The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-05-21
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= .@-f JOHN WINTHROP'S DEFEAT.
NJ ~ 4 Nop.
JEAN KATE LUDLUM
Il Nops.
JEAN KATE LUDLUM.
lcorYp,enr. RoprR1 10 NSEn's soxs. 1895.

, NSERs SoHs, 1885,
ish prompting of heart weakness! He
would press to the utmost the man
touched by misfortune, never BY die
honor!"
Very low and steady her voice. but
how It cut the soft airs floating In
from the quiet sea? With one slim
hand she seemed to push aside any
detainins thought. and continued her
denunciation.
"Mr. Winthrop judged-so he said
from his standpoint Of justice and
honor! Wait! Was II honorable-was
it manlike-I do not ask II 1t were
kind. for the heart is to have nothing
to do with this-but was 1t simplest
Justice that the man holding the
claim Of money against this other
man should turn q deaf ear to the
yielding Of even an inch In his arro-
gance and pride? Does that man who
was SO immovable that day. speak
to you. Mr.. Earle-never think OF
how he wanted In justice to the man
who placed his own life In the balance
to save yours? oh, you start, do you.
and wonder how ], woman, can set
myself in judgment against you!
have waited very patiently for this
moment to come. when ! might face
you both with tie truth Of your ac-
ton that day. The world justified
your course, and claimed that you de-
manded but your rights! What would
that same world say should 1t dis
cover. as I have discovered. the nobll-
ity Of the man you pushed down to
his deaths"
Pardon me-" said Palmer Earle.
coldly, but you do not look at this
matter in its true light, Miss Field!
One could scarcely expect that you
would. however. as you are Mrs.
Graham's sister,
what could q woman like yourself
know of business claims" added John
Winthrop.
"Oh. yesw cried Beatrice. in her bit
terly distinct undertone, that swift
gesture OF the sweeping hand. THAT
Is what you say, In your own ignor-
ance! Listen to me but for one mo-
ment and then Judge. not from a
woman's standpoint, but as men,
both Of you! Do You not know. MI.
Earle. in this great justice OF yours,
that but Tor my sisters husband and
his great nobility Of soul you would
not stand here facing me tonight?
Do you not know-or were you too oc-
cupied with your weighing Of business
balances-to discover who It was
saved you from the water that night
when your yacht went to pieces out
there?'
Her passionate hand touched for
one instant the direction Of the point
where the struggle occurred.
"You offered a reward for the man
who acted 80 nobly that night, but
could discover nothing definite enough
to satisfy you In placing the reward.
and SO you let slip the bravery that
still places you among men to sit In
judgment on them! Only q man as
noble and proud as Harold Graham
would have withheld the knowledge
that might have given him claim upon
your leniency! But would he accept
It from the hand that would 50 care
lessly and arrosantly push him down?
Nor
She laughed shortly and scornfully
and flashed her great black eyes upon
them standing motionless before her.
struck speechless by the truth at last.
Harold Graham was the man who
saved your life that night, Mr.. Earle
the man who died six months later.
through your hardness - yours and
that Of your counsel! And what re-
ward did you grant to himT
John Winthrop reused himself from
the stupor that seemed to have
touched him at the full knowledge Of
his hard justice. He also made q
movement as though pushing down
some obstacle to his pride.
"You are mistaken. Miss Field" he
said, coldly. IF 1t were Mr.. Graham,
as you say. there were those present
who would not have kept silent, espe-
ciaily at such time"
would they not?" she cried. But
there are those who are governed by
friendship ut times, Mr.. Winthrop.
even In your world. If you have the
daring to doubt my word. ask any Of
the men who were present that night.
I have this from the lips Of one OF
them myself. You find 1t somewhat
too bitter to accept, do you not? In
deed, I wonder that the truth does
not strike you dead. wonder that
you can face me and not blush for
cruelty to q woman as true and pure
as you are hard and unjust and cruel
in your arrogance and pride. Were II
/. l think. like Judas. ! could not en-
dure conscience"
Palmer Earle stopped her as she
was turning proudly away. Even his
cold heart was stirred by her revela-
ton. Had not Harold Graham been
classed his friend until the day OF his
misfortune? Should he not have been
governed by that end the knowledge
Of his perfect uprightness-never a
stain upon the proud name equal with
bis own? Would he not have placed
himself in a better light with the
world. SO doing? There was no man
dared breathe O word against him,
but might they not feel that he had
been unnecessarily harsh?
| .NIiSa Eieldr' he said