Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1926-10-22


ming the possibilities that might arise
from the aspect it barred.
First of all, Viola was not even his
stepsister He experienced a thrill of
joy over that, Notwithstanding the
ugly truth that gave her the new stand
ing; to his simple, straightforward
mind, Viola's mother was nothing
more than wanton Still, Viola was
not to blame for that. That could never
be held against her
"Why have you told me all this p he
asked bluntly. II had no means of
learning that you were never married
to my father. There was never a
question about it in my mind, nor in
anybody else's, so far as / know You
have put very dangerous weapon in
my hand in case / should choose to
use it against you"
She was silent for a long time, strug-
cling with herself. He could almost
feel the battle that was going on with
in her. Somehow it appalled, him.
She stood before him, looking down.
Il have at last obeyed a command I'M
posed by Robert Gwynne when he was
on his deathbed. Almost his last
words to me were in the nature of
threat. He told me that If failed to
carry out his request-he did not call
it a command-he would haunt me to
my dying day. You may laugh at me
if you will, but he has been haunting
me, Kenneth Gwynne. If / ever cher
ished the notion that could ignore his
command and go on living in the Sc
curity Of my own secret, must have
known from the beginning that 1t
would be impossible Day and night,
ever since you came, some force that
was not my own has been driving at
my resistance. You will call it com
junction, or conscience or an honest
sense of duty. do not call it by any
of those names Your father command
ed me to tell you with my own lips
not in writing or through the mouth Of
an agent-he commanded me to say to
you that your mother was the only
wife he ever had. / have done this to-
night. l have humbled myself-but 1t
was after long, cruel fight"
She sat down, and 1t seemed to him
that her very soul went out in the
deep, long sigh that caused her bosom
to f1atten and her shoulders to droop
forward
He was either an migrate or a cow
ard" said he harshly, after a short
silence.
1T is not for you to pass judgment
on my MASTER" said she, simply. MAY
| beg you to refrain from putting your
own judgment of him into words2 VIII
you not spare me thatw
He stared at her In astonishment
He saw that she was in earnest, des-
perately in earnest. Choking back the
words that had rushed to his lips, he
got up from his chair and bent his
head gravely.
Yes, II it Is any comfort to you.
Rachel Carter" he said, acute pity in
his eyes. II cannot resist saying, how
ever, that you have not spared your
self. 1t cost you great deal to pay
one of the debts he left for you to set
tie. I shall not forget II"
She arose and all the humility fell
away from her. Once more she was
the strong, indomitable- fornSida7
ble-fgure he had come to know so
we'll Her bosom swelled, her shoul-
ders Strengthened, and into the deep
set, somber eyes came the unflinching
light of determination.
Then we are done with that" she
said quietly. II have asked no favcrs
save this last one for myself-but it is
greater one than you may think.
You know everything now, Kenneth.
You have called me Rachel Carter.
Was 1t divinati0n or was 1t stubborn
memory? I wonder. SO far as | know,
you are the only person left in the
world who knows that l was not this
wife, the only one who knows that /
am still Rachel Carter. No matter
what this man Braley may know, or
what he may tell, he But we are
wasting time. Viola must be wonder
ing. Now as to this plan Of Barry La
pelle's. l think can safely assure
you that nothing will come of It,"
Then, you knew about 1t before l
told your" he exclaimed.
mo. You brought me word of JAS
per Suggs this morning You said he
was staying at Martin Hawks cabin.
You may have forgotten what / said
to you at the time. Now you bring me
word that Barry Lapene's plot was
Matched at Martin Hawks. Well, this
afternoon / went to the courthouse
and swore cut a warrant charging
Martin Hawk with stealing some of
my yearling calves and sheep. That
warrant is now In the hands of the
sheriff. 1t will be served before an
other day Is gone"
That's pretty sharp work." he said,
but still little puzzled. NATURALLY
1t will upset Barry's plans, but Suggs
Is still to be accounted for. You men
toned something about charging him
with murder back in"
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