Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1889-05-03

these, and these alone. that / mem to
keep silent, though know that ought
to speak"
Its good of you." said the bar maid,
admiringly, 'for it will cost you good
deal, I've no doubt. I'm afraid, Mr.. Beres-
ford, that you'll find good many people
who'll be ready and willing to throw it at
you-the murder, l mean. But j hope
You and the young lady will be happy
Oh! yes, guessed at once. hope she'll
never know it. poor thing, I'm sure"
Miss Meeking." said Jim, ''yon have
my best wishes for the future. l will
little more settled, and if l send you n
forwardness to me this afternoon, hope
you won't refuse it."
Indeed I won't. Mr.. Beresford," she
said, quickly.
And if ever there is anything I can do
for you, be sure shall be ready to do it,"
Jim went on, and then he held out his
hand, and she laid hers in it. And
needn't say, need !, that I'm very sorry
misjudged you at frst?"
mot word" said the bar maid, heart
lily. And then they shook hands again,
and they parted. How relieved he was it
would be hard to tell. OF course lie knew
that he ought, in strict justice, to 20 and
tell tho colonel everything, and simply
leave Tommy to his well deserved fate.
But he had taken the wrong upon his own
conscience for her-for her and the old
man who was so proud Of his good old
name and his own unstained honor.
For the old mans sake? Ali and not
out of much consideration for him, for
was it not all for the sake Of the one who
her. I've never seen her since the week I
was In London before | met you"
but how could Stuart knowf" she per-
sisted.
Beautiful Jim's face turned like stone.
He knew that had no hand in it-that
I was absolutely innocent" he replied.
Don't ask me any more. darling Tho
subject Is too painful to me, for you know
old Owen was the best friend ever had
in all my life"
For some minutes Nancy stood looking
at him, her sweet doves eyes filled with
light such as he had never seen shining in
their clear depths before.
Il believe, she said, slowly. that You
know who committed that murder"
Beautiful Jim returned her searching
gaze with one As steady and Is true. but
he kept silent.
Apparently Nancy took 1t as an answer,
for she made no attempt to press the ques-
tion-for o question it was. though not
put in the form Of one-further; instead,
she put another, and one much more difa-
cult for Jim to answer.
docs Stuart know also2"
The words rang out clear and sharp, As
such words might fall from the lips Of an
accusing angel
Jim said nothing. and she repeated the
question imperiously. Then he spoke.
Infancy. my dear. II you love me and
trust me, ask me no more about this mis-
cradle affair, he said imploringly. iii
keep silence when know, will not you,
who trusted me when appearances were
dead against me, trust me stillf"
ut is not that do not trust you i'm
plicitly. utterly. absolutely" she said.
gently; but If you know anything and
are shielding guilty person, let me beg
Of you. for your own sake, for mine, to
hide nothing. Jim. my dear. do you real
ize that You are not safe yourself 20 long
as. this crime remains unpunishedf At
any moment matters might take fresh
turn against you and you might be-
hanged"
Jim shook his head and smiled q. her
fears.
mo; could always speak"
"And you wouldf' eagerly.
I'm that case-yes."
Then let me beg and pray Of you to
speak now" she cried. earnestly. Jim,
believe me. 1t can do no good to shield the
guilty. It Is kind Of you-but in such .
case silence. even from the kindest mo-
tives, becomes q crime. Jim, dear, It Il
tho first thing l have asked Of you"
The sadness in Beautiful Jim's honest
eyes turned to distress.
my dear" he said. lyon don't know
how hard 1t is for me to. refuse you any.
thing. II ] had done It myself would
60 and give myself up at once; but IS it
Is, II speak the blow will fall the heavi
est upon those who are perfectly limo.
cent. who do not even guess that such Q
| shadow has or ever could come near,
them" :; Il :!
s'They would probably be the FIRST to
say. Let justice be doner" she cried. :. Z
Jim looked at her keenly. He saw that
she had no suspicion of the truth; that 1t.
never entered her mind that it might be
over her that this black and shameful;
shadow hungl He knew that she had
been from her cradle taught to look upon
honor Us before al. that the traditions of
her house contained many and many an
example Of fair and gracious women who
had hidden the men they loved go forth
to battle. and, cost them what It might,
had never fiinched in tho hour Of parting;
who, even though the one life dearest Of
al <D%n n~kk a. L. ii
down, had yet, heart broken as they were,
gloried in their own fortitude. He saw
that she was of the same race. this girl hs
loved SO dearly. =:
"Supposing that such . test came to
YOURSELF" he asked.
IF it was my own brother would de.
liver him up to justicel" she cried proudly.
"And your fatherf'
my fatheri Ali might hesitate for
him, she admitted, though, mind, he
would not hesitate himself"
That decides me. said Jim. heaving
| great Sigh Of relief. This man has "a
parent too, who is old and without re-
proach. That Is why have stained my.
self with crime, Nancy: for q crime 1t Is,
though ! hope it will not 60 hard with me
hereafter. being committed through
mercy"
The girl was conquered.
Jim, you have better heart team L
You are moro merciful BY far. Twill take
back my request. but only on one condi.
| tion."
(which is?' he asked.
That if personal danger from this 81.
lence should ever threaten you, you viii
speak out"
Il promise you that" et8
And you are sure It b safef'-anxi.
ously.
From the worst-yesi I shall be &C.
verely blamed. and probably severely pun
ished, il it ever comes to light that have
hidden my knowledge, when my allegiance
to the queen commands me to speak; but
there win always b sympathy for me.
think" - -
"And v0n actually hauo Tho nnoofea