Show A WONDERFUL WOMAN WOMAN- e 0 BY IV A V e Then the bitter waters of death closed ov over her head and with a gasping cry sho she started up awake awal c- c the lie fatal words yet ringing in her ears Cals False as fair false fale as ns fair The chill chi gray gry light of the October dawn awn filled the room the fire fru had died out nut black on th tho hearth and sho shio was cramped and col cold 1 Even In her dreams creams that warning came caine to her She drew rew out her hel watch and looked at the tho hour Only seven soven but Catherine Cath erine ld slept no more CJ LYn LITER X I Before the tle Wedding Married on New Years Year's eve Married Mar Mar- ned ried on New Years Year's eve Katherine Do I hear you aright aught Is It I possible this you really realy mean Sir John seated KI ni dressing gown and slippers before the tile study lire laid down his Times an and 1 blankly asked this queston question II Ills daughter aughter stood behind his chair keepIng keepIng keep- keep Ing log her face race steadily averted I Let ct me IonIc look at you child como come como here Let let me mc see It If this Is my little who sang song her hel doll ol to sleep yesterday an and 1 who comes comeR to me now anti and and asks to be bc married maried on New Years Year's day Ah Au I cannot you cannot you do not mean It I after ater all al Papa I do Katherine cried desperately desperately des des- feeling again what a n cruel thing It had been of Gaston Gaton to subject subject sub sub- feet her bel to to this ordeal at least I don't dont but dont but he that he-that that Is oil is-oil h 18 oh papa I 1 have explained already You have Repeated Mr ll Gaston Gaton plausible pretexts of oC which I don't dont believe beleve one wor word He lie dared not face mo me again he lie ordered you OU to tome tome tome me an and 1 obtain m my consent to your OUr marriage on New Years Year's ev eve Coward Coward Cow Cow- artl ard craven en Cla coward Papa dont You misjudge him he he Is no coward e evon even n you might have no right to call can him so o Oh PP papa lapa how can cati you b be so unkind to him ilm to me were so hur harsh h to toh I h him ilm when he ho spoke to you before and auth ouI Ol ho le not not could not re- re 10 J huij jut t tl Ju Id ll r J I I J t clUI S T he 10 You must not call cal Gaston such hard hall names Even from flom you yon YOl I cannot heR I I It But In the tile depths of her heart heart even while she fought desperately for her absent lover love 10 01 she felt It to be true He I-he was as a cowart coward Hear Ilear her the tho baronet said sid with wih suppressed Intensity hear her take his ils part against me this me-this this man whom she has known leown two Well eU it itis its I Is s the reward revard the lie old always receive from rom flom the young Two white arms ms clasped his neck two wo impetuous lips ilius liIs stooped down and ami Id c him Papa Palm darling is It generous gEnerous of or you ou to say a this You know I 1 love you fou dearly lenny dorly dearly but papa pap I love lovo hun him too I cant can't help It I I 1 don't dont know kno I know t I do ho with why on only 1 leow wih all al n my heart He lie le Jool looked l 1 at her tenderly the tenderly the hard har 1 bitterness of oC his mouth relaxing Into a smile smie half half- nt ad half haIr cynical My I little Itle one he said sid m my little one you ou dont don't know leow wile whY ShaH Shall I Itel Itell Itell tell tel you A little for his dark darl eyes oyes a i little for his silken hair a little for tor his seductive voice and sugary words and a great deal deal oh oh my romantic I Kathie for Eathie-for for your OUI own poetical nation naton It If you ou saw AW Gaston below the surface for tor an hour you oli would scorn him your life long IonS But Dut you tale take this good goot looking at nt his own valuation and anel Invest him with a n halo of or nobility all aH your OUr own anti and up and worship him 11 My daughter take care take care Your god gOll will wI crumble to cIa clay before your yOU eyes and what Is left lef then Believe DeHeve me little Itle I Kathie I there Is more needed needed need need- ed el to mal make e a wife ife happy happ than hail long lashes and aud a n musical voie voice Katherine looked up utu and anti met her fathers father's eyes full ful for the lie first time her lips compressed Into a a. resolute line lne An hour ago she hInd had seemed to him little ho kno know a wayward girl lie girl Jil he ow now no for Cor the first time he lie had a woman woman wo wo- wo- wo man mai to deal with with with-a wih-a wih a woman oman In love lo and ancl resolute to have hay her hera a way way- You treat mo me as though I were ten years yem's old and asking a new plaything play play- tiling thing thing Papa I love lo e Gaston he wants me Inc to be his wife auld and I have havo promIsed promised prom prom- iSel A promise given should be a promise kept I will sIll wI marry him him or orbO go bO to my grave unmarried Then heaven hl help lp you ou My I years on on earth will wi not be many man man-don't don't dont In Interrupt interrupt In- In me Katherine I know what I Iam Iam Iam am saying anel saying and and when I am gone anti and you YOI mO nrc aro left ler to that mans man's melc mercy I 1 Isay Isay S say again heaven hea help you