The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-02-04

no wish to do anything other than secu' 8
the liberty of her husband that they migl t
be happy together. He had been cor
WINGED that Aileen loved himself, but ia
the late tragic events she chung to Ger
aid with such devotion that he became Ger.
tain that he was mistaken; and believing
this, it was easy to stifle his own passion
and devote his great talent and untiring
energy to the release of Gerald. He was
not happy, but he had the peace of re-
nunciation; only at intervals did his
great and unhappy love wake and cry.
AS for Aileen, she knew that it was only
a girl s fancy she had had for Gerald,
and now her love and pity--great though
they were--were those of friendship and
ssterly love; but she was ready to go TO
the scaffold and to die with him if she
could; she could suffer, she could endure,
she could minister with all the supreme
forgetfulness of self that good womea
know; but she could not love with wife 8
love- This fatal lack caused her TO be cold
to Stanley, to weep bitter tears o. anguish
for Gerald Is sake; she never thought OF
weeping for her own. for did She not de-
serve to suffer- wife unfaithful in the
spiriti
So the time passed; Thanksgiving was
at hand; more than year had passed
since the Soules came to live in This
Matchbox In three weeks the trial was
to come up again; all the trains were laid.
Richard Soule staid in the city: he had
ventured to call upon Aileen, but she
would not receive him.
He visited Stanley, and offered money
or any other assistance in his power to
clear his corsin.
"Awful thing, his going up; but tho
old man was down on gambling, and for
gerry to cove it was too much for him.
could do nothing with him. tried to
have him hush it up for the honor Of the
family, but he shrugged his shoulders
and turned out his palms expressiyely.
'fNow he is dead.
"He was seen to do it by old Watson,
| his will. Ee is dead too. I was absent
myself, off the coast Of South Carolina
Gerald has wild idea that I caused his
| forgery to come home to him because
was in love with Aileen. / did make q
fool of myself in my disappointment; All
leen was bit of coauette, and PLAYED
fast and loose with both of us; in fl,
| of pique at some fancied want of atten
ton on nay part, she cheese Gerald, ani
! clinched the matter by marrying him il
/ my absence
Stanley made mental note:
"Off Carolina-Aileen said Texas
must verify that
Il cold Watson and the man ne killed ar
4 the only ones who actually knew anythin,
about the forgery; of course, the fact o.
the forged check speaks for itself. If
can do anything, Mr.. Redfeid, to aid you
| pray command me. would do much, fo
forgery and murder superadded make 8
heavy load for the honor of the Soule,
! to bear. -
| "Thank you, sir; / shall not tail to cal
/ upon you when find you can be Of us'
! in clearing your COUSIN said Stanley
/ calmly.
"Do you think you could induce Aileeu
I to see mes am very anxious to conv1nc.
her that 1 am entirely friendly to Ger
aid, and of course to her and his mother;
/ can't do this unless she will grant mi
an interview.
''Ef Mrs. Soule refuses to see you, Mr.
Sonle, woman s reason is sufficient unit
she changes her mind; and to argue
against woman g instinct, reason, convic
tions, or whatever, is not the part of wis
dom. If you will reflect moment, you
will see that you are supposed by them ia
be the destroyer Of their liwes-not merely
bringing sorrow on them, but separation
and disgrace in the flush of Their
honeymooa-and until you can rie
| their minds of this conviction, it is useless
to try to persuade them that you can IL
any sense be q guardian angel.
! 81 believe you, too, think / am guilty
of destroying them as you say.
4 81 have no evidence to the contrary
sir, said Stanley.
"The word of gentleman, sub That
is sufficient among gentlemen; of cess
not sufficient for pettifosging cur. -