South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-01-13

Robert SaFartn = eyes followed
Ll:Ian's extended hand and rested on
the unconscious, graceful figure OF
her small daughter. When he looked
gain at us 1 saw that he had grasp
ed Lilliau's meaning fully, and that
the force Of IL had well night stun
ned him. But he set his lips in a
grim tight line, ard / felt instructive
~ that he had not yet given mp the
contest in which he had set his own
will against that If his liege ladye
with the happiness of both as a
stake.
Lillian's own eyes were dark with
sorrow and longing but infieXible as
his. / caught myself repeating men
tally the old catch problem of my
school days.
when an irresistible force meets
eE immOvable body"
waited breathiessly 20 hear Rob
ert Savarin's reply to her assertion
that Marion was her reason for re
fl sing his suit. When it came il was
COuched in stern, stubborn accents
"On the contrary" he said slowly,
!"she is enc Of the reasons why you
should marry me-
when she was a baby" Lillian
replied bitterly, her name was sDok-
en- I'm vile divorce suit, her innOcent
baby face pictured In the newspa
pers. II was no fault OF mine, will
grant that, butt happened. DO
you think that now when she is near
iLE young girlhOod, and the old scan
dial has been forgotten, that l VIII
risk a repetition of that old publici-
~ Don't You suppose / haven. gone
over this from every angle since
y nj OF .
freed me from any obligation 70
him? thought for time that per-
haps-but-I can't risk it. 1 can
see the headlines now. Ugh! They
would rake up every detail OF tina
old time No. Robert, / cannot and
! will not drag my child through that
again"
! How can you help it?" I asked
coolly. MIR. Underwood seems de-
termined TO get divorce, whether
you wish it or not
Now 1 knew that Harry Under
wood meant no such thing, but LII
|lian did not, and ! saw that my
chance shot had scored.
"Oh! Do you think" she began
then her face set in It's inilexiblo
lines again. THE comment on that
would be mild compared 10 that
caused by my remarriage, she said
\ and there was a finality in her tones
/ that made me launch my last shaft
with a feeling Of hopelessness.
why not let Marion decide the
question herself?' l said.
/ Robert Savarin caught at my sug-
gestion as a man in danger Of drown
] irg would at a rope flung at him.
"Ohi nv deari" He turned 10 her
with outstretched hands, and the
passionate entreaty in his voice. the
/ worshipful love in his eyes were
things to remember as seldom wit
messed in this prosaic latter day
world. will YOU not do this-leave
/ the decision to the child herself
/ You know what my life Will be with
out YOU. YOU have told me
THAT my life can never know
cou1pIcte happiness without you, Ro-
bert" She finished the sentence
Ihravely. then continued YEARLY, ye'
innexiblv However. that matters
little beside keeping ones faith. You
know. Robert. and you, too, Madge
! that the child is too young to know
what the consequences OF her de-
cislon would be. She adores you, Ro-
bert. and if anything could make me
yield 10 my own selfish heart IN TINS
I nt1ILeE III W0utu We the hiiDNN lNAtt-f vi
her Joy if ! should marry YOU. Deal
heart!" she turned swiftly and pu
, her hands on Robert Savarin':
shoulders. you do not ask me ser
iously 10 let Marion thus blindll
/ bind her own future 20
She had wOni The mans delicacN
Of honor and of perception would no
let him reply only as he did.
NO" he said hOpelessly, but oh
my God"
/ hurried away trying to NOV,
noiselessly. but I don't think either
Of them knew or cared for my pres
ence or absence. Going straight e
nv own room locked the door and
lay down. trying 10 conquer the rag
ing headache which my worry owe
Dicl1y's unexplained absence haC
brought on. and the excitement o.
: the last few minutes had intensified
After a while. exhausted, I fel
asleep. was awakened by Lillian
familiar knock upon the door. WheI
I had opened the door 1 saw that sh,
had buried under her iron viii al
trace of the conflict from which sh,
had won so sad a victory.
Robert asked me 10 make his eX
cuscs to you. Madge.' she said quiet
lly. "He returned 20 New York OF
the $40 train. and viii not be on
again for several days"
I looked at her CuriOuSly divided
between disapproval of her severit,
y 4