Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-02
A lady?''

"A lady?"
YES, sir, an on business, I told her
you saw all people on business at the
| executive office, but she said she wanted
to you here, an she'd wait until you
came. She's tip-topper, too, a regular
| out-and-outer?
| Mystified l gave Seth my hat and coat
and went into the parlor where an open
| fire burned in the CRATE, and only a
| slight light was on. \ woman. all IN
| black, was sitting by the window, and
she rose when entered, throwing back
| black veil from her face. 1t was Pauline
Harmon.
| 1t was Pauline Harmon, but she was
much changed. Her beauty was not gone,
| instead it was increased. and it was there
| that the change lay. Into the beauty that
| had been hitherto only of the flesh there
seemed to have entered some spiritual
| quality, IA faint. far-away reflection OF
| that which clothed Alicia about, but
| enough to be noticed and to exert a re-
! filming influence T'pon her face We're the
! traces of Il 81 sadness and the grief
! became her.
| Instinc,ively l felt a certain respect for
her. whatever she had been once, and l
| spoke to her with courtesy.
Il know that you little expected to see
| me here" she said gravely, but l have
! come to ask you a favor
| Another! she. too. who had caused it
! all would ask me for George Grey's life.
l shook my head.
| Don't ask it," I said, Il can't pardon
| him
| We men often misjudGe women, and l
misjudsed her terribly now. Her dark
| eyes flashed and she flung up her head In
| the manner of Judith.
That is just what | ask you not to
| do" she exclaimed. Il have come here
! for that purpose! l want him to suffer for
| the crime that he committed. and for
which he should hang. l loved the man
, he killed. and want the murderer of that
man to die! Don't be surprised. L know
| it seems strange. after what | have been,
but | loved him! l say l loved Walter
| Harrison. and / do not forgive.
Her voice was not raised, but she spoke
with an intensity of passion that could
| not be mistaken.
II thought you loved Grey once"
| said.
"That was not love-" she said scornful-
! H. but Walter Harrison | did learn TO
| love. | could have loved him as Alicia
! Grey loves you: And now he is dead.
| She smote her hands together and
| great pity for this woman came over me-
| Perhaps if circumstances had been IA
| vorable she might have become good
wife and mother. Certainly l was NOT
! one to judge her. Nor did l blame her
| now because she stood out for vengeance.
| which is one of our weak human enc
| tons.
Il did not have any intention of pardon
| ing George Grey l said, Il haze re-
n solved n to 1eiu hfm u we're
4
| to myself alone. but my oath of Office
| will not let me-.
| Her lips were pressed closely together
| and her face was hard. The quality with
I i'm her that caused her to love the dead
/ Harrison with a love that would have
been pure under other circumstances did
! not leave any mercy in her for the living
Grey. l was moved again by pity for her,
| a pity which / think was sincere and
| deep. She was truly a beautiful woman.
| with features which a good life might
! have made noble as we'll beautiful.
| What are you going to do?' l asked.
| and / asked the question with no mere
| curiosity but with a desire to help her
| if l could.
Il am going away from Kentucky
| she replied, land shall start anew where
| | am not known. You started anew and
| YOU have succeeded"
| She made the allusion to ME with no
| desire to taunt me. but merely as po-
tent illustration.
! I'm tell you goodbye now she said.
| because l don't know that We'll meet
| again.
| went with her to the door and l
| watched the tall black-robed figure pass
/ ing down the street until 1T was out of
! sight. SO far her tentative prediction
has come true. We have not yet met
| again. and where she is and what she is
! I do not know but l have faith. | be-
lieve that the great tragedy in her life
| has been SOLDERING shock. and. though
| the struggle may be hard. that she has
kept to the straight and narrow path