Evening star., 1909-01-24

paper dropping from her fingers to the floor
She was paler than ever. She stared at him al
most in dumb incomprehenson. Her body
swayed lightly. Gornly stepped closer to her.
seized her gently, supported her to chair by
the library table. She put her face IN her hands
and rocked to and fro silently.
1T can't be true!' she said at last You
are mistaken. Surely not my father in that
sink of corruption and bribery and iniquity and
shamel Say it isn't true!"
Il wish to heaven | could say it: but"
The man shook his head Il told you would
rather have been dead than have brought this
upon you
You are not to blame" answered the
woman, her sense of justice uppermost. 1t
is the fact itself that kills. if it is fact. There
must be some mistake
/ wish there was.
''Are you absolutely sure?"
Your father confessed it here in this room
a half-hour ago.
why do you tell me of it,"
Because" was the answer, 1.-The whole
world has to know it, and l preferred to tell
you myself rather than let you get it from the
newspapers"
You are going to publish it?'
Tomorrow morning.
But why-why?" She threw up her arms
in nervous appeal
Think" said the man. 1t is the one fact
that makes my election certain.
And does your ambition run to the wreck
ing of my fathers good manner"
NO If you will think, you will know that
it does not l am doing it for the sake of honor
for the sake of duty, for the sake of humanity
he paused and raised his own hand. So help
me God!' he cried with upturned face.
But is it necessary"
Absolutely
Why"
The cause of popular government is being
fought out right here. The contest transcends
in Importance any political battle that has
ever been waged If government OF and tor
and by the people is to be a success we have
to demonstrate it now, or else 60 down. 1t may
be forever. The people have right to know
what is back of the Central Society, where it
gets its enormous corruption fund. l should
be traitor, false to my duty, betrayer, if
did not make public this knowledge that has
come to me-.
Il see"
And you believe, don't you, won't you, that
it is the hardest thing that has ever been laid
upon me to bring shame upon you through
your father, to plunge you IN disgrace!
would cut nv arms off for you, If ! could save
you thereby: but in this case | am absolutely
helpless" .u:u
see the paper?" she asked.
GORMLY stopped, picked it up spread it
- before her, and turned away The letters
danced before her eyes so that she could
scarcely read; but by immense effort at
concentration she finally mastered the con-
tents of the brief but damning document. 1t
told the story with sufficient amplitude. Cita-
tions and proofs accompanied it. No one
could possibly doubt its accuracy. There were
no personal reflections upon anyone, she real
led and for that she had little flash of graft
tude in her heart. The story itself was allowed
to condemn. She read it through several
times, Gormly respecting her silence absolutely
1T is all true" she said at last. You say
my father was here!'
Yes
He was very much agitated at some news
that my brother brought him short time ago
Does Livingstone know!
He does. | told him.
Why"
ITO give him an opportunity to withdraw
from association with us in view OF this attack
And what did he decide?"
He decided to stay with me.
And this is why you made me that offer OF
marriage now rather than later!
Yes l wanted you to feel, after you had
this news, that, while l alone knew it, l paid
you the highest compliment that could think
of; that my heart was irrevocably pledged to
you, whatever was to happen:
That kind of you. You have always
been kind to me "
90 don't see how you can say so after this.
He pointed to the paper.
This" she replied her eyes following his
outstretched hand, makes great difference