The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-03-20
CHAPTER XXXIN.
THE WRONG WINDOW.


- ETTY didn't answer. She had
| - stopped crying. but there was
such an expression of horror on
her face that even Wharton
might have been touched, had he no
ticed it, but he was too much interested
| in his own thoughts and his explanation
of what he had done to pay attention
/ TO anything outside of his narrative.
"If Nelson here hadn't got on my
trail. everything would have been ali
| right" ne went on. Il was doing the
best knew how. Am L to be blamed
| If 1 took a little risk?''
No one answered his query. Mel
son looked at Betty to watch the ef-
feet of her husbands words
Her cheeks were flaming and he
saw indignation written all over her
countenance. He knew II was merely
q question of a few seconds before
she would speak her mind and he felt
sorry for Wharton.
| Wharton, however, was utterly IN
conscious OF the storm that was
brewing.
My salary was SMALL he continued
i: a whining tone. You had TO have
! things, Betty There was nothing else
to be done but to accept the first chance
that came and I took it.
He had hardly finished when Betty
was on her feet. Although she was
little thing she fairly lowered in height
at that moment, when her whole being
trembIed in anger and Indignation
She fixed her gray eyes on her nus
band in a look which made him step
back a pace or two.
How dare your" she cried. How
dare you accuse me Of being the cause
OF your dishonesty? You only took the
money and then replaced IT, =" she quot
ed Whats the difference whether you
took it ard kept it or took IT and put
it back2 The principle is the same. You
stole the money, no matter how YOU did
il or what your intention.
'You are just as bad in thought and
deed as the ordinary thief who does
wicked things because he has always
} done them. Only he is more 10 be pited
than you. because his training. his sur
roundings and daily influences are often
such as would lead him on to crime.
But you? What about your" she
asked with a scorching glance from her
keen eyes. you know better. You
: have mad everything chance that
a decent man can have, ard you have
, gone wrong in spite Of it all
! Wharton did not reply as she paused
for a moment.
IF It had been the money only; II
: you had been a thief who is dishonest
; in money matters alone il would not
have been so bad" she continued. That
would be terrible, il IS true, and I could
probably never hold my head up again
because of the Fwful shame of it. But
I would be willing to do all I could to
/ help you lead a better life. to assist you
IN trying TO live down the past, to be
l honest in the future.
If this had been a mere weakness OF
; the moment there would be some ex-
cuse. A man who goes wrong on i'm
pulse and spends lifetime in repent
ance and in honest endeavor is still a
good man. despite everything that any
body might say OF him l would heIr
a man like that ali ] could.
But you are not like that" and Bet
tvs eyes blazed. You weren't only dis
honest once. You've been dishonest
; many times. And that isn't all. I could
even forgive you that, II you acknowI-
! edged your wrong and stood manfully
for the consequences. But you're not
that sort"
She walked rnajesticaIIy over and
StODN iIlDIt56lNSlJ ldCiuB HILL All Int
dignity at her command was in evi
dence.
1T isn't that hold most against
, you" she said in deep tones which
seemed to come from her very soul
p DO you understand what It is 1 re-
sent?'
Wharton made no reply. 5ut avoided
her glance.
TN tell you" continued Betty. TT:
, because Just now you practically ac
cused me OF being the cause of youl
downfall"
why =" protested Wharton. bu
r he did no. proceed far with his ex
PLANTATION.
You needn't try to deny it," Bett,
: put in, quivering with her suppressed
emotion. You fail 10 realize what yo,
d have done, because your moral sense,
2 are all wrong. But you accused me jus
y now Of inspiring you TO steal. You sail
you took the money from your en-
10 ployers because" Betty almost brols,
s down before she could say the crue
70 words-"because had 20 hav,
/. things" she quoted. 'Oh. YES. thos
were the words. shall never forge
them
n She looked at Wharton as II she ex
pected an answer, but ne remained ST
lent
= Have I ever complainant she wen
= on, the tears rolling down her cheeks
n Have / ever said one word because
didn't have as much as the other wo
men OF my acquaintance had, although