The Washington herald., 1909-01-20

New York, Jan. 1s-'I must fight for
living for ny children. and an ready"
There vas hint Of moisture Elistening
In the gray eyes. a touch OF sadness IN
the voice. but a brave little smile shone
through it all
Mrs. William F. Annis sat IN the small
living =, d OF her mothers home al 50l
West 18th street The shock of that
fatal day az the Bayside Yacht CLUB
when her husband feii before capt
HaiHs' revolver. and the strain of the
following lonely weeks had left their I'm
print There were Erar-bTOWn rings IN
der her eyes; the smile for which she
was famous among her friends had ex-
changed its briliiancy For a kind Of resfg-
nation, and, as she explained apologet-
icaIly. her clothes were too big for her
now
Has Her Sons e. Work For.
You see. row that Billy IS gone. I
have ny own tWo little fellows 20 take
care Of They are At school in Flushing.
Willie. named after his father, IS eighf.
Howard IS seven. want them 20 grow
Up to be fine educated men. and I must
work So they can have al the advan-
tages.
'No. 7 an not entirely without money.
Mr. Annis left some. but do not fen that I
can touch that while have the bows TO
care FOR. They will need something TO
start on when they leave school. So 7
an going 10 work TO make ends meet un-
III that time comes
Mrs. Annis outlined her plans calmly
quietly, with certain pathetic touch or
resignation, but with TO shade OF unwiII-
ingness.
1t IS pretty hard to have my little fel-
lows away from me 50 long she con-
tinued- They were never out OF my
sight for day until last sumner Since
then I have only seen them for a few
minutes al a time at the school"
Turns to Music.
She held up a picture with a touch OF
pride.
This was taken the day after Billy
was shot" she said The poor little
fellows we're smiling. They didn't know
what IL all meant.
As yet I have no definite position IN
view. play the piano. and 1 thought I
might be able 10 get work as an accom-
panist. This IS the first time I have had
to myself since the death OF my husband.
and I shall have to look for something
to do at once 7 have a few friends In
musical circles, and perhaps they can ret
me an opportunity. 7 think I could sue
coed II I had the chance.
"Of course I could live on the little
money have without doing anything for
a while, but I feel that that money be
longs rightfulIy 10 my boys. and must
guard II jealousy.
7 cant be idle. After Billy went
cried through the days and nights with
out stopping. but you see I am quite
cheerful now. II does no good TO cry
The Lord gave ne a strong constitution
and a cheerful spirit. IF ! had not had
these, 1 believe I could never have stood
it.
Il have practiced seif-controI. and now
I can so about among those I know
without showing the grief that Is within
1t is best I keep Billy's picture always
here in the same cover with nine
She drew a gray album from table
and held Up the two photographs Of
Billy and herself for inspection
Believes I'm "BiIIy."
eff my plans are successful and get
work as a pianist It viii take my miad
of the past Then. in time. I may for
get the sadness and remember only the
love That is what long for
The reporter began 10 speak OF Annis
and hesitated- Il did not seem fair to
awaken tender memories. But Mrs. An
MS interrupted eagerly. anxiously.
Il want you 10 believe in Billy as
do" she said He was not guilty Of
what they said lie could not have been.
He was such a good husband; such a
kind father. Nobody can change my
opinion Of MIN; nothing can shake my
faith IN him. These stories were not
true 1 know they were rot I believed
In him and nobody knows a husband
better than bis wife. I fight for him
and stand up for him to the last"
Then with a break in her voice: Il
loved him" But the next minute she
was smiling that brave smile again.
And why shouldn't I love him? In
ali our married life he was nothing but
good TO me. What kind OF a woman
would I be II I did not fight fcr the fu-
ss,-a Of fhaSe lit41a o7es-hfz ana v-7sra 80