The Milwaukee Leader

The Sins of the Fathers
By the Noted Writer
IDAH McGLONE GIBSON
Copyright, 1923, by John F. Dille Co.

A Kindly Fate Intervenes

Warren Rockwell. Sr., received a message from his son away at school. urging him to come to his aid. On his way the father recalls that 20 years before his brother. Lewis. had come to him for aid. Lewis had brought the threat of disgrace upon Madeline Forest. Warren, who loved her. was furious.
Lewis couldn't marry Madeline as he was already secretly married. That night Lewis was killed in an accident. Warren married Madeline and gave her child his name. Later she, too, died. At the school Rockwell found his son about to be expelled or charges made by George McKeever. The astounding thing was that although there was no apparent relationship the boys looked exactly alike. Both boys loved Ruth Mason. Secretly she and Warren are married. Meantime McKeever has an affair with a girl named Margot.
He masquerades under Warren's name.
Warren not knowing this writes to Ruth.
Warren waiting anxiously to see his wife learns from a jeweler's clerk (Johnson) that he had seen McKeever (who, he thought was Rockwell), in a roadhouse with Margot, on the way to New York city, Torn by love for Warren and resentment over his apparent neglect and infidelity. Ruth refuses to see him.
The young husband. unaware that his wife's refusal to see him was really a test of his constancy. accepts her decision and this widens the breach between them.
Wounded by what he considers his wife's strange aversion of him. Warren decides that she try to recuperate at Atlantic City from her mental illness. Burdened by doubt and suspicion Ruth determines to seek rest by casting herself into the sea, but as she nerves herself for the plunge the voice and hand-of McKeever stops her.
Gasping in what she at first believed were her husband's arms. Ruth permitted McKeever, who had frustrated her attempt at suicide, to escort her to her hotel where her frantic maid hailed George as "Mr. Rockwell." Her mind dazed by the terrible experience of the night before, Ruth tries to find solace in a telegram from Warren saving that he would join her the next day and pledging his love. Returning to the pier on which she had. a few hours before planned self destruction, the young wife finds. hidden in a bouquet of roses, an impassioned letter from McKeever in which. as her rescuer. he claims her for his own. Another letter from her mother, urging that she return with Warren. steels Ruth to renew her faith in him. Against her better judgment, Ruth dines with McKeever and heeds his plea of love.
"I don't understand, George," said Ruth, why we should be happier tomorrow than we are today."
For answer McKeever seated her on the bench near the shelter house, from where she could see his yacht rising and falling on the waves.
"Do you recognize that boat out there, Ruth?" George asked, his voice trembling with emotion.
"It is yours, isn't it?" the girl asked naively.
"Yes; it is the Lorelei. Tomorrow you and I will be sailing away to places where it is always sunshine, where it is always fragrant with flowers. We will visit the farthest corners of the earth, my dear. Together we will explore countries that I am sure you have always wanted to know; I shall be very glad to take you to them, for until you are with me there. I shall never have enjoyed them." The man looked longingly, compellingly into the girl's eyes.
"You seem to think, George, that everything is settled," she said, quietly.
"Isn't it?"
"Oh, I don't know," she returned drearily.
"Don't you love me, dear? After all that has passed in the last few days haven't you found out that you love me?"
"I don't know, George; I don't know."
"But surely you know that you have not been happy with Warren Rockwell? Surely you know that he hasn't satisfied the longings of your soul?
"Are anyone's soul longings ever satisfied? I always thought that was the great tragedy of human life."
"Living is not always tragic, Ruth. I believe that mortals can know such ectasy that even its memory will carry into their lives a joy and happiness greater than you have ever known."
"I wish I could believe it, George."
"Don't let your puritanical adherence to popular conventions ruin your life. Ruth," said George Glibly. 'Surely you do not still subscribe to that creed which seems to make happiness a vice and everything that gives one pleasure'a sin? You love me, dear. Why do you not acknowledge it? You love me."
"I am not sure, George. I am not sure."
"Cast all doubts aside, Ruth. I know you love me but some kind of womanly reserve makes you listen to that benighted thing we call conscience.
"Ruth, I tell you it is right for us to be happy. It is our only right. That you have made a mistake in marrying Warren Rockwell is something which must be rectified. It is unheard of that you should be punished so grievously for making a mistake. Ruth, think of the moonlight nights out on the Aegean sea, sailing through a path of silver while the soft lapping of the waters against the side of our boat lulls us into a sweeter and more calm repose than either you or I have ever known.
"Come with me. Look, do you see the smoke coming out of The Lorelei. I gave orders this morning that she could be put under full steam." He pointed dramatically to the graceful craft and waited for her answer.
"You shouldn't have done that, George," Ruth replied.
"Why not?"
"Because, because
"Oh, yes, you are going with me, Ruth.
Let your heart speak for once."
"But, my mother?" faltered Ruth, a belated sense of duty enveloping her.
"We'll, send for your mother, deer."
"She would never forgive me if I deserted her. Only this morning she told me that my being here made her feel as though she were deserted. It would break her heart, George; it would break her heart."
"No, dear. Hearts don't break so easily. Has there ever been a (moment in your life when you did not feel that your mother wanted you to be happy? The greatest joy you could give her now is the knowledge of your happiness."
"She thinks I am happy now."
"Ah, yes, dear, but she doesn't know that part of you, that part of you which pushed you forward, forward the other night to impending death. I am the only one in all the world who knows the Ruth of that moment. I am the only one who fully understands you, your moods of black grief and your moods of white joy.
"Come. You love me. Why deny it? Tomorrow we will be far away from everything except-"
"Hello, Ruth-they told me at the hotel I would probably find you here; I came on an earlier train than I expected-" the voice of Warren Rockwell interrupted.
"McKeever, I thought you were on your way to Europe," he continued gruffly.
To Be Continued