Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-07-26
JACK O JUDGMENT
70 a rattling story Of crime and
80 detection and punishmsnt and
Of true iovs and its reWards.
II Begins Today

custody Of his daughter. He was mad
with outraged pride, and said the siri
was tainted with her mothers blood.
Her mother took her away. On the day
when the decree was issued Lady Con.
ningt0n's life illusions came down about
her ears, and she saw things as they
are, and not as she had pictured them.
She began then to devote herself to her
daughters care, firmly resolving that
the girl should never know the truth.
circumstances have forced her to
abandon that resolution
Constance looked at Audrey wist.
fully. You must, have guessed, dear.
was Lady Connington, and you are
not Audrey Brent. but Lady Audrey
Treor, the daughter Of Lord Coming
ton.
For moment there was silence, then
Audrey murmured: "There is some.
thing else, mamma. Something which
has made you tell me all this. I want
to hear It ALL" The daughter Of Con.
nington was speaking then.
Lord ConninStOn wants you back"
Constance spoke with extreme difficulty
That day. at the Academy, was the
beginning of It.. He has come home
lonely and heartsick. He wants his
daughter. ! have seen him several times
about It. The first was when I dined
YES. mamma" Audrey was un.
naturally calm.
To-day l have written and told him
/ will surrender you. 1t will be best.
Az his daughter, you will be what
could never make you. You will 10 to
court, you will move among the greatest.
] am only Constance Brent OF the Eros
Club. So have told him he may have
you.' 1t is my payment for my SIM
window. Her mother stood leaning on
She could not read Audrey's face, INT
she was telling herself that this dread :
full, silent calm meant condemnation.
Audrey's upbringing alone must make
her view Inconsistency In married
woman with horror.
Audrey came to the window and
stared out through it. Only herself
and God knew what passed through
her mind and her heart in those tense
minutes Of silence during which Con-
stance Brent waited for the world to
tOpple and crush her. .
Then Audrey turned. There was a
wonderful pity in her eyes. and it trans.
formed her face, SO that Constance
thought Of famous picture she once
had seen of the Madonna. tender, see
Ing no fault. compassionate.
Audrey stopped and her lips pressed
warm and, soft on the back Of Con-
stances hand.
"Mother!'
And Constance knew that her six
teen years Of labor had not gone un.
rewarded.
"You forgive me. dear?' She whis
pered the sentence incredulously.
"There is nothing to forgive, mamma
What more could you have done fol
me?" .
Constance sobbed. The reaction was
breaking her. Her face was lined ant
stressed.
""And Connington - she said.
Audrey smiled softly. 'HOws coult
leave you--now" .... .-..
"Audrey!'
"One can easily forget the things one
does not wish to remember" continued
Audrey. "There are lots of things
am going to forget. But one thing
shall always remember, and that Is how
my mother worked that l might bt
happy, and how she was willing to Civ,
her heart in sacrifice for me. In re.
membering that shall have no time tc
think of-other things. Mamma, vii
you kiss me?"
Constance came to her arms like 9
child.
They sat long in the quiet room, and
gradually Constance told the details Of
her story. Now that the storm was
over. and she had ridden 1t safely she
without emotion Of her agony of the
past weeks.
When it was all finished Audrey said :
Mamma. do you think Mr.. Hardness
knew about this?'
Constance hesitated. He may have
done" she said slowly. "It was not
generally known. but Harkness had
many friends in our set, and 1t is quite
likely that he learnt the truth. Why do
you ask?"
Audrey flushed. 1T explains some
thing" she said lamely. 'arhat it all"
The next day a letter came from
Lord Connington, and Constance gave
it to Audrey.
my Dear Mrs. Brent--I have re.
ceived your letter, and am pleased to re-
mind you Of your invitation to take tea
with you whenever l might be motor
ing in your district. I am hoping in
the near future to avail myself Of this
invitation, and shall then be glad to
discuss with you and make final
arrangements. regarding the matter
mentioned in your letter above.
Yours,
"COnnington.
Audrey read it and passed it OH to
Aunt Ella.
II will see him myself when hc
comes" she said.
But Aunt Ella. reading the letter
carefully, told herself that there was
something Of which Lord Connington
was not sure, and he was giving him.
self time to think it over. She Won
dered what it was.
CONTINUED TOMORROW
Copurioht. 1888. bv thS Mcclure Ne.pspo,sy
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