The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1893-07-27

might express them. II taxed ali her
wornan's ingenuity to find suitable en-
cuses for keeping him by her side, and
once or twice she felt the historical lump
rising in her throat to such degree that
1t took the greatest effort in her power
TO control herself-in fact. had 1t not been
for the gravity VI the occasion and the
issue ut stake she would have given
way.
Little do men know of the fierce bat.
ties which women have to fight with
themselves on behalf of those whom they
love and to fight them ell alone. un-
cheered by any sympathy and without
even the meager consolation that in time
those for whom the effort is made will
know and appreciate the magnitude Of
the present sacrifice.
BY and by Robert, realizing that he
was not likely to have fit opportunity
for looking after the buried money, de-
termined to give 1t up for the present
and for the day to enjoy himself after
his usual fashion. So presently he
strolled away to JOIN the other idlers at
the wine shop, which was also the gen.
eral and only shop in the place.
When she found herself alone. Marie
had to decide at what time she would
make the attempt. She felt that it must,
II it was to be of any use. be made at the
earliest possible moment. for abe could
see that Robert was bent on the evil
work being done rs soon as he could nc
complish it.
She decided that whatever was to be
done ought to be done at once. As soon
as she found moment when she could
escape her mothers eye he took spade
and ran to the copse where the money
was hidden. She did not lose moment,
but began to dig and very shortly turned
up piece OF canvas tied into bag.
Hastily she unrolled it and took out the
money. which she placed in her pocket.
for she thought her wisest plan to pre-
vent the risk of discovery would be to
wait for favorable opportunity Of hid
ing it in some other place.
Her heart was SO full of glad exulta-
ton that she had so far been enabled to
save Ler husband from his contemplated
crime that she had not taken any heed
whatever Of the possible consequences of
her own act. II was not until she had
placed back the canvas in the hole and
filed in the earth again and smoothed it
over SO that its recent disturbance would
not be apparent that it struck her that
the labor was not yet complete. She
paused in her running. for she was by
this time hurrying back to the house, and
a sudden impulse took her to replace the
money at all hazards. just then, how.
ever. she heard her mother calling her, so
she had to abandon the impulse. She re-
turned to the house with weight on her
mind which seemed to drag her down.
Her conscience began to torture her
with doubts as to the propriety of her &C
ton.
Might it not he possible" she thought,
''that she had entirely misconstrued the
motives Of her husbandf II so, what
terrible plight she was in! Not only had
she wronged the man whom she loved
her own husband, whom she had sworn
to honor-with a base suspicion, but she
had actually robbed her own father and
was even now in the actual possession Of
the stolen money"
The thought was horrible one and al.
most bore her down with fear.
But there was no time to lose. To
show any signs of disturbance was to
court inquiry, and inquiry meant dan
ger-danger not only to herself. but to
her husband.
So with n sick heart she went about
her household work. fearing something
new and more dreadful than the last
at every sound that smote on her ear.
That day seemed to be- of endless
length. All the time she was possessed
Of an absorbing desire to get away by
herself, even for few minutes. but
each time she made the effort some hor-
rid fate seemed to thwart her purpose.
At one time it was her mother wanted
assistance. at another it was that she
had to prepare the dinner for her father
and her husband, then a neighbor drop
ped IN to gossip, and she dared not try
| to get rid OF her lest an action so unusual
on her part should invite suspicion.
| II illdoers only knew at the first what
misery there is to one and all who come
In touch with their crime, there would
perhaps be less Ill done in the worldi II
is a part. and large part, too. Of the
/ devils opportunity that the conse-
quences-remote as well as immediate
Of his service are not apparent at the
first.
Robert did not come to dinner, but a lit
tie later he turned mp. and as something
had to be got ready for him there was an
! other postponement Of Marie's purpose.
He was in excellent humor and laughed
and hummed tunes and sang songs in the
merriest of strains. Marie. with heart
In her breast as heavy as lead and
weighed down morally with the terrible
doubts as TO the propriety of her action.
had to listen and even to join in the mer-
riment. 1t seemed TO her that she had TO
endure martyrdom and that all those
whom she loved were in a conspiracy to
cause her pain.
At last the day wore away. but with
out single opportunity of her hiding
away the money. In despair she took
!, the earliest opportunity Of going to bed.
alleging that she was tired. To her hor-
ror Robert said that he was tired also. rs
he had not slept well the night before
and SO would also retire to bed.
When Robert said that he had not
slept well on the previous night, his IA
ther-in-law gave quick, suspicious
glance under his eyebrows. No one
noticed it but Marie, to whom 1t brought
unspeakable anguish, for she knew that
suspicion once aroused ON the old mans
part must unfailinely lead to discovery.
She seemed almost to see into her IA
theirs mind and to read there the inten-
tion Of changing the hiding place of the
money.
Thus she was hedged with danger on
every side. II her father should seek at
once TO make the change. he would make
the discovery of the robbery, and II
search was made the money would ac-
tually be found ON her. If her husband
should seek to steal this night the money