Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1895-03-02

I
him in long. low whistle. He looked
sharply and questionincly at Bradford,
in whose determined face and un-
changeable attitude there was no
indication that he meant either to
relent in his purpose or to relax his
vigilance Then Wilmerding moved
closer to the table and drew paper
before him.
Nothing could he simpler or easier
to do than that" lie said, "but | am
afraid my statement will not CRAFTY
you. To he complete it will have to
tell of your inhuman cruelty, your
falsitv and my relations, too. with
your wife. and Of YOUR foolish neg
lect."
"You may include what you please" :"
"And. as for my relations. why
should | not write for them? The
whole world may know Of them as well
as not
"'rhat is not what | want. do
not care for only statement of what
the world knows or may know. That
would not be worth the asking for. |
want complete statement, and ! will
make bargain with YOU. | will
give You your life for the statement
want"
Wilmerding rose. He pushed his
chair from him so that il fell noisily
to the floor. For the first time in the
interview he spoke angrily and with
out the control of himself he had
maintained.
"Iou scoundrel - he said.
Bradford rose from his seat. recoiled
n step or two, raised his pistol, but
then lowered it again rs Wilmerling
spoke on.
How dare you think OF me so bad
ly? How dare you think would
purchase even life at such price a.
that? lou want the truth, YOU say.
do love your wife Is that the truth
you want? | do love your wife more
than | love life or fear death. | love
her, saw, but no word of love from
me has ever hurt her ears. No word
OF love for me has ever sullied her
lips. vet know she loves me- That
is the most glorious truth know.
She loves me as she never did, never
could have loved you"
Wilmerding. as though now he only
wished that some end might he brought
to the interview, any end to the sus.
pense, leaned far over the table toward
Bradford and pulled his waistcOat
open impatiently. Bradford raised
his pistol again, his finger on the trig-
ger.
"Do not be inpatient" he said
You may even now change your de-
cisiOn and save YOUR life
Wilmerling Strengthened himself
and pulled at his collar, as though he
found it shard to breathe. Then he
raised his hand imploringly.
Wait" he said. "One minute"
"Ah " Bradford said as he smiled
scorniuly. you know the terms"
"And you can think will accept
them? Wait There in that cabinet
behind YOU
Bradford smiled again and shook
his head
Wilmerding OWNED his thought at
once.
"You fear to turn he went on,
and he, too, smiled you are wise.
But il you will only extend your hand
a little you may open il for me-so.
On that shelt-a little lower please
there is box. Hand it to me-
Bradford had followed the direc.
tions given him by Wimerding, not
without thought Of what he intended,
but the box. he found. was small and
light 1t could contain no weapon,
and he threw il carelessly upon the
table between them. Wilmerding
took il and opened il and looked at
its contents.
Bradford" he continued slowly.
"you could not, suppose, have re.
tanned the love of your wife Fate
and yourseli-your own character -
were against You and were too strong
for you, but you might ut least have
tried To retain her respect You might
have chosen not to make all her life Il
hideous nightmare. You might have
chosen not to trample upon her and
upon the love she bore you. Even
now, while seeking. as YOU say, to do
but justice and to punish me, you are
willing to make her the lifelong vic
tim of II ruinous scandal. | can save
her Had | cared less Tor her |
m ght-who knows have taken her
from you and all your world. Ever
since | had the fortune to meet her
and To learn to love her-good fortune
call it even now. though | stand IN
your power--l have done the hest |
could for her, the best | could do to
make her life bearahle, to tighten her
sorrows. | have lived my life.
have not been an angel, hut toward
her and for her | have been only
good. And you? Can YOU ever say
81 much? Now yon offer To spare my
life | decline your offer. | know n
; way To spare her Now-the world
will wonder, but scandal will not
touch her. BE little generous &c
her
, As he finished spe'king he took