Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1906-09-13

And YOU must understand that |
never could have mentioned it, even now,
il YOU had not spoken so kindly of-oi
what | may call our former meeting
And. of course, | wouldn't interfere with
your business affairs, even by Suggcs-
ton But ! know from the way You
spoke, what you would wish to do
She paused and looked at him appeal
ingly. Downs eyes were fixed gloomily
upon the carpet
81 would never have dared suggest it
but YOU spoke SO kindly-of course, If
it would cause you loss"
NO" Downs admitted hopeessly. 81
suppose il wouldn't he much loss"
Then you can" she said. eagerly.
'Tm-lm afraid" he stammcred
weakly, that its hardly possible Har-
vey is the--you see, he is really-that
Is, its being managed by Harvey. you
know | myself haven't anything to
that is-well. he is really the one who
is managing il, you see
"Yes?'
For a moment he wavered, while his
standing with this woman and with
George Harvey hung in the balance.
Yes" he gasped at length, dabbng
his hot forehead with a handkerchief 81
suppose that ! might-that IL could
help you. Ies. ! will | will send word
to Mr. Pratt in the morning Yes, you
may RELY upon me-
Il shall never forget your kindness,
she said, with emotion.
oh don't mention it, pm--oi
course, you know, I'm only too glad OF
an opportunity 10 repay you
CHANGING up, Downs saw his wife ap-
| preaching. tie rose and held out his
| hand Mrs. Gordon pressed It
you have more than repaid me, she
murmured, ne he turned away
Why did ] write YOU that | had done
1 something awful and not tell you what
il was" said Mrs Gordon, when she
saw her husband a few days later Why,
| because / had done something awful,
something perfectly dreadful. Oh, be
| lcve | am the most wreiched woman
in the world But | did save you, Glenn
For you know he let Mr. Pratt have
that stock, or whatever il was you
wanted. the very next day And ! be
leve it was all that odous Harvey, as
YOU said at first For he-l mean Mr.
! Downs. dear-is certainly one OF the
incest old gentlemen ! ever met There
is more in him than you would think
He has a kind heart-you needn't smile
| indeed he has His remembrance OF
that little girl who saved his life was
perfectly lovely. And when ! think how
basely ! acted
"You haven't told me yet how basely
YOU did act" remarked her husband.
oh it was perfectly dreadful ! don't
see how I ever could have done II
shall never get over II wish We had
confessions and absolution in our church
| Ny conscience Will trouble me as long
as I live, I'm sure And II he should
ever discover it. should die, | know !
should ! could never look him IN the
face again. And If he should happen to
/ tell his wife, she would know at once
| And even he might have known Yes,
he was very ready TO believe me old
enough Why ! should have to he nearly
forty-fve And he ought TO know !
wasn't even born when his battle OF Get
tysburg was fought
! Whenever YOU feel like telling me. my
dear" suggested her husband
why. he told me a story, the most
touching thing about a little girl who
saved his life during the war Down
near grandfathcr's old place IN Virginia
ard-and I let him think ] was the one
who had done it.
oh. one OF his war stories ch And
he promised 70 let up on us. did he
| Tell me the story; tell me all about II.
She did so
And YOU never would have thought
/, ne had so much real nobility. would YOU
DEAR And when ! think OF how wick
eddy ! imposed upon him
, Why" exclaimed her husband, aftei
a moments thought, Downs never saw
the Shenandoah Valley in war"
What"
; "No. he belonged 70 the heavy ar
tillery and was garrisoned in New Or
leans from the time the city was cap
tured ill he was mustered out
And that story was all made up
, 1T was. though. ! looked up his Wa
e record when he ran for Congress
1T can't be- ] won't believe II. lhe'
|. why didn't he refuse me >
! Il suppose, my dear, that it must hav
! been because he was influenced By
e charming woman. And, incidentally, be
. cause he wanted you to think him a
+, good as he said he was
- Why what A perfect wretch y SAT-