ou He has given you no earthly reason renon rca rea son on to SO say It Il Katherine exclaimed and lIll It Il I Is not like Je you to be bc unjust It I I Is a shame papa a hame You know nothing wrong of him him nothing Even E the grim pitiless English law low takes tho prisoner in the dock doc to be bo Innocent until he lie Is proven guilty You speak of him as th though ugh he were a villain maln l dyed double cd I repeat It Is a shame to slander the tue absent in this wa way vay and a n soldier who has hns foug fought t for his country as you OU have ought to be he bethe betho tho the last lat to do 10 I It You wrote to New Orleans to find out his hi character did character character ld 1 Id tho ho answer justify such dark sU suspicions an no ll these lucite o The answer left me mc as much In the dark as ever 1 Mr Mt character charac charac- ter In New Ne' Orleans is IA simply nil niL no no ni-no no noone one clue knew anything much either to his credit or discredit You ou defend 3 your 0 U lover 1 I dont don't think the the worse of you OU to for I H it but it wont won't do Even E you OU m my child eloquent elo elo- elo- elo quent as you are ore with wih all ni your OU special special cial cal pleading can not make male a hero of or Gaston I 1 dont don't want to make a hero lucre of or him him he suits stilts me inc woJ enough as he heIs Is As s ho lie Is with nIl all nl his faulty fault what what- wint- wint over 01 the they ma may bo ho I am nm willing to take Lake him to t to hold to him hini all al 1 my toy life mu F f I t and b be er very sure whatever lint life may prove no 10 one alive alve shall shaH ever hear heal me complain of him I I believe beleve you her father Cather said sid quietly youre oure not a a model young lady lad by br any means but you yoo deserve deserea e deser a a much better husband than Gaston Gaton Child child you are hopelessly hopelessly hope hope- lessly infatuated I I might as aR well talk to the trees waving yonder outside the window as ag to a romantic girl In love But Dut think a moment think moment moment think how little you know of this man Who Vho Is to prove he hasn't hant a a. n wife already out yonder In the tho Southern states states Papa But Dut there L a char sharp sudden pang In Iii her voice voie as a she u uttered ut uttered ut- ut the indignant cry Marie de Lansac the tho name that had haunted her hel dream that morning came caine back Ah Kathie flying into into- ito a passion will wi not prove his worth I repeat wo we know nothing of or him nothing him nothing but what he has lias chosen to tell ten or Invent Do you really realy belev believe my poor Donna Quixote that list if I some some freak ak of fortune deprived you tomorrow of an and 1 its Is rent roll rol he would prove faithful faithful faithful faith faith- ful to the love he lie has vowed If I you were penniless penniless penniless-as ns as he is Is-do Is Iso do you be- be ho he would ever make you his wife She met his s sad 1 gaze gge full ful but she was wa white to the lipsI lips I 1 believe It It I papa I know how I would act net by him poverty poverty disgrace poverty disgrace even would even would only make maize me cling cling- themore tho the more devotedly to him 1 would tal take e his part against all aU the lie world and why should I think him the less le generous generous gen gen- erous Papa It be i ma may your duty ut but you OU torture me What Is the use of saying such suCh things thing except except to make malco malcome me miserable But Dut It was not her he fathers father's wor words words' that made her miserable it it was vas the doubt douht In her own heart the conviction conviction conviction tion that h he lie spoke the truth Not all al her Insane Infatuation could coull convince lieu her that this man was either cither elhel loyal lo or ortrue true She had hul been brought up up In a a. peculiar wa way vay enough this Impulsive Katherine and If It there Is an any aul excuse to tl be made for her wilful perversity It les lies In that Motherless at the ag age lef to to tt a U doling I faUn th r. r Jr by I u Ih-u n s. s el Iz Il In caprice sue she ht had gr grown lown up tip tp ng anti anil full Cul of or faults fault nul Thu Tho Indian an colonel colone II h lui th taught h her l to scorn a lie as tin tiLe base basl crime of a n coward and taught taugh I her to be as ns true as steel loyal loal generous gen gen- erous and anti brave brae and she knew kuie in in- 11 he her inmost heart hearl that Gaston was wa none of or these things was was thing was twice a as unstable as water vater Only h her hr I girl girls girl's fanc fancy ha had gone out to him and it It was wa too late to recall the gift gUt Her rath father r drew threw her to him him ant and kissed herI her lieu I will vill wi say my no more not more not one word and anti yet It is cruel 1 kindness Do I a you OU know Inow what I T should have done Kathie when that fellow came caine care here to ask your hand hanel I should have a amid said mid She is there take her hel If IC you 01 will wH She is quite read ready and capable of running with OU If It mil ask awn away you tomorrow you OU he her but as ns long as I 1 0 live e. not one hing farl-hing will ili wH she ever eVI receive recel from me not not though she were starving I will wJ never