Page:Frank Owen - Woman Without Love (1949 reprint).djvu/150

 "That is not all we learned about you," he continued. "We had a clever investigator in your city who found out numerous other things as well. We even traced you further back. To your Fort Wayne days. Also Peoria. We found a doctor who reported how marvelously and unselfishly you had given your time and money to help the little patients in a certain Children's Hospital. We traced hundreds of your philanthropies. We found out much about your religious life."

"That was only a diversion,", she said uncomfortably. "I have never been particularly religious."

"It is neither necessary for you to abase nor defend yourself," he said brusquely. "All the facts are in the reports and that is all with which I am concerned. We learned how you saved numerous girls from a life of shame, girls who had taken one false step and were afraid to turn back until you talked to them like an all-knowing mother. I remember well Templeton's reaction to those stories."

"What did he say?" she asked trembling.

"He said he wondered if any society matron had ever saved as many lives as you. It seemed to me he was actually proud of you. Certainly he never thought any the less of you because of the reports. He knew that you had run away with Whiteman Manners when you were only a child. He found out the true character of that scoundrel but he could never find what happened to him. And Templeton said: 'If only there had been a Madame Leota to comfort my sister Mary in her hour of tragedy, how different her life might have been.'"

For a moment neither spoke. Mary Blaine felt as though she were living in a dream.

"In any event," continued Clive Reardon, "your brother thought you were a fit guardian for Dorothy. And so do I. I, of course, am rather broad-minded. I have been married three times. So perhaps my opinion is not worth a great deal."

"This is all very surprising," Mary faltered, "but I am glad Templeton knew. It puts my mind somewhat at rest. Nevertheless, the case of Dorothy still remains unchanged. In the eyes of the world she would be disgraced if the truth about her aunt were ever discovered. Therefore you must bring suit against