Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-21
The Secret of
MARGARET YORKE
By Kathleen Norris

was born. He told me then that Mrs
Cutting was looking for a baby to
adopt, but wouldn't let Jim go-then.
And later, when was so i'll, when
did give up the baby, swore that 1t
should be secret If died or u
lived. I had to keep 1t so!
Living, STAN" Margaret said, In an
eager rush of words, II would always
have cared for my own baby somehow
I didn't want money for himl But
dying, thought Of leaving him, so
tiny, so helpless and without q friend
or O penny. And then I remembered
that Mrs. Cutting was his great-aunt
and that some Of the family money was
rightly his-poor baby, it seemed un-
fair, both wayS-to give him his name
or keep silentl Finally, talking to
the world knew who he really was, and
I gave him the name of Jim Field, and
they took him away to be adopted!
Trowbridge sat beside my bed and
swore that he would never betray the
baby while Cuyler lived, and I swore
that never would betray himl"
Shirley had been looking in utter as
constituent from one face to another
her face an angry red and her eyes
flashing.
Stan, you don't believe all thisl" she
suffered, at last, 81 never heard any
thing so ridiculousl Why-why, how do
you know all this is true? You don't
know anything-who is Jim? never
heard of him! And Cuyler-is 1t prob
able that he wouldn't tell me that his
aunt's companion-"
II don't think you understand,
Shirley" Stanley said, in his gentlest
tone. I've been somewhat in Mar
garet's confidence, you see. Mrs. Cut
ting never suspected anything, and
never knew until this instant that Mar
garet's husband was Cuyler Theo-
I'VE were married on the nth Of
March, four years ago-more than four
years ago-Cuyler Theobald and t.
Shirley asserted hotly.
His marriage to Margaret came
first, Shirley" Stanley interrupted her
mildly. His little boy was born before
you ever met him
He went to Paris" Margaret ex-
planned, land got divorce there. But
his divorce, granted by the French
courts, is not valid in California"
What do you mean?" Shirley said
turning white.
'I mean that I refused ever to give
Cuyler Theobald a divorce" Margaret
asserted "Trowbridge warned him his
French marriage would never be recog-
nized in America until he had an Amer
lean divorce, too; but Cuyler didn't
carel He knew, dareSay, that ]
wouldn't ever trouble himl But Trow-
bridge has kept me informed; he looked
into the whole matter because Of Guy
ler's child
"Childl He has no childl" Shirle,
said. breathing hard.
Jim is his child" Margaret said.
"Jiml You mean this child here?"
Shirley exclaimed. MY dear Mis-
Yorke, you viii find yourself in for
long fight on that score" she sal,
kindly. How do you possibly expect T.
prove that this boy, whom Cuyler Theo-
bald never saw in his life, is his son?
The courts Will simply laugh at you
Even if it were, I don't think
should feel too badly" Margaret as
sured her, mistaken. ut was his father
that I feared, and now poor Cuyler is
gone! Trowbridge has been watching
Jim's interests ever since he was born.
and even told Cuyler's uncle, believe,
that there was a son. I think Trow
bridge wrote me that before Cuylel
maErled-in Paris
Married me. you mean?" Shirley in
terpolated sharply.
eyes, four years ago, think, Trow-
bridge wrote me that he had writer
Cuyler that it could not be a valid
marriage here in this State, and that
as all Cuyler's properties were in Cali
fornia, he would be disinheriting his
second wife"
well, this is ridiculous!" Shirley said
lightly "and you and will be towns
talk for the next few weeks. But I
wouldn't congratulate myself too soon,
If were you'll You may swallow this
whole, Stan, but assure you that ]
shall fight-fight to the last ditchi ]
was married to Cuyler Theobald In
Paris, and was married to him again,
a few weeks ago, in New York. There
is such a thing as a wife's claim, and
I'm going to find out exactly what II
isl I'm sorry to have to go, but-as
his widow, may have to leave for New
York tomorrow" finished Shirley, trem-
bling. "I'll pack now, Stan, II you don't
mind" she said courageously.
And she swept indoors, leaving the
ecstasy Of lorG awaited joy on the
porch, for Stan and Margaret sat down
quite simply upon the old wicker sofa
and the man put his arm about Mar
garet's slender waist.
Shirley found them there when she
came out an hour later. Stanley put
her into the car, and Margaret waved
and the man grinned in farewell. But
Shirley. still flushed, and with danger
ously bright eyes. was settling herself
In the limousine, and apparently forgot
10 nod good-bys. Na
Continued in Tomorrow's Starr