The Golden Woman

The woman's passionate bitterness had lost all sense of proportion. She saw only through her straining nerves. And the injustice of it all brought swift protest to Joan's lips.

"You are wrong. You are cruel--bitterly, wickedly cruel, auntie," she cried. "How am I responsible? What have I done?"

In an instant the gray eyes were turned upon her with something akin to ferocity, and her voice rang with passion.

"Wrong? Cruel? I am stating undeniable facts. I am telling you what has happened. And now I am going to tell you the result of your morning's ride. How are you responsible? What have you done? Dick Sorley has gone to his fate as surely as though you had thrust a knife through his heart."

"Aunt! How--how dare----?"

"How dare I say such things? Because I am telling you the truth--which you cannot bear to face. You mus