South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-10-01
Revelations "A Vie sYoAa5RSas5os

~ ~ ~
did not obey Lillian's injunction
to lie down. Instead. extracted
again from my handbag he tiny
folded note the mysterious foreign
e. had confden 10 me in the
southampton shop. together with
the handkerchief 1 had recognized as
one Of Grace Diapers. Then max
ing sure that Lillian was safely ou-
OF the way, l went swiftly down the
hall and tapped al the door Of my
fathers room.
He was longer in answering than
usual, and when he finally opened
the door and affectionately babe me
enter. 1 saw he reason for his delay.
His chair had been placed near the
table, and on the table stood the
quaint old lacquered box in which
1 knew he kept the mementoes OF
Lay dead mother which l had given
him.
Photographs, letters which he had
written % her. and her answers in
the days OF their idyllic courtshIp
when no thought had come 10 them
Of the sordid tragedy which was 10
part them forever-these, and other
keepsakes evidently had been press
ed hastily back into the box, for the
lid was slightly lifted. showing the
dlsarranged contents.
II l had not seen the old box, gen
orally kept sacredly in my fathers
trunk, 1 should have known that he
had been invoking the memory Of
the wife ne had 80 shamefully de-
serted when l was but four years old.
His face held the pallor. he deeply
etched lines OF poignant remorse,
which always betray to me his sea i
sons of agonized communings with
1.-THE me<pentOes he treasures go
s6credly.
When he had closed the door af-
ter me, he caught me to him in a
convulsive embrace and murmured
brokenly:
you are so like you mother. my
Margaret"
Mementoes Of other Days.
1 pulled his gray head down q
mine and chung TO him silently, low
irgly, glad that l had long ego obey
ed my mothers dying injunction 10
forgive him. I knew that finding
me after his long years Of search,
and winning my forgiveness had
iightened his load Of remorseful an
gUish, and in my love and the adora-
ton Of my small son. he had enjoy
ed many peaceful hours. But he
could not forget tina. he had thrown
away the love OF his life for an evil
infatuation, and I knew that there
ere many moments, like the one
upon which had inadvertently
stumbled. when the longing TO see
my mother again was almost more
than he could bear.
Dearly as 1 loved him. greatly as
1 pitied him, 1 never could Danish
a sense OF justice appeased, when.
as now. 1 watched mis- anguisheo
Via Crucis. Ny earliest recollection
of my mother wes Of her terrible
n entail suffering which 1 knew later
was caused by my fathers desertion,
and I could not forget that she had
lived and died a lonely, broken
hearted woman.
You wished TO see me about
thing, daughter" His voice wher
he spoke again was even. controlled
and his face held the calmness OF
emotion conquered Ny first I'm
pulse was 10 make some trivial ex-
cuse TO conceal my real errand, bu'
second thought told me hat the
tonic Of work was the best thing
could offer him.
Il have an odd story TO tell you
/ father. dear" I said. "a long one
too, so let's sit down and be comfy
I've tried 10 get a chance % tell you
and to ask your advice about II ever
since you came home. but l couldn't
manage il. somehow"
Il know" he assented as he seat
ed me in the most comfortable chair
near the fire and took another near
me
1 waited for a minDte or two, "a
be sure that I had in methodical or
der all my information concerning
the mysterious Don Ramon, and
LIENt Bt5 AuA4uS WAAAA HIS bcoA IA :
the train at Southampton upon the
| occasion OF my trip 10 the CRY in
search OF Katie, related every incl
dent Of that trip. and OF the odd
experience OF the last hour in the
| southampton shop.
My father listened with but one
/ interruption. when he asked me &C
repeat 10 him the description I hac
given Of the mysterious foreigner
/ appearance. And when at the close
I handed him the tiny folded note
which the mysterious Don Ramon
I had slipped into my hand, he open
/ ed and read II without a muscle Of
his face changing. Then he sat a.
Il studying II for fve minutes. which
| seemed endless 10 me as marked
\ their passing upon the mantle
/ clock.
This Is very curious Margaret. -
/ he said a. last. Twice before
have received MESA ges from thi:
/ same source, apparently. although
! they bear no betraying mark. AND
! always. as now. the message Is one