Los Angeles herald., 1906-07-29
Just Before the Ch arge

He took me away. Do you know whyT
There were footsteps in the hospital, and sound
OF groaning. The last man hit was being carried
in Above all the high, strained, complaining
voice of Gilmore went on with its story of child
ish days
10 save you" Major spens had faced TO-
wards the compound again. He could not trust
himself to look at the woman he loved. The man
who was better than he was slipping out Of the
world babbling childish incoherence and he
dared not look at the mans wife. ITO save you
would have-when the scandal grew
Il know. was frightened. He came
before I realized things. He was very glib, very
clever. You never came near me. He said lit
tle-I knew he thought the worst"
My God Effel" He wheeled round smartly,
stung by that HE had no right saw him,
talked to him.
"What~ It was her turn for astonishment.
did he not tell your"
mo. He pointed out what II meant--socially-
II IL didn't go back with him. / was fright
ened l went. half believed In him. did be-
ieve in him at first It seemed so magnanimous,
so generous / felt he believed"-she hesitated
slightly-"the worst, and was willing to save my
name and self-respect Afterwards-he was a
mean man-there was my money jack" Her
voice sank to shamed whisper
IL don't quite understand, Fife. / thought
"And we shall go out together" she broke in
you and and he. The dark hour. We
must speak plainly tonight, Jack; you can't sleep
now. There will be no other time the
hours so few I have been in hell
that's the truth-two years Of it, Jack. You
can't understand how mean man can be-
made an honest effort at first he never
let me forget. He kept watch on me. A look,
word, brought it all back Before others too.
bore it at first patiently . thought it
part of the payment. When he first limited that
he believed-what he did, swore he was wrong.
He-he disbelieved me'
But" Major Spens was white and the
veins stood up on his forehead
"Det me tell all, Jack. I never thought I
should-I never thought should see you again.
found out that it my money he wanted.
He made me-sign papers said he felt
safer of me- You cannot understand the hell he
has made for me. In trivial things . you
won't understand how mean man may be. He
forbade all balls, picnics-any gaiety; If I was
introduced to any man he stopped the acquant-
ance. He was protecting me- he said He spoke
to other women, hoped they would exercise a
good influence over me. You can under
stand how they did that. :"
''When he came to Simla,' Major Spens said
slowly, "and knew that he had heard the scan
da I went to him. II like to do things as
square as / can. I was in the wrong, in the
eyes of the world at least. / told him I was
willing to do anything for you. ] said I'd make
it easy for him-to get divorce. He-he talked
about your life afterwards-sad it meant drop
ping out altogether from the world you loved
that he would take you back if I gave my word
of honor that he could honestly. gave it-on
condition that he put it to you plainly. I said
did not care for him-that / thought only Of
YOU I made him promise to give you the choice
between us. That is why did not come near
you waited for your choice. You
went with him."
'tJacb, jack" she said in a whisper.
''That's all"
ga pretty miserable all" The high voice in
the hospital ward grew quieter, and at last
ceased.
eff we get out of this"
eff! Oh, Jack and the dark hour before dawn
is so close There is no if for us. We shall all
go out together"
"There is always the chance of reef."
He clung to his thought tenaciously. "Effe,
when you found out about him, when you real
lied what his magnanimity meant, why didn't
you write to me? You knew me-even if did