Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1909-10-29

~ 'front.' iCt you % until pou toll me the
truth"
disgust. my loathing Of you. l never
imagined existed. But now you've
reached 1t. I don't hate you. just
pity YOU"
\ CLEAN Of fury glowed i'll his eyes
under this mcrcileSs castigation. and
he moved toward her menacingly.
That's not the answer ! want" he
said harshly. you're quihbling. Tell
me the truth about Williams"
You'd better let me go"
You'll tell me the truth about VII
liams before you leave this room" he
shouted Make up your mind TO that
now, because that's just the way it's
! going TO be-
She realized that she had gone too
far In her denunclation. that his anger
was dangerous and that he would stop
at nothing. not even blows. not even
murder. He was white. his teeth were
| set. and on his Quivering face was an
! expression of ferocious determination
, that warned her that she must tenn
, porize and appear to give In to him.
Very WELL" she assented. turning
! from the door: III that's the way it's
) going TO be I'm perfectly willing"
Then answer me"
II intend to do that, but intend to
do something more than merely an
swcr that question. II you don't mind
we'd better sit down"
She motioned him to chair and
seated herself so that the table was
between them.
''In the first place" she went on.
very calmly, "in order to relieve your
mind might tell you that have done
nothing tonight which can reflect upon
me as n good woman. had no inten-
ton Of doing any such thing. So far
as can find out. you are the only per
son who had my degradation IN mind
and was willing that 1t should happen
II it resulted in your escaping the con-
sequences Of being thief"
What do you mean!"
II mean that Captain Williams did
not have the slightest idea of putting
a price on your freedom toward which
In any way would have to contribute
You seem to be the only one who
thought that l. with all | hold pre-
cious. was fair figure to offer. Had
l gone, had he demanded. had l sub
mitted and brought back that paper
and given myself to you again. as wei
as your freedom. you would have beer
contentcd and happy"
You know that's not true, Emma,
he protested. The white heat Of hi.
ire had been dulled by her Quietness
and little by little he was becoming
cowed.
II know 1t IS true. Joe, and SO d,
you. l wanted to go to mother with
out having all this talk, but now tina
We have to talk let's be frank Will
each other and with ourselves AND
you try to appreciate the truth Il:
much as you are able. To begin with
1t seems that have been alone in no
realizing how worthless you are My
father when We were to be married
warned me not to take you unless
thought you Indispensable to my hap
piness You know that every one els,
put 1t little more bluntly. But
, thought l loved you-I'm sure / did
, Now 1t seems utterly beyond belief
But then 1t must have been love.
mistook your egotism for n deepe
sentiment. n determination OF purpose
, and l thought In my girlish way tina
the things you preached about social
ism. the cruelty Of the rich and al
that meant that you were noble. sci
sacrificing. even brilliant. Now
! know the difference. You fight capl
tai! God sometimes Is kind to a fight
er, but he can't have much use for ,
man who whines."
You believed me then, Emma" n,
said brokenly. you know you did
you know you did"
That's the wonderful part OF II
I've always believed you till tonight
and now l know | never should hav,
believed you. You've always been
liar. and you've always been dishOnes
at heart. Your incompetency. the wa,
you were distrusted by your employ
ers. ! thought WAS hard luck. injus
ticc. But now l know that you neve
were and never will be the least hi
of good TO yourself or any one else
You married me Ia help yourself. Yol
tried to disgrace me To help yourself
was willing Ia meet the situation
but you couldn't. and tonight yor
wanted to sell me to help yourself
pity you from the bottom Of my heart
! think I've told you the reason VIII,
r | cannot live with you any longer"
She rose
, Emma" he supplicated humbly. "i
, Will all lc different Let me start GU
again. Give me another chance II
never lie 10 You again. and I'll nevc
q take cent that isn't my own. prom
:, Use you ! wont"
She shook her head.
, "Oh. yes. you viii. You can't help II
: Captain Williams told me tonight tina
a woman who was good couldn't h
bad and a woman who was la,
couldn't be good. Its that way wit
men. one who is inherently homes
j., could never he dishonest. auG one VIII
IS inherently dishonest could never b
a honest. You are both thief and n lial
:, and there Is 10 hope for you. You'v
:, struck the downward path. and you
! keep on going until the end. If 70