Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-08-30

Surely l can go"
mot q step! Come here. I say!"
He beckoned her toward the table
where he sat. Bradford must come
every foot Of the way to us. We
must not go to him. We have been
in the right, from the beginning, and
he in the wrong-you understand"
Confused, torn between her in
stinct and Vinton's stem prohibition,
she stood undecided. Then all at
once Bradford appeared. in the Ii
brary door. He stopped there, ST.
| lently; looked at them a moment;
| advanced into the room.
MARTHA! Come here!"
The old shipmaster's voice cracked
like whip. The wife obeyed. To-
a judges tribunal they faced their
son. No hand OF greeting was held
out to him. No word was spoken.
Old Vinton gazed upon Bradford,
noting his shabbiness, his work.
Redeemed hands, his face thinner
than his father had ever seen it.
And, more than that, the shipmaster
beheld hard and dangerous express
sion in that face, a smoldering of the
eyes, a tightening Of the jaw I'M
known to him.
or sudden. Eliot Vinton spoke.
"My son." said he, your mother
and I have forgiven and forgotten
everything. The past Is wiped out
1t will never be alluded to again.
Come he"e!"
| Bradford returned no answer,
neither did he advance. He only
[stood there glowering at the old man
with terrible eyes. All at once he
cried;
What Internal thing did you say
to her? What damnable lie did you
| tell her? What hellish conspiracy
now, on top OF everything else?"
Struck dumb with amazement and
swift anger, the old man started up
and faced his son. Martha Vinton,
] with q wordless gasp, recoiled
against the table.
| "Oh. you needn't answer" snarled
Bradford. ut doesn't matter, any
how. All I came for was to tell you
that whatever you do it won't stop
me now. Everythings all ready.
| got the license this afternoon. I'm
going to marry her tonight"
| Bradford" choked the shipmas-
ter, advancing toward him. do you
know what you're saying? Do you
realize the horrible thing I'VE tried
to save you from?" With a shaking
hand he fumbled 4 paper from his
breast pocket "See -s see there!
Read that. and know the truth,"i
He held out the affidavit. Silenced.
Bradford accepted it, hesitant. yet
unable to resist the lure of curiosity.
He unfoided the paper walked to the
library table, spread out the affidavit
thereon, and under the light of the
hooded lamp stared at it with eyes
which at first refused their office
and could not read.
Then, all at once, the significance
of the paper seemed to swim into his
field of consciousness. Pallor crept
over his face. His hands. spread on
| the table, began to shake. He made
a choking noise; then, with sud-
den. gibing laugh, turned on his
| father.
| '.How much did this one cost
your" he demanded. "Forgeries like
this come high, believe, when
bought by honorable gentlemen!'
The old man gulped cholsingly.
/ BRADFORD he answered. with
something like an appeal of despair
In his strained voice. this is sworn
affidavit. based on matters of ahso-
lutte legal record. The woman her.
self has acknowledged everything
here as true. I merely showed it to
her; that brought her to reason, and
without any further pressure on my
part she renowned you. If you will
go with me to police headquarters,
will show you the
''You can neve- show me any
thing," interrupted Bradford. "Now
know all came here to find Quit"
He turned and walked back slowly
toward the door.
"Bradford!I appealed his mother.
''You-you won't"
iSilence." commanded the shin.
master In raucous voice. "This is
sheer insanity. He has gone mad.
His reason has nbdicated. have
done my full duty asa father and
more than my duty. but nothing has
awaited. This puts an end to every
thing for all time!"
Bradford looked steadily and quiet
/ ly at his father, but spoke no word
tsof answer. Then, still In silence, he
passed on thru the door, leaving his
mother huddled down in a big chair
by the table, stunned by this swift
denouement: while his father stood
there, white faced, trembling with
rage, his sunken eyes blazing in his
harsh. implacable face.
Footsteps descended the long STAIR
way, each one a blow to the moth
er's tortured heart. The outer door
opened 1t closed with a sound of
terrible finality.
| Bradford was gone.
/ At the best speed taxi could
make. he returned to the little flat in
East Boston, his soul burning within
/ him. Fevers Of hate and rage con-
tended for mastery with his love for
! Sylvia. His heart pounded thickly
and his breath played him fantastic
| tricks as he ran up the stairs to her
| door.
He rang, and rang again, aflame
with vivid impotence. Each second
/ of delay was an, hour to his heated
senses A third time he summoned
1.-THE girl.
/ The door opened, and Sylvia's
aunt, vague in the dim-lit hall, stood
there before him In spite Of his
confused emotions Bradford noticed
something of the distress and alarm
that looked out at him from her pale
eyes.