The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-01-14


 where I hastened to my room, for would be alone.
 CHAPTER xxx.
 The Verdict.
 Guthrie and Warfield followed me to the door of my room, but there they left me. knowing instinctiiaely that wished to be alone. l went tn. shut the door. drew down the curtains. because I did not want to see the light just then. and sank into a chair. was still weak and dizzy and all my nerves were quivering. I had made the con- fession. and for moment I had felt a wonderful relief because I had thrown my burden away. But then Alicia had picked it up and what would the world say of her? She, clothed in the armor of the spirit might not care, as these tortured me. As l was now the world might say what it pleased of me. but could not bear to have scan dal tearing her to pieces.
 l wished. too, for a word from her, or of her. I had seen her Eatnt and l had seen them carrying her away. and for a moment, I had @ dreadful fear lest she might be dead. but reason con- vinced me that it could not be so. A thousand schemes. all equally vain and fruitless. ran through my mind. would tell exactly why I had gone tc the Grey house, I would explain my condition at the time, and lest any part of it should seem incred1b'e l would enlarge upon the truth. an1 attr bute to myself things that l did not do. IT order that I might protect her good name. I do not boast, 1 clam no cred it for myself. but it is Gods truth that all this time Alicia and hel fate were first in my thoughts.
 After. Alicia my mind turned to my own position. and here the pride and teracity that had so often carried me on came to my aid. I had done no wrong. was the Governor of the State. fairly and freely elected by the people, and it was for th9m to say whether should Continue to occupy the chair which I had not dis graced by anything done while I wax there. l would call a session of the Legislature. lay my resignation before the members and they could accept it or reject it as they saw fit.
 A knock at the door and a servant entered.
 ''The gentlemen from the press." he said will you see them. sir?" he asked.
 I had forgotten them. but I should have known that the reporters would come to me at once. ana dld not hesitate.
 "Yes. bring them up,'' I replied.
 I noticed that the man looked cur iously at me. He. too, had heard of all that had happened, and mentally l winced at an examination by ser want, but his curiosity was only na- tural He bowed and in a few minutes returned with the reporters. four in number, who asked me if I wished to
 
 anything further in regard to the ex- traordinary event of the day.
 In our country 1t is not easy for a public man to escape the press. and flight only makes pursuit more strenu- ous Nor did I know that to- day wished to evade it. because had some thing to say to the public. When I came to talk. all the plans and schemes to protect Alicia that had entered my mind fell to the ground. Enough Of subterfuges. evasions and inventions; they always recoiled upon me. I would tell the exact truth, and l told 1t to them.
 I went over the whole story of that night the state in which I was. the manner in which I had pushed past Alicia and entered the house. how we had been schoolmates and children to- gether and then the sudden entrance of her husband with all the possibilities to her. not realized by me until then; how on the impulse of the n'o'">"',t 1 had claimed to be burglar and a1ter- ward the chain of circumstances tight ening about me. until I had almost seemed to myself to be one. I ,poke eagerly. quickly. and with all the feel ing ir1 me- and it was such an easy thing to tell the truth. 1t came spon- freely. naturally. l saw that I was making an impression upon these men; they seemed to be convinced and as they felt they would write.
 "Of course. Governor" said the old est of the men. this is a very extra ordinary event: you appreciate that!'
 ''Undoubtedly,' I replied.
 "We have no object but to state the facts Maybe the newspaper exagger- ates sometimes. but it is not necessary to dc so in this case; the facts are enough. We tried to see Mrs. Grey, but her friends would not allow it.
 "They were right" I said, "I have told everything."
 He laughed a little.
 ''That is true,' he rlsid. "but news paper practice compelled us to make the trial.''
 Then they folded up their notes. bow ed and left, and as they did so I watch ed their manner. I was anxious to see how they would bear themselves to- ward me, whether by familiarity. 8 light word here and there. careless gesture. they would show that they no longer considered me entitled to re- spect My pride was yet great. and now it was savagely sensitive. l should be quicker than ever to resent a slight and God knows I now expected many of them. But they were grave and quiet, perhaps a little curious Ike the servant. and that was all. If they were an index to the public mind l was not yet wholly condemned or at least the decree was held in reserve.
 A half hour after they had gone, Jimmy Warfieid came into the room and bis coming was like a shaft Of sunlight He seemed to be wholly cheerful. hailed me in hearty tones, and seizing my hand gave it the grasp of a friend.
 Harry" he said. i've come to tell you news.''
 of Alicia-Mrs. Grey"
 "Aye of her. The Guthries have her. and I think they'll keep her at thelr house for many days. She recovered quickly from the faint in which she fell and there has been singular trans- form ation fin her---Mrs Guthrie told me