The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-20
WHEN SILENCE WAS A VIRTUE
By NELLIE CRAVEY GILMORE

The boy turned an eager, flushed face
and held out both hands, dripping with
crystal drops.
It was the face of Richard Keiton in
miniature. ,t st
Baby! Baby!'
| Margaret started at the sound of
| sweet weak voice almost at her elbow
| and, turning, stood face to face with, a
| very young and very delicate looking
| woman. But for the deep circles under
| the blue eyes and the lines of pain carved
about the sensitive mouth it was the face
| of child
| ooh, I beg your pardon" she began,
| with an apologize smile. you are watt
ing to see my husband on business, I be-
| lieve?" ~
| Margaret nodded. s.--e q
| 81 completely forgot" the other went on,
with pretty air of explanation. II waa
| loking for my boy. I always am when
Tn able to be about" .-....-
/ She paused out of sheer weakness and
sank into ajchair. -"
| Margaret made some trivial response
and slipped back into her own seat, strug-
| Cling to regain her poise.
| What should she do? What could she
| do? She could never deal the worse than
| deathDlow to that poor little girl mother,
| upon whom death itself had already
printed it's seal. Right or not right, she
must get away. E5
With /. swift assumption of urgency she
drew her watch from her belt and started
to her feet 81 really must not wait
| longer she said hurriedly. MY train will
| leave in twenty minutes ., -.
! I'm very sorry the other said regret
| fully. Its too bad of Richard to have
| caused you all this annoyance, although of
course it was unintentional on his part.
It's nothing very important, I hope?'' 7
"Oh, nothing" replied Margaret, with a
| feeting smile. 80:
And your name-you wish to leave, your
| card do you not?"
II have no card with me. Never mind
about the name. 1t really doesn't matter.
Thank you, and-good morning.
| She passed quickly down the steep fight
| Of steps and on down the gravel path, her
head bent.
At the gate she glanced up-into the
eyes of Richard Kelton. -fs--
| ''Margaret-you- you! For Gods sake!"
She regarded him silently, scornfully.
II thought you were dead" the man
said doggedly.
Excuse me, but you thought no such
thing she retorted quietly.
well, and what are you going to do
about it?' he asked with suddenly white
lips
Margaret Kelton looked at him with the
contempt she could not conceal. i :
Il CAME she returned in low voice,
| TO save woman from a man S S1H1anE.
1t was the hardest undertaking of my life,
but I felt that I could not be a party to
crime by my silence >
'''Hell!' he broke in. You have ruined
me, wrecked my home. my wife's happi-
ness, stolen the name from nay innocent
baby!
Come, this is no time for heroics. Lis
ten to me. I have done none of these
things of which you accuse me, though
God knows You are not the one who ought
to be spared. I have seen your wife.
your innocent baby and for them, for
their sake, I have kept SILENT -
He stared at her curiously. disbelieving-
ly. Then why did you not think of these
things before and stay away?''
"Why? I will tell you. Had I found
your-your wife, as I expected, however
happy however innocent I must have told
the truth. She would have thanked me
not then, perhaps, but afterward. AS il
is, see only young girl. dying, and her
child-a man-perha ps real. a great man
of the future. For his sake, want you tc
remember that
The man had bowed his head At length
, he looked up. with strangely dim eyes !
THANK YOU he said simply; you ha We
:; shown me what true nobility is. IL shall
| try to deserve it,
, Margaret had passed noiselessly through
| the open gate, and the rows of CLUSTERING
oranges hid her from view.