The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-01-04

Nvu'ihcHe eHFaNemenN WniCu uOInl-
ciled him in a village IN New Hamp-
shire. While there he met a young
girl an orphan. whose father had
left her modest competence. I
know not IL it were for the sake of
the money that he .Sooed and won
her, and was willing to dare the con
sequences Of crime punishable by
law. But the thing was done, and
she crime was scarcely committed
before another woman came with O
child in her arms to claim him as
her lawful husband, He fled, like tho
coward that he was, and the young
girls people conhived at his escape
to bury the shame OF It, And since,
the girl-wife who was no wife has
paid the penalty Of sin that was
not hers. That is what learned
through a friend of mine in Massa-
chusetts who has known the man
and the evil heart Of him from his
youth up. Was my informant cor
rect, Winifred?"
She had heard me through with.
out flnching, and her eyes met miag
steadily.
Not entirely correct" she said.
with a hardness in her voice which
had never heard before. "Bitter as
It would be, I could almost wish he
were. 'Wooed and won. you said.
out that is hardly fair Toto the
young woman There we're conssrain-
ing circumstances; her guardian vas
urgent-strangely urgent. it seemed
to her at the time"
why should he have been9r
queried. Surely, the most ordinary
inquiry would have shown the vounr
man up in his true character"
There were reasons why the in
quiry was not made; why any past
of his, however despicable. would not
have weighed an ounce il the scale.
You said that the young woman's
father had left her a competence.
That is true; and it is also true that
her guardian had--had--"
/ began dimly to see the drift OF
II and supplied the reluctant word.
Had stolen il. Go on"
There was a chance for him to re-
trieve, through a speculation to which
the other man, as the chief engineer
Of the Improvement company. held
the key He was willing TO sell the
ley-at price and the price was
paid"
81 understand; the price was the
young woman, herself. Is that the
only inaccuracy in my friends story?"
No; there is another. You say
there was a mock marriage, and so
there was; but il was the first one.
The poor girl with the child in her
arms has that shame TO hear"
what then you are"
$50 far as scarcely completed
ceremony can make me so,
l am Herbert Wykamp's lawful wife,"
She left me at that, and It was a
full week, and many things had hap
pened, before / could bring myself
10 tell Macpherson, l did it at last,
and he heard me through patiently.
THAT settles it," he said, soberly;
"aud I'm too glad for her sake TO be
sorry for my own. The thing is bit
ter enough without the shame; and.
somehow, Jack l have feeling that
my love could never have made that
up TO her. They can drive me ou.
now, as soon as they get ready. III
go without kick"
"she is going" ventured.
rs she?-but, OF course, she would.
Then / must stay. There must be no
chance for the evil tongue to wag"
Il thought you would say that. Ia
that Setter coming uP2"
There was a heavy step on the
itair, and Macpherson listened. T.
mo, that isn't jake" he said. az
wonder who it IS at this time of
night7"
We were net left long IN dolht.
The door opened presently to admit
man whom Angus knew and / did !
iof, He got up, greeted the incomer
With hearty handshake, and intro
luced him.
Shake hands with Dick Burt, Hal
'ott. Dicks the man 4 was logging
or FOR sheriff when I wrote you to
'ome up to the Torolito. How are
hings with you, Dick? Who are you
fter up here?"
The big man with the bushman
'eard seemed singularly embarras sed.
I'D rather be shot, Mae" he
'lurted out; id II I wouldn't. But.
We got a warrant for you"
For me? What have l been de-
ng?' Macpherson sat down to laugh !
he easier !
mot thing on Gods green earth
o be ashamed Of, ! know, Mac; but
his cussed ingineer for the Glenlivat !
eople comes 10 the front and swears
[ O. 62 (;