forgive her hel I will wi novel never see her She Sue is In love with you tal take her and auth when the tho honeymoon Is o or r el starve I mean this tills Mr and we e know Inow how to I keep our word Kathie he lie would never nevel have havo o h set sel foot again within this house and you yoU you-you you would woul hate hato your our fa fathel fa- fa a- a ther thier I 1 dont don't think I could boar ar that and so oh child man marry him If ir you OU will wJ on OLI New ew Years Year's eve what eve what does a month more or less les' les matter matter and mate and and mn may the good God keep you OU and defend de tie- fend you from the fate of a. a broken a-broken hearted wife She made no reply her face Cace was hidden on his shoulder I fear for fOl your future my child child child- 1 I fear I fear foar the lie old soldier said salti sid with wih strange pathos lathos I I foresee more than I dare larI tell tell Kathie listen Iston Do you you lils ou hi his steady voice faltered a lit little lit lit- U- U tle tle do teudo do you think you could bear oear to tobe tobe 11 be poor Poor papa she lifted her head and looked at It him him In surprise Yes Katherine Kalherine to be poor poor not not as wo we wore poor in India with wih servants to wait walt upon us and Ind a colonels colonel's pay a to live e 1 on but If IC I were to tu die tile and it I 10 may inny maybe be soon soon soon chIld child he be still still anti and and you were left leCt alone in the time world friendless friendless friend friend- less les and anti to earn your own living as IS other girls do do-do do o do-o do you ou think you ou could bear that that to to to eat cat poor food to wear wea pro clothing to labor for others that others that Is tho the sort of or poverty IW pox pov erty I mean She gazed at him lost In wonder Poor poor I 1 a baronets baronet's barones barone's daughter daugh daugh- ter thu heiress heiress- of Papa bursting into a n laugh for the Hr first t time what nonsense are arc you OU talking It Itis Itis I is Impossible for CO me to be poor But suppose suppo c It were not not iio ho spoke with fe feverish eagerness shifting away from tho gaze of ur the tile bright wondering eyes eyeS suppose suppose It were Wele possible sup sup suppose pose hose such a fate overtook o you you could ou coull could you OU bear It I Sir Sh John the young lal lady responded Impatiently I HI dont don't want to suppose It It-I It I-I I I wont won't suppose such a n preposterous thing No o. o I couldn't bear hear It It there there I would Hull rather rath rati er or die than bo be poor poor living poor l on crusts crusts- wearing shabby b dresses dresses and and working crusts I for fOl Insolent purse proud common rich people Papa I would just quietly glide out of life Ifo In Iti a double dose lIMe of morphine and make malee an nn end of It all al But BLit what's tho lie use of or talking such mich rubbish Im I'm Im Katherine heiress ss It I Is about as leel likely that I II t Ishall shall go up UI to the moon 1001 like Hans Hans' PEnal and amid lio 1 0 there live there lucre a aa away a from every every- 1 every hotly body as that I shall over ever turn shop ShOP- girl and anti poor He Tie set his lips hard halt beneath his mustache and anti his Iron gray soldiers soldier's training stool stood him tuba In Iii good stead stad now iio Of or the thC sharp pain at al his heart his face showed no Ign I Anti And nd y you oU consent papa you ou you dear clear natured good-natured old olti hl papa lall tho the girl I said sid I 1 her hel cheek check close to hh his her lips to hl his hiscar hiscar car you OU do consent I am ur only 1 liand li 17 j and anti silly no doubt but let me inc b be happy siy in my iny own way I cant can't help hell Lilting liking Gaston I Gaston I cant can't indeed indeed n Indeed and and 1 I want to trust t him him to to believe beleve In him You'll Youl let me went vent you yau You wont won't s say bitter biter cynical things thing's thing any more An And you you know you wont won't lose me a ayou as you would if i I married any anyone one else You'll Youl only gain a a son on Instead nd Instead and am amwell well we'll wel alt all al live lve together here as th the forever after fairy tales fairy tales say say happy happy sy-happy happy He lIe sighed resignedly disengaged himself on and 1 arose When V en a a woman will Wi she will wl etc ote Have your own on O J way Katherine Let the wedding be on New Years Year's eve I give you carte blanche for th the trousseau trousseau order order er what you please I Ican Ican can say no more nUe than that I will wll wi make mke the best of a a. n bad bargain sine since it is Inevitable but I cant can't like him himI him him- I never wi will Marry him if It I you will wi but I would almost sooner see seo you de dead d than give your fate Into hi his hands Keep him away from me me-I me meI had rather not meet him And gatherine- gatherine a pause Well V l papa she ithe spoke rather s sad sad- ly Iy It I seemed very hard that tha the tw two beings on earth whom she loved best bes could like one another er no 10 better than tha this Her father was wa standing wi wit his back to her het looking out of ot th the window at the beeches tossing their striped branches In the high autumnal gle gale Yes papa what papa |