The Washington times., 1918-03-16
Read Right On in Today's
Installment.
Part One-(Continued)

Esther rose from the side or the
0efa, where she had been kneeling
by Mrs. Borradale. She staggered
forward and Harold caught her in
his arms. He pressed passionate
kisses upon her hair, her cheek,
her mouth.
''Give you UP. my darling" he
cried. That will never do-never
-neyer!"
"oh, I'm so miserable. Harold"
she sobbed. Would It not be bet
ter IL went away at once-far
Away-somewhere abroad, where 1
should not bring sorrow upon peo-
pie as I do now? i don't under
stand Il at all: but / can see that
fate doesn't mean me to be happy
with you and without you the world
is empty-empty."
Harold Consoles Esther.
He consoled her as best he could.
They must sIft the whole trouble
20 the bottom, he said, and he must
be taken into the secret OF the
Borradale curse.
His mother called TO him at last.
and he went to her patiently, feel
ing that he had neglected her. But
one thought was uppermost IN his
mind.
You dearest OF mothers" he said,
81 cannot bear to see you crying.
II won't be so terrible IL we face
things squarely. You have suf-
fered all these years because you
have suffered alone-let Esther and
me share the burden with you"
"So. mol" cried the old lady, Sit
ting up and trying to command her
voice. THAT would magnify the
burden by three. There Is some
thing I cannot tell you, Harold,
while I live, and without that the
rest would be incomprehensible.
must not make matters worse than
they are. There-there"-she ap-
piled the light, hlmy handkerchief
20 her eyes once more-"I am bet
ter noW-It is not often that ! give
way. ut It was a terrible shock
20 me to hear that II was Esther
who-who went through the mar
riage ceremony in the ruined church
OF Adderley. Esther. whom my
Son loves: whom I love myself as
my own daughter"
You know Of this marriage,
mother?" Harold wrinkled hIs
brow into 3 frown as he put the
question.
Knew Of the Marriage.
81 knew there had been such q
marriage, yes"-the low voice was
scarcely audibIe-"but that II was
Esther who was involved In it, oh
noI> knew nothing of that, and
the blow has been the hardest that
has ever fallen upon me. 1t is fate
fate" she groaned aloud, land the
cruelest part is the irony OF II
all. Oh, HarOld-and you, Esther
will you believe that what ] have
done has always been for the best,
according TO my lights? For these
long years ! have struggled toward
q definite end-snd II is to this that
81 has come-to this, II Is j who
have injured my own child. 1 who
have inflicted the sharpest wound"
She rocked herself to and fro in
the acutest agony OF mind.
Leave me to comfort her. Es-
ther," whispered Harold. "Wsit for
me on the terrace, dear. I will join
You presently"
Waits For Harold Outside.
The girl oheyed, though she was
reluctant TO leave her lovers mother
at this moment of her suffering.
She threw herself into a seat upon
the broad terrace, her brain a surge
OF conflicting thought.
The irony OF fl! II was Mrs.
BorFadals herself who had been the
promoter Of Esther's secret mar
riAge. It was the mother who had
robbed the son OF the one thing he
most desired upon earth.
But still In her heart Esther felt
assured Of her freedom. Tho rector
had denied IT; Mrs. BorrAdals had
not admitted IL. Yet, with her own
eyes she had seen; tho man TO whom
she had been married was dead.
Why. then, was she still held in
bondage? Oh, surely 1t was be-
cause these people did not know
the whole truth that they still re-
fused her what was hers By right.