The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1907-02-15

There had been a ceaseless drizZle
since early morning. the fine, steady
rain sinking with penetrating insist
ence into every crack and chink. Mrs.
Darlington had eschewed cab and car
with tight lips and unshrinking, pain
dark eyes. Her clothes hung limp
and dripping about her ankles and
the thin soles of her shoes werC
soaked through.
She threaded her way carefully
through the crowds, reaching the
entrance of a great building d little
out of breath. but more rom excess
of emotion than any physical tax
AT the elevator. she waited few
moments before going in; her task
was difficult one, and she felt the
need of all her poise. Finally, she
pushed the bell and entered.
Third floor"
Now for the first time, she be-
came conscious of a miserable sense
OF .chilliness; her damp clothes op-
pressed her terribly and she shivered
in nervous dread. After all. had she
the strength to go through the task
she had set herself? The twelve
months of isolation and waiting, in
stead of palliating, had only increased
her wretchcdness. In all that time,
she had not heard a word from Oar
rington; he was still as unrelentng as
ever-as he would always be. Then
a morbid fancy assailed her; per-
haps he was dead,
She was standing in front of Judge
Softon's Office. her mind in a panic
of uncertainty. But suddenly she set
her lips and walked in.
rs Mr.. Soften in?" She addressed
the clerk who came forward at her
entrance.
Yes, madam; but at present he's
Engaged. If you will have a seat,
-ou can see him in about thirty min
Ltes"
Mrs. Darlington sank into a chair
with a sigh of relief At least she
should have time to collect her scat
tered nerves and induce little color
to her white cheeks.
Almost before she was aware of il
she was shaking hands with Archie
Soften and he was looking into her
face with his kind, genial, penetrat-
ing eyes. He had been an old college
chum of her husbands, and lifetime
friend of her own. She felt Instinct
lively that she was doing the safest
thing in turning to him now.
Archie" she began. plunging into
the subject, you don't have to ask
why I'm here?"
81 am not very much surprised, of
course, after your letters, but"
"Well?"
you are fully resolved upon this
course?"
Fully and finally"
Soften waited a moment before he
spoke. Then he said:
IF such is the case, you will have
to go over the whole thing with me,
Esther, before l can give you legal
opinion"
"All over everything?"
He nodded.
THAT is the only thorough, the only
right way" he answered.
Mrs. Darlington drew in a deep
breath and looked cautiously about
her. At last she spoke:
"Of course, If it is necessary, !
shall do so. But there are some
things that l never wished to tell. I"
"A lawyers mind is pretty safe re.
ceptacle."
1T isn't that, Archie. It's the cry.
ing bitterness of the whole miserable
affair-having to live 1t over again
even in words. If he had only trust.
ed mel"
Judge Soften looked at her narrow.
ly.
did it never occur to you, Esther
that Dick Darlington might make use
of the same EXPRESSION"
Two livid spots of color throbbed
In the woman's cheeks.
His trust was the first to be put
to the test-and he failed" she re-
piled, coldly.
yours was not worth any more, or
you would not have allowed 1t to be
twisted so under a so-called provo
cation"
1T seems to me that your sympa-
thies are all with him"
They are most assuredly with you
both. And we are all human beings.
Esther. Just put yourself in Dicks
place. Suppose you should come
across such a letter in his posses.
sion as he discovered in yours
Would you have been any more
reasonable?"
Il should have believed what be
said"
'If he had said anything. From
what CLEAN you refused to speak
1T was from a sense OF honor"
Honor"
yes, to the parties involved. !
told him this. He treated my expla.
n-'irp with Insulting incredulity."
lie 35 49,. sge-iIoD rsD, ve,acity;
am sure or that. lie Was bitterly
hurt at your unwillingness to take
him into your confidence"
Il had given my sacred promise to