The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-02-11
Stories of an Inland State.


Here she completely changed her attire.
| Her kid shoes of the latest pattern dis
appeared and in their stead came forth a
pair of rough pebble-goat- Her Virot toque
went down into the recesses of her trunk
and simple black straw hat took prece-
dent over it. The crepon skirt and waist
which she wore were folded away and a
simple cashmere dress donned. The kid
gloves were also folded and put away. and
a pair Of black lisle-thread were substituted
When Jane was so dressed she combed
her hair becomingly, more becominsly by
far than it had been when she was attired
in all her finery. and stood before the mir
ror to admire herself in the guiss of a poor
and distressed woman. She was a marvel
ously beautiful wonlan-of a beauty which
pain attire enhanced, and she could NOT
help wondering why it was not fashionable
to dress poor,y-it would have been of such
al advantage to her.
Then she drew heavy black veil over
her face, and quickly removed it, looking
into the mirror and smiling at herself The
effect was good and she felt a pleasurabie
vanity IN approving it herself.
On the train down to the state capital,
her father. Ned Corder, discovered her. She
did not wear the veil then and when ne
saw her, he started back in surprise. What
was this strange daughter of his doing
row? Where had all those fine clothes
gone? Why this distressed costume? What
could she be in mourning for?
Corder did not speak to his daughter. He
remembered when she had laughed at him
for his warning, and was piqued. That day
when he had warned her OF the wages OF
sin, was the one day in his life VIXEN he had
felt family the greatness of virtue and She
had laughed al him for his pains. He
remembered also her demand that he keep
away from her and trouble her no more.
But what was she doing out here? Was
she coming to a locality where he lived to
annoy and hunliiate him by her escapades?
Was she to join the ribaldry of his resident
city and claim relationship with him and
drive him forth In shame and ignominy?
Was her desire revenge for his desertion in
the Asiatic city sixteen years ago?
The thought frightened him. Should he
threaten the girl? Should he tell her to
leave the state? She would laugh at him.
He knew that There was nothing to dc
but to wait and see. He would keep his
eye on her.
Jane saw her father, whom she despised,
and avoided his gaze. She felt an instinc-
tive safety from Interference from him.
So the father ana daughter rode into the
state capital.
The ante-room Of the governors Office
WAS crowded when Jane reached II and was
shown a seat, pending an audience with the
governor. There were politicians from out
of-town, prinked to an astonishing degree.
waiting their turn; cripples with subscrip-
ton lists for wooden limbs; high-class beg
gars for donations to charity fairs: women
with schemes TO further through guberna-
torial assistance. There IVES a shyness
about the timorous woman In black with
the heavy veil. who sat far back in the
corner, which charmed the governors pri-
vate secretary and his deputy. They turn
ed to her many times as she sat there so
quietly, while all the other callers were
more or less noisy and obtrusive. AL
though her turn for an audience had long
since come, the more pushing callers had
errors room.
The private secretary noticed this and be-
came the champion of the woman in black.
ITS that woman's turn" he said to his
deputy, land I'm going to get her in. Peo-
PIE crowd in before the poor thing, like she
didn't have right to live"
did you wish to see the governor about?'
A timorous voice came through the veil.
About the pardon of James Treat
The private s.rra:n:y raised his eye
brows as much as to cay "vain mission"
Then he said: III ask the governor"
He went In ana came out Immediately.
The governor says he can not see you.
1t is useless to ask the pardon"
he IN l,af
The private secretary thoughr HI could seq
But that was all.
Then she raised her veil Her eyes. TO the
secretary's surprise were fearless But such
a Ease he had never seen end never such an
appeal.
ASK him, please; ask him again?" she
said.
The face was too much for the secretary
He turned and opened his eyes widely at
the deputy and disappeared again. When
he came out Of the governors room he said.
The governor will see you
Her veil was over her face again. Back
or the governor sat Mark Wayne, the state
Boss. The governor raised his eyes at the
yelled figure in black.
What relation are you to this man
Treat?" he asked coldly.
"A sister,
The answer came with such sorrow such
deep, mellow, moving sorrow that the gov
ernor turned to the Boss for an instant.
Then he said:
Il have had a good deal OF trouble with
this Treat case. II has been before the
board of pardons and their report was ad-
verse. 1 have listened 70 appeals for his
release. / can find no good reason for 60
ing over the boards report. There is no
hope for your brother. You can
The woman in black raised her veil.
The governor paused, drumned his fin
gers on the desk and turned TO Wayne.
Then he looked up again
You are his sister?''
81 am his sister," said the woman in the
same mellow voice.
your name is Treat?"
Only name is Treat
''She is a queen" said the governor TO
himself enthusiastically, "a queen, every
inch of her" Put yourself IN my place,
Miss Treat" the governor said. BE COVER
hor Listen to the endless petitions and
prayers, and the requests 10 let bad men
cut on the community. What would you
do? Now honestly?"
The governors thoughts were on the
beautiful face.
The woman began her prayer. II was a
simple appeal for mercy, mercy not for tho
sister, not for the man, but for his wife
and babies. There was no argument of the
facts in the case. no excuse for him. nor
palliation OF his deed, only an appeal TO
the power OF executive clemency the one
law which is above evidence and argu-
-nent.
TIE woman drew closer to the governor.
insisting gasping in the rapidity and pas
sion Of her prayer
The governor weakened.
The uomar ended There were m teas