The Washington times., 1903-01-25
In Dire Extremities the Woman Accepts the Judge
She Once Had Rejected for Impetuosity.

No! All was his to-day that had
once been hers. She had followed his
career-would the world have believed
It behind such icy indifference Of
manner? She had read Of him as the
masterful. self contained. successful
man OF law, and she knew too well
that wealth, position, name, her very
home, was his; even such Of her old
servants as were now living served
him, and she had nothing but her
pride. And in the long night, walk
ing the floor, opening her window to
the warm south wind, she Rugged it
close It had been parent, lover, child
all that is given woman to love:
and It should be her companion until
death
NO" she wrote him at daybreak.
no. Yet she owed him this-would
he forgive her for the past?" Here
for the moment her heart beat
stronger than her pride
When the letter was gone, she would
have recalled 1t, TO erase that last
sentence. but it was TOO late The
BARRIERS wife had taken it on her road
to market.
Was this the end? Would he re-
ply? Why should she care? Pride
had ended II ncw-forever. She must
get her needle He that works not.
neither shall he es.t''-strange phiIoso-
ply for an Inskip tongue!
And yet. If indeed It was ended,
why should her heart beat so when
the BARRIERS wife came to her door
that afternoon?
The judge, he is below. in the par
Tor behind the shop" the woman ex-
planned
Z cannot see him. Tell him So"
Yet again. grumbliug audibIy. the
BARRIERS wife returned. He wiz not
go Tell her. he says, tell her am
waiting. and VIII wait until she
comes.
You must insist 7 viii not come
The woman's face threatened mutiny.
for she was not paid for service. Miss
LavinIa hesitated. in despair. Her
thimbIe caught her eye-thin. worn.
pricked into holes, yet it was gold
She pressed it into the woman's hand.
Explain to him that will not come
make him go!"
To her door again and still again
the woman returned He Is waiting.
he bids me say. and VIII wait until
you come"
The afternoon dragged by. Toward
evening the BARRIERS wife rebeIIed.
Something must be done She had
company invited. and her parIor she
wanted and must have. So she told
Miss Lavinia in no gentle tones The
Insa1ip pride writhed under such inso-
Ience. Was this retribution, coming
now, step by step? The woman's
angry voice shrIIIed higher.
Miss Lavir7a arose. Hush" she
begged, che will hear you. viii go
down and dismis him"
White, stately yet trembling
strangely, Miss Lavinia walked
through the BARRIERS shop. which
smelIed more loudly than ever OF
scented soaps and hair oils, into the
little parlor behind.
The old-or was it the young?-
Richard Alexander turned. All. yes.
it is the young Richard. tender. ar
dent, glowing, though his hair is
gray!
She tried to motion him back. but
his arms are about her-he had kissed
her. oh. memories Of a night SO
long ago. Oh, youth-oh, love!
The Inskip pride came rushing TO
her lips; it trembIed for utterance.
it fell dying into a broken cry. TT
has been my pride" she sobbed. 81
have always loved you, Riehard!"
The judge brought his wife into
church on his arm the first Sunday
after they were married. Nor did it
seem ostentatIous-the rich dress, the
silken wrap, the fine accessories: II
seemed only as it should be-AIiss
Lavinia had come into her own again.
The over jealous young minister
had been taught the limits Of his au-
thority by an aroused and indignant
vestry. The silver name plate was
restored to the family pew, but Miss
Lavinia, no longer an Inszip, sat
with the Judge. Evidencing that quail
ity which the hymn book attributes
to pride, the Inskip family pew re-
mained-empty.