The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-09-19

attached 20 your fathers VIII. Rod.
erick. | suppose It's hardly neces
sary 10 mention II. but one never
knows He makes you his heir ahso
iutely on condition that YOU are I'm
married. Hut there's no need 20 ask
such question. | suppose-ehs'
There was a moment OF silence
then Rorie rose slowly 20 hts feet.
staring across at Mr.. Fergorson's
confidently smiling face; he echoed
his last words mechanically;
'on condition that am-unmar.
ried''
Mr.. Fcrgcrson laughed.
AN unnecessary condition. you
think" he asked. jocundly. We'll
well. my boy--atl's wei that ends
wen. you know. The best OF luck to
YOU III you want me you know
where Lam 20 be found"
lie opened and closed the door
quietly behind him.
The little sound seemed 20 rouse
Roderick from the dared stupor into
which he had fallen. lie took step
forward.
mfr. rergerson.-
lilo thought he shouted the old
mans name aloud. but In reality the
call was almost whisper: II was un
answered save for the heavy closing
o. the front door.
Rorie stood still In the middle Of
the room. he turned his head vacant
" and looked out OF the window
Mr.. Fergerson was walking rapidly
down the drive. a moment. and he
had turned into the road. the big
carriage gate swung slowly into It's
socket
Unmarried
Young Briton spoke the word aisNld
thru the silent room. he felt IN his
pocket fer the handful OF papers he
had careiessiy flung down for Mr..
Fcrgerson's inspection He sorted
enc from them. and unfolded Il me.
chanlcaIly.
With that evidence before his eyes
u was no longer possible to believe
that the morning had been only a
drcam--no longer possible TO hug to
HIS heart the FOOLS hope that be had
only TO wait and he would wake up
free and unfcttered.
His own name stared a, him
boldly from the certificate, and
Rosaiie's-poor little Resale. who
was hia wife now--his wifel
Young Briton's hand closed con.
vuisfvely over the paper 10 carefully
filled In and signed and witnessed.
For the moment the revuiNion Of
feeling nearly drove him to frenzy
OF madness. tho memory % the
timid eyes Resale had raised 10 him
az he set her down AZ the crossroads
that morning brought nothing better
than hatred now TO his heart. II
seemed all the worse that she was IN.
nocent and ne the fool who had un.
Willingly eompasscd his own ruin.
He paced up and down the ROOM
up and down. torn with conflicting
cmotiona
He had lied 20 Old Ferger-on. n
not actually. stiri Ia theory. He had
stood by and kept a cowardiy Silence:
he had let the old man 20 away con.
fidcnt that everything was as Il had
been n week ago.
fFNAAt &tA8l lt1 VI IlLNtfFf NOnUIT
knew OF the wedding. save the unin.
terested parson and the vcrrcr, and
--~Rosalie. and she. poor child. she
did not love him. what difference
could II make 20 her whether he ac-
knowiedred her 10 the world or notF
He could help her and look after her
Just the same. He would be grner
ous--hc would place her beyond want
and discomfort forever. Impossible
plans 10 secure himself ran riot thru
young Briton's brain--for the mo
ment he was like n man who has
committed murder. and, terror
stricken. schemes 70 save his neck.
He hated poverty: ne had been n fool
TO imagine he could ever face Il. He
loved money. and the things 1t could
procure. he shuddered ms he thought
~ the bsyths he had booked almost
deiightcdfy two days ago. All at
once he recalled the tiird-ciass quar-
ters on a big liner he had once Wis.
tied out OF curiosity. He had been
saloon passenger then: the con.
trast between the luxury OF his own
quarters and the other had filled him
With sense OF positive nausea. And
yet, not n couple OF hours ago. he
had been ready and willing TO sail as
poor man--to put up with the dis
comforts Of a poor man.
IL was horrible 10 think OF now
He thought Of Rosaile. too; and
somehow he could not remember the
wifsful eyes that had appealed to hts
pity-the bruised wrist she had vain.
" tried to conceal--the soft hair and
small rad mouth that had reminded
him OF his own poor little mother
lie could only think of the huge
Tapping goloshes she had worn 10
cross the sodden ficld--the shabby
cloak which covered her soiled.
gaudy frock--the disfigurfng powder
and paint on her girlish face.
What would Lillian Fame think OF
herr What would Lillian Fame think
of--his wife? In imaeina ton he
could see the disdain on her face
the wondering scorn and pity in her
beautiful eyes. Hts soul writhed in
a torment OF shame.
For the past week he had been
MAD. He told himself that he had
been no more responsible for his
actions than any other man who
temporarily loses his reason and con.
troll. Was II 10 be marked up against
him forever? Would he never be
able 10 shake off the letters he had
bound about his own wrists?
It'll death us do part"
The solemn words flashed suddenly
thru his mind; in Imagination he was
back again in the little dark church
with the stuffy old verger beside him
--Rosalie's shaking hand In his. He
could see again the rose window
above the altar, the white lilies in
the vases. hear the monotonous.
slow voice OF the parson.
He had bound himself with letters
which only death could sever. He
IL a. IL.