The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-06-14
A WOMAN WHO TRUSTED
BY NELLIE CRAvEY GILMORE.
(Copyright, 1905, by Daily Story Pub
 fishing ComDany.)

| Copyright, 1905, by Daily Story Pub 1 fishing Company)
 Miss Hartman thrust a final pin into | the coil of soft auburn hair lying low | on her neck, and turned, smothering l sigh. to go downstairs. She paused | second at her desk. to set things straight, and impelled by some urgent l motive, drew forth the letter she had | but fifteen minutes ago locked away re-reading 1t with a sufrocating heart Dear Emily--I shall be around q, | s.15 D. m. to see you on an important subject. Something has gone wrong | terribly wrong-and am putting ev- | erything entirely in your hands TOT ad- l tustment. Not, you must understand | as a means of shifting the responsibil- ity. but entirely because l have infinite faith in your judgment. You once sald l to me: q do trust you, Jack; always have trusted you, and I always shall This trouble which has so unexpectedly faIIen upon me will be the strongest test a woman was ever subjected to- If you falkland I am not attempting to keep you to your word rom any forced notion of honor--it will prob ably be only what should expect ana certainly not less than l deserve. But vou must believe me in this one thing: have never lied to you, nor won from YOU any promise under false pretenses. Although the present emergency owes It's origin to me absolutely, l have been kept In ignorance of the true facts all these years--fifteen or more. But more in detail later on. ,
 Hastily, and as ever, J.
 Miss Hartman slipped the letter back into a drawer and locked it. Then she went bac kto her mirror and studied her reflection critically. Her pride, her faith. her self-control were all there, but the blow--swift' sudden, vital-had gone home, and leaden heart forced its shadow through the pain-dark eyes. Something had gone wrong-"terribly wrong," he had said
 and Jack would never have used words like those for anything short of tragedy. And he had spoken of her trust A little uncertainty. perhaps, but with that inevitable faith in the loyalty she had professed-whatever came, or whatever went-or staid. We'll. he should see that she was a woman with the courage and stability to stand by her words and. her convictions. What the trouble was, she did not know she did not dream, but he would not find her lacking.
 Half and hour later. when the door bell pealed sharply, she did not wait once to the sitting room, where she knew that he would be.
 Everard rose quickly as she came into the room and stood with both hands locked behind him. It was the first time since the night of their en- gagement that he had not offered to touch her. and the girl felt the color leaving her face all at once. Her breath came and went in little jerky fashion that was almost painful. as she took the indicated chair opposite him.
 "EmilyT'
 "YesY She forced a smile, but her lips felt cold and constrained, and she closed her eyes a moment to relieve their burning
 After a little, Everard went on: You received my letter. of course? I could | not bear the idea of telling you this
 these things without. in some way. pre- pairing you"
 "I know"
 Now, before go into details what ever, want you to understand that
 would not for worlds urge any claim upon you because of--of our relation | Miss Hartman nodded; words seemed not only out of place. but impossible Everard was silent a little. then he | took a folded letter fro minis pocket | and after glaneing through 1t hurriedly | passed it over to her. T think, per.
 haps," he said. that this will exnlaiE