The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1899-02-03
"LOVEDl NOT HONOR
MORE" "
By Elizabeth G. Cardoza.
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THE man and woman that paced
slowly side by side up and down
the long, dim hotel corridors might
have seemed to the thoughtless observ-
er typical pair of lovers. In reality
she was seeking to pervert, and he to
maintain. the administration of the
law. She was acting the part that her
sex is supposed to have acted toward
his from the days of Eve. With an abb
solute single-mindednes and loyalty
of purpose that went further to excul-
pate her than the plea of ignorance
could have done. she was knowingly
and deliberately seeking to turn from
the way of justice the steps of her
companion. Artfully, insinuatingly,
she held before his eyes the rosy apple
Of promise, prize so alluring that the
man beside her felt his head swim and
his sense grow dazzled at the mere ris-
ing thought.
She had begun with excessive subtle
ty, made wise by her great need. Only
the man beside her was capable of
granting her this boon. To her wom-
ans prejudiced vision it was beyond
reason that he should remain unmoved
If there was any power to aid her in
her glance, her smiles, her tears, if
need should be she was ready to make
ruthless use of them.
"Do you think, Judge Tresham," she
said, that the law is always right?
Don't you believe-I am sure l do-that
sometimes in enforcing the exact let
ter of the law one may commit great
injustice?" She paused, awaiting her
unsuspecting adversary's next move;
she was too cautious to overstep her
mark.
"lf you mean in the matter of cir
cumstantial evidence, Miss Boniface,"
said Roger Tresham, II quite agree
with you" He Redeemed a little, for
any reference to the law was pain
he would willingly have spared her.
"N-no," said the girl, slowly, IL
wasn't thinking of that. l was think
ing that the law doesn't seem to have
any heart. 1t doesn't seem to take
coeuizance of misfortune, of-oh,
Judge Tresham-" She broke off with
catch in her breath dangerously near
TO sob.
Tresham was thrilled and warmed
by the intimacy of her appeal at the
same time that he was struck with hor-
ror at his own impossible predicament.
Judge Tresham"-she had regained
her composure-"will you let me speak
of nv poor fathers trouble? You
know all about it, and it will be such
comfort. Judge Tresham, is the law
really without pity?"
God forgive mel" cried the man be-
side her; IL cannot listen; l can
not help or comfort you. Miss Boni-
face, if things had been otherwise /
you and |, perhaps; but now, as it is"
lie stopped helplessly and made de-
spairing gesture. But Joyce Boniface
met his troubled eyes with her own
blue unbashed ones.
Even as things are. Roger" she muir
INJURED, ''t may not be altogether hope
less. There must be mercy somewhere.
even in the law. and surely in the law
Ners. Think, Roger, how much should
owe you if"
Tresham had gone white to the lips;
his breath came in gasps. Ten minutes
ago he would Indignantly have repudi-
ated the idea that she could stoop to
influence him by so much as feathers
weight upon one side or the other, far
less to bribe him with the glittering
promise of what he most desired. Ac-
sustomed TO viewing things with the
yves of lawyer and purist, he had
, lnitted TO take into account the nat