After my father died, Delia thought it best to tell us the story of Rene's birth.

This--this was such a terrible tale, and later we sought all through his private papers, hoping he had taken some action to set those two free.

There was no proof that he had, no mention, indeed, except a memorandum of intention to refer the matter to Lawyer Haines at the Landing.

This merely served to confirm what Delia had told us, and, as Haines had gone to St.Louis, we were unable to see him.

We were all of us nearly crazed; I was even afraid Rene would throw herself into the river.