Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-11-07

just before the end came, few days ago. | the chaplain induced him to own up lie argued that Jaynes' wife had r1gnt to know at last what g. splendid sacr1nce he had made, when all these years ne might have heard from her and seen her occasionally. Even that did not move him until it came to disposing of his earnings. He had been made super1n- tendent of one" of the shops and had drawn a good salary all these years It made a handsome sum and his desire to leave it to his wife brought out the truth" ....
 The gathering darkness hid from Ger trude Elliott the whiteness and pain Tn the face of the man beside her. Busy with her own thoughts of the tragic story she did not notice that he made no comment But when they stopped In front of her house and she asked him fn' he shook his head. ..t..
 f'Have you the paper, Gertrude! l should like to read that story.
 Walter, how hoarse you are! You have taken cold, Come in and let me get you something hot"
 teNo, mother is waiting for me. must go at once, if you will get me the paper, please" She brought it to him, hurt at the re- | fusal of her care, and more hurt that he l offered her no parting caress. Only, as
 he gathered up the lines, he bent towards her. ...a.-, ,.., ..r-
 "Oh, Trudie, Trudie!" he murmured l hoarseIy, "beloved, goodnight, and God
 keep you"
 Ten minutes later he burst into the I room where his mother sat waiting TOT l him. She was a beautiful woman, old
 beyond her years, on her calm counte-
 nance the peace attained only through 1 great suffering. Her face lighted up as
 her son entered He flung himself down
 beside her with the frenzy of a madman, ! Mother" he cried, tell me about my
 father!'' &a
 1 She looked startled moment, then re-
 piled calmly, What do you wish to l know, dear? He died when you were
 little boy, scarce five years old"
 "Of malignant diphtheria?"
 "Yes.''
 s'In the Jackson prisonS9 Mother, for
 God sake, tell me, was my father crim-
 inal? must know the truth.
 She took his hot, hands in her own
 and caressed them gently. My darling
 had hoped to spare you this. gave uT
 home and friends more than 20 years ago ; to save you from pain and disgrace. Per haps was wrong, but didit for the best
 Your father was president of a rich bank
 His sisters husband was cashier Taylor
 lost everything gambling His poor wife
 loved him to distraction, and just before Y her baby was born 1t was discovered tha Taylor had appropriated thousands O the bank funds. Your father had sus pected him before, but tried to shut hi
 eyes to the truth. Taylor contrived tha
 the blame fell not upon himself, but upol
 my poor husband For Julias sake h said nothing, never thinking he coul be convicted of another's crime. But h was, and he told me he felt it just pun ishment for not acting against Taylor il the beginning A month later he died il , prison. I came here to the far west, m
 one prayer that you should never know 7 But, Walter now that you Know you ca g appreciate the great soul that could suffe @ even disgrace for the sake of another" : "Listen,'' said he, and unfolding tn
 paper, he read the story Gertrude ha n told him. Do you know what it mean p to me. mother? Gertrude will neve s marry man who cannot give her an UT t stained name" :"
 Il Must you tell her ?"
 e Mother! x Gan live a lie the rest { q my days?"
 s With the fierce strength of despair e snatched his hat and fairly ran to tI n girl, he loved There he poured out u e whole pitiful story not stopping whe l. she tried. to interrupt lest his strengt
 fail before the end. 1T Forgive me, Trudie. Had I known ts before should never have dared to te le you my love All ask is that you belie1 er me innocent of the Knowledge, I sha
 never see you again, but cannot he st loving you, Gertrude. It is too late f, is that Good-by" He turned to go, b le his unsteady feet did not reach u ce threshold when pair of strong youl t, arms caught and held him.
 e, HWalter, you shall not leave me th "a way You are my promised husband, al ~ do you think will give you up?" o Don't you understand? My name disgraced-my father died convict 70 Tam proud of your father for his not s+ sacrifice When said what did ls +;I night I did not know-it was suppo ,ao tional case I could not marry Ste or man because I did not love him. B ,o, dearest, this is reality. I am not marr .sa ing you for your family What does th or matter when a woman loves a man ,o+ love you? There is no power in HeaV .D or earth that can take me from you no ~a Oh, Walter, don't you know yet wi ars lo'e
 8 ssN \ z