The Newark journal., 1905-07-14


he might not be able to extricate him
self; but he was too much interested
in the case to make a confession of his
identity
4 have never loved anyone else" he
answered
This being considered equivalent to
an acknowledgment, the lawyer for the
plaintiff closed the door between the
court room and the little room in
which they stood Then he turned
toward Percy with the air of one about
to make an important disclosure
Her mother" he said softly, died
last week. She will be alone in the
world. A beautiful creature, sir, and
alone in the world.
Beautiful creature-money-a
tionate-alone in the world! Percy's
heart began to warm toward the poor
girl SO basely deserted by the object
OF her affections. He ionged TO have
the fellow there before him. He felt
that garroting. hanging, guillotining.
or any of the other well-known
methods of shortening human life
would be too good for such wretch.
He conceived great pity for the
plaintiff; and he began to realize that
pity was akin TO much more emo
tional passion.
2Sh. said The lawyer raising a
warning finger
There was sthe sound of a light foot
step and sharp rusuing of feminine
garments. Percy gasPed and looked
around. A slight girl who answered
the description recently given stood
in the doorway. Her full clear eyes
We're turned upon him with a look OF
sweetness and reproach that made
him keenIy aware Of the absurd lack of
taste in the defendant whom he evil
IDENTIFY was representing
"Sh." said the lawyer again; and
with that tact for which his profess
sion is noted. he tipt6ed to the door
and closed 1t behind him, leaving the
two alone.
That something must be done was
evident. What it should be was an
other question The fair plaintiff
stood still. not venturing to advance.
and not willing to retreat Her eyes
were downcast. and her breast was
heaving TREMENDOUSLY. Percy, in still
more perplexing situation, stood gaz-
ing at her until their eyes met Then
she spoke:
"Oh, Fred" she cried, how could
you!''
Moi hajn0 q, fin;a,tI,v o,o,,.i,,og4
with the facts in the case Percy
couldn't have answered if his life de-
pended on it; but he saw that the
time had come to dispel the illusion in
regard TO his character
There seems to be some-some ter
rible misunderstanding" he STAN
mered." II"
Dear Fred"
mo, no." he cried, mot that! You
seem to have made the mistake of
ing-thinking-"
Il know IT," she cried generously,
1T was all my fault"
Unconsciousiy he took her extended
hand. and thrill passed up his arm
and lodged somewhere beneath his
left shoulder; but presently he re
gained his self-possession and released
his grasp.
You don't understand met" he ex-
planned hoarsely You don't love me
you love another"
She placed her head between her
hands and sank into the chair Sob
bing. 1T was all that cruel letter,
she cried. Il only wrote it-in-in
fun; nd-besides-didnt you know
Arthur was my consin?"
Excuse me. said Percy. laying his
hand tenderly upon her shoulder, you
are still laboring under a wrong i'm
preston. don't know Arthur, and
never saw any letter"
She arose and brushed the hair from
her forehead with pathetic motion.
Then she cried despairingly, lit was
something else Oh, Fred tell me-tell
me-what was it,"
Percy drew himself up resolutely
81 he fact is, he said, that | am not
the man you think am
"Bon't say that" she cried 81 have
forgiven the past long, long ago. You
are ,he man l have always loved, and
that is enough for me"
You are still wrong" said Percy
brut~lly. Il mean that | am not the
deft ant in this case"