF my uncanny notion that I had
sometime in my life seen this man
bending over his demitasse as he
had done a few minutes before.
"Oh, yes" h. said your mother
as 7 have told you. was the dearest
friend I ever had. And your father
was my other self-then-"
His emphasis upon the word
then" gave me quick stab Of pain.
for it recalled the odium with which
every one who had known my child
hood seemed to regard the memory
OF my father
I. myself. had no memories of my
father. My mother had never
spoken Of him 10 me. but once. when
she had told me the terrible story OF
his faithlessness.
When 7 was four years old he had
run away from us both with my
mothers dearest friend. and neither
she nor any OF his friends had ever
heard OF him afterward 7 had al
ways felt a sort OF hatred for my
unknown father who had deserted
me and so cruelty treated my
mother. and the knowledge that this
man was an intimate friend OF his
turned me faint.
NO Family Tics"
But II Mr. Gordon's infection
meant anything it meant that even
n he had been my fathers other
self" my mothers desertion had
aroused I'm him the same contempt