Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-08-19
4 Daughters History,
BARRETT SYLV TER,
CHAPTER XVII.


the arrest of the junior partner Of
the firm Of Henry Mason !, Son died
away; and the affair was ,lmOSt for
gotten save by the intcl ted par
ties.
Even the gossip, and IL ngcr> Of
other peoples business. which they
knew more of than their own sub Sided
and the Remingtons could once more
walk the streets without being
viewed as curiositics.
Mrs. Mason did not visit her hus-
band again, She kept within doors
and refused to see anyone. The
Illumination of her position CALLED her,
almost to desperation at times. Had
she herself committed the crime. she
could scarcely have felt more shame.
Yet in the midst of all her tribulation
she failed to look into and ana.yHe
herown false step. 1t did not occur to
her that she had really been guilty Of
much that other women would
have rightly denounced. She did not
tathom the wrong done both herself
and the man she married. She
thought not of how all this misery
would have been avoided had she re-
NAMED true to her noblest instincts,
despite poverty and u desire to help
others. Though she shrank from an
acknowledgement of the fact, even
to herself, yet she had sworn falsely
for she had sworn to love, honor ami
obey one whom she at first could
scarcely call a friend, and whom now
she would have obeyed in nothing.
And honor. Could she honor a crimi-
nal! Had she been tainted with
falsehood, she would have denied all
such intention, Of course. and, no
doubt, would have thought that she
did proper, because the marriage was
hasty, and she had no time to reflect.
Then again, she would have declared
that she was beginning to love-nay,
did love her husband. but that he
had turned affection into hate by his
VillainOuS conduct.
No, she did not reflect on her own
conduct, but worried, worried,
herself into fever because of an
others. The seething brain could not
resist the terrible pressure put upon
it, and body and mind finally sue
cumbed. (.
The fever that laid her low shut out
events Transporting about her, so that
she heard not the ews that came one
morning to her parents, causing them
somewhat of JOY even in the midst of
their grief.
Richard Martin, who had became
almost misanthrop'c in his manners,
and, generally. kept by himself, on
this particular morning, had been out
walking, as usual. AS he was pass
ing by one of the prominent hotels Of
the city, he noticed, standing just
within the doorway, an old friend.
The gentleman did not notice him,
and had not his better nature
triumphed, he would have gone on.
"Nay," he said to himself, why
should feel bitter toward him lie
has suffered enough, and he loves the
boy"
The next moment he was shaking
hands with the senior Mason.
The two walked down the street
arm in arm, and it was then Richard
Martin learned the secret that was
soon afterward revealed to the Reming
tons.
Young Henry Mason had been re-
leased from Jail and had left the city.
Under cover of the darkness he hau
been driven from the prison 10 the
railroad station. Where he had gone
tide old gentleman did not state
"Ah, Martini" he said, "you al,
blame the boy, and | suppose he Is tn
be severely censured. But if you Enrs
how he felt about this matter OH! =.
you knew. His is passionate la
ture-he is quick to do wrong and =,
quick to repent. And then he does NOT
rehec'."
'Refect!" said Richard Martin.
sternly. SIS he not old enough
Eyes, yes and older now than Won
can imagine. lie is a changed man."
eff he had changed before" replied
Richard harshly, "he would not tsvr
brought to the verge Of the grave t (
woman he processes TO love.
Henry Mason started and almost
dropped his companions arm.
'sYou do not mean 10 say -
THAT she is Frustrated with brain
fever ;exactly."
The old man uttered groan.
They walked ON in silence for a fra
moments, then Mr.. Mason said:
Orchard, my heart bleeds for Mel.
lie, and | pray heaven she may recOr-
er. Oh! that she had confidence in me.
could tell her, perhaps, something
that would relieve her of one great
weight"
"That you could not Mason, for,
should she recover, she could never
forget that her husband is thief"
"But suppose should say different
ly. Suppose should tell her that he
committed no theft after all ? What
then 2"
"What then? Why of course, she
would know you spoke falsely through
mistaken kindness"
''Then should tell her that the &C
counts Of the firm bad been made
straight and great mistake recti-
fed.'f
"Mistake?"
Was the Junior Mason innocent af-
Richard Martin was almost dumb
founded. Perhaps there was feeling
within him antagonistic to such q
discovery. Should it be proven that
mat there was, indeed, no case
against the young partner, the young
wife would not be likely to longer en-
tertaln her prejudice against him.
should she recover, reconciliation
might be effected, and then
No divorce could be procured, and
that was exactly what Mrs. Nellie
Mason's uncle had been cogitating
over - hon separation might be best
,,r'a9ht a5out. To her the thoughts of
his mind were entirely unknown, and
however wild the idea, he had been
determined upon it.
Once free from the man who ha d
disgraced her and caused all her mis-
cry, she might be induced to love one
who had an affection for the yerv
ground on which she walked.
He would do all mortal man could
10 eiiace the deep misery of her previ-
Gus life, and they should live an ex-
istence Of unalloyed happiness and
peace, undisturbed by any: so he
dreamed, but alas! his dreams were
now rudely swept away by an awaken
ing to the new position Of affairs.
rs 1t so! is he innocent, then?"
Whatever his thoughts, he did not
oetray them in his question.
Str Stranger things have happened"
top,teu MI. Mason, and are al liable
TO stumble in making up accounts"
That is no answer, Mason. DON'T.
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