Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1909-01-01

! bu nave tI'4 IlbApldhlN auu IilItu
Isn't the sting Of impotent failur,
enough to meet without striving
against hopeless love-" He ap
preached her and said softly: Il low,
You. Shirlo- don't drive me to dies
pcration. Must hc punished hccaus,
y"n have failed: It's unfair Tho
'.!s If the fathers should not be visit
oL upon the children"
But they are it's the law" said
Shirley. with resignation.
The law he echoed.
Yes. the law" insisted the girl
mans law, not Gods, the same un
/ just law that Furnishes my father
mans law which is put into the hands
| Of the powerful of the earth 10 strike
! at the weak"
She sank into Il chair and, covering
| up her face, wept bitterly. Between
| her Sohs she cried brokenly:
Il believed in the power of love tC
soften Your fathers heart. | believed
that with Gods help | could bring him
10 see the truth. ! believed that truth
and love would make him sec the light
but ii hasn't. | stayed on and on, hop
Ing against hope until the time has
gone by and it's too late to save him
too late, What can | do now? My 60
ing 10 Washington is Il fororn hope. a
last, miserable. forlorn hope, and in
this hour, the darkest Of all, YOU ask
me to think of myself-my love. your
love, your happiness. your future, my
future. All, wouldn't it be sublime
selfishncss!"
Jefferson kneeled down beside the
chair and, taking her hand in his. tried
to reason with her and comfort her.
Listen. Shirley" he said edo not do
something You will surely regret. You
are Furnishing me not only because l
have failed, but because you have fail
ed too. 1t seems to me that if you be-
lieved it possible to accomplish so
much. if you had so much faith-that
you have lost your faith rather quickly.
l believed In nothing. l had no faith.
and yet have not lost hope"
She shook her head and gently with.
drew her hand.
at is useless to insist. Jefferson.
Until my father Is cleared of this stain
our lives-yours and niine-must lie
apart"
Some one coughel. and. startled, they
10th looked up. Mr.. Ryder had entered
the room unobsorvrd and stood watch
in2 them. Shirley Immediately rose to
Aer feet indignant. resenting this in
trusion on her privacy after She had
declined to receive the financicr Yet,
she reflected quickly, how could she
prevent it? He WAS ut home, free to
come and go as he pleased, hut she
was not compelled to remain in the
same room with him. She picked up
the few things that lay about and, with
q contemptuous toss of her head. re-
treated into the inner apartment. leav-
ing father and son alone together.
"Hum." grunted Ryder senior. 81
rather thought | should find you here,
but didn't quite expect to find you on
your knces-dragging our pride in the
mud"
That's where our pride ought to be-"
retorted Jefferson savagely. He felt in
what the consequences.
so she has refused you again, eh?'
said Ryder senior, with n grin
"Yes," rejoncd Jefferson. with grow
ing irritation. "She objeSs to my
family. l don't blame her"
Tho Gnopc;a ov,;Ia1 bu -,
swered:
Your family in general-me in par
ticular, eh! l CLEANED that much when
l came in" lie looked toward the door
Of the room In which Shirley had taken
refuge. and, as If talking to himself, he
added: a curious girl with an invert-
cd point Of view; sees everything diff
ferent to others. I want to see her be-
fore she goes"
lie walked over to the door and rails
cd his hand as if he were about to
knock. Then he stopped as IL he had
changed his mind, and, turning toward
his son, he demanded:
do you mean to say that she has
done with your
"Yes." answered Jefferson bitterly.
"FinallyY'
"Yes, finally-foreverw
Does she mean it?" asked Ryder
senior skeptically.
"Yes; she will not listen to me while
her father is still in peril"
There was an expression of half
amusement. half admiration, on the
financier's face as he again turned to-
ward the door.
Its like her, just like her." he NUT
tered.
He knocked boldly ut the door.
who's there?" cried Shirley from
within.
1T is I-Mr. Ryder l wish to speak
to you"
Il must beg you to excuse me-" came
the answer. Il cannot see you"
Jefferson interfered.
"Why do you want to add to the
girls misery? Don't you think she has
suffered enough:"
DO you know what she has dOne?"
said Ryder, with pretended indigna-
IllN1lIN = |