Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1900-04-05
CHAPTER VI.-CoNT1NuED,

CHAPTER VI.-CoNTINUED.
For a moment she hesitated, then,
turning with quick motion, as if to
have it soon over with, she said:
1T was only that you promise me
that, except where this business de-
mands it, you will never, in any way,
in public or private, admit to me or to
anyone that you ever saw or heard of
me-"
"Why, MADAME"
''That was part of the bargain"
"Not speak to you or write to you?"
"Never. I should never respond if
you did. Wasn't that the wife you
wanted and the wife promised to be-
Gomez"
MADAM, I was detestable fellow to
suggest it. God grant that some day
you may come to think better and for
give me-"
Don't put it so,", she said. II am
bound to do my part and you are bound
to do yours. Such condition will help
us both. How could possibly have
anything to forgive? With all my
heart I am glad that was able to help
you in thwarting one who would have
wronged you. You have done more
than that, and avenged wrong he did
you long ago. Listen. am going to
trust you with a secret which would
place me helplessly at your mercy if
you chose to take advantage of it to
discover me-" She stepped nearer,
took his hand in hers, and, leaning for
ward, added, in low tone: "You have
married the atfianced bride of Richard
Raymond. The engagement was
broken this afternoon"
Before he realized that she was 60
ing, Stanton stood alone. Hundreds
were passing, but he was alone. Later
the waiting-room was almost deserted,
but he was no less or more alone. The
night Waterman stopped before him
again and again, and at last, assuring
himself that at least the man was not
drunk, he shook him gently and asked
if he was i'll.
Stanton looked up, thought for a
moment, and answered: "No." Then
he looked up at the clock. 1t was after
two. With a start he turned away and
went back to New York and to his Of
fee.
1t was relief to the night man 10
have him out of the waiting-room. 1t
was a relief to Stanton to be in that
great empty building.
He had fought a battle and won VIC
tory. His accounts with Richard Ray
mond were settled. There was no more
anxiety, no more anger. He was free
to think of the past, the present, and
the future, and all centered in Esther
Thorndike, the affianced bride of Rich
ard Raymond, his wife. He remem-
bered each of those sentiments and
sensations, and in memory they be-
came, or seemed to become, more real,
deep, and intense. But the more he
thought, the more the mystery grew,
and the morning sun streaming into
his office window found him as help
lessly entangled as ever.
He recalled her warnings of horrors
he would have to face, when the first of
them appeared in the person of the Of
flee boy. He was too full of curiosity
to contain himself, and ventured a
question distantly relating to wife.
For the first time in Robert Stanton's
Office an office-boy received an almost
savage rebuke.
The next came in the form of press
reporter asking for an interview. Be-
ing abruptly refused, he proceeded
very calmly to lay before the lawyer an
array of facts and fancies relative to
the subject, which were simply Devil
dering to one who thought the secret
was all his own.
With broadening smile of satisfac-
ton, the scribe closed his notebook, re-
marking:
'There's stuff for a racy half-page
there, and a rousing card for me for an
exclusive. I didn't want to take up
your valuable time, of course, but
you're sure to be interviewed by every
reporter in town before tomorrow, and
it may save you something to give me
your side at once. At any rate, man
of your prominence ought to have an
opportunity to speak in matter like
this, and 1 thought I'd just run in and
see if you want to say anything, before
making it up for the noon edition.
For time Stanton had been writing.
Now he blotted two papers, took them
up, wheeled his chair about, and sat
facing the scribe. The smile quivered
like a lamp-fame in breeze. Stanton
sat silently watching him for mo-
ment, and with twitch about the lips
the smile went out. Then, speaking
very slowly, the lawyer said:
"There are some mistakes in what you
have rehearsed, and also some distorted
facts, which were obviously given you
by man named Raymond, with the evil
dent intention of injuring woman. 1t
would prove serious matter to the
journal which published them. Person
ally, the truth is at the service of the
world if any journal wishes to retail It,
and for what I have actually done am
ready to take the consequences. For
what you and your paper do you must
accept the same. If you wish to pub
lish your story and to add an interview
with me, there you have it. 1t is all
have to say. But for the woman in
question 1 have word for you which
10 not an interview. 1t would be pos
sible to keep within the bounds OF the
law in such an article as you propose
and yet do an incalculable injury to
woman whom no one but Richard Ray
mond could wish to narm. Here is my
check. to bearer, for $1,000. Use it as