Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1933-01-18
Chapter S5
SONDRA'S HARDEST BATTLE

OAeEN1A
SONDRA'S HARDEST BATTLE
A FLASH of jealousy crossed
Mrs. Merriman's face; she had
never liked Sondra and she had
never forgiven her for marrying
Mark so secretly "as if there vas
something to be ashamed Of" so
she told herself.
Beatrice didn't say anything
against her." she protested. "Bea-
trice merely repeated what appar-
emily everyone knows, that MI.
Anderson has always been in love
with her, and would have married
her long enough ago if he had
been free"
as that all?" Mark laughed
weakly. "Well, are you going to
blame Sondra for that? How can
she help it if Anderson loves her?
1t would be more wonderful if he
didn't"
He was conscious of an enor-
nous relief; he had given his
mother credit for more sense than
to turn a thing like this into a So
called scandal"
as that all?" he asked.
Mrs. Merriman hesitated, then
she said offendedly. "Of course
I've no more to say if you are 60
ing to take it like this. / only
spoke for your own good"
Thank you. | know all there is
to know about Sondra, and any
way, Mother, | don't want you to
repeat anything to me She's more
to me than anyone in the world,
and if all the world came to me
with stories against her, I should
not believe them" He was silent
for a moment then he laughed. 81
don't see why you should be so in
dignant because another man
wanted to marry the woman who
married me-"
There was a little silence, then
Mrs. Merriman said in a bitter
voice, "You haven't allowed me to
tell you everything"
Mark rose u~nsteadily to his feet.
"You drive me to say things !
wouldn't" he said hoarsely. "You
come here insinuating things
against the oma I love :. . its
Its cruel and unnatural. If you
don't like Sondra, Mother, for
Gods sake let's not speak of her,
or if you can't come here without
speaking of her, please don't come
at ALL"
He was pale and breathless, and
he put out a hand to steady him.
self against a chair.
For a moment Mrs. Merriman
was silent, her lips pale, her eyes
downcast, then she rose slowly to
her feet.
"You need not be afraid" she
said in a queer voice. II shall not
come gain, but perhaps some day
you will regret having turned
your W mother away for the
sake of a -"
Mark took a quick step forward.
How dare your" he said hoarsely,
She laughed, her bitter jeal-
ousy rising in an uncomfortable
flood.
every well, I'll co." she said.
"I1l go and be glad to, but per-
haps you'll ask Sondra who has
paid for her fine clothes all these
years, and if she tells you that,
then ask her what she gave in re-
turn-ask her why you were sent
abroad-ask her why John Ander-
son is the good friend to you you
say he is-ask her whom she was
with at the shore just before you
came home; ask her -" She
broke off as the door opened and
Sondra came into the room.
She stood for a moment looking
from one to the other, the smile
fading on her lips, then she took
a little running step forward
"Why, Mark 49,. Mark" she
put her arms around him, steady
ing him, and he sank into the
chair, his eyes closed, trembling
from head to foot.
"What is it, dear?" Sondra
asked tenderly; she looked back at
his mother. "What have you been
doing to him." she demanded ang-
rily.
Mark recovered himself with an
effort. "It's all right" he tried
to smile. 'It's my fault got
angry all about nothing. I'm
all right-don't look SO frightened,
Sondra . just leave me alone for
a moment"
Mrs. Merriman came forward,
her eyes piteous.
81 didn't mean it, Mark it
wasn't true . not one word Of 1t,
Oh, my dear boy. -"
II think you had better fetch
the nurse" Sondra said. sand
don't go, please ...I want to
speak to you"
She took Marks hand and held
it to her cheek. His eyes were on
her face with almost agonized en-
quiry.
"What is it, Mark? Oh, what is
- 90 l. 1911 - Isl