The Point Pleasant register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, W. Va.) 1909-1939, 1910-06-01
Nay speak to you a moment >

&c turned quickly and looked II hA-
IN surprise. For the arst time he
was conscious OF her presence. Bow.
ing eourteously. he shook his head:
7 am afraid can do nothing for
you madam-as I've Just explained to
your confreres OF the press"
Annie looked up at him. and said
boldly:
Il am not reporter, Mr.. Jenries. I
am your sons wife"
The banker started back in amaze
ment This woman. whom he had
taken for a newspaper reporter. was
an interloper. an imposter. the very
last woman In the world whom he
would have permitted to be admitted
to his house. BE considered that she,
as much as anybody else. had con.
tributed to his sons ruin. Yet what
could he do? She was there. and he
was too much Of gentleman to have
her turned out bodily. Wondering At
his silence. she repeated softly:
I'm your sons wife. Mr.. JeTries."
The banker looked at her a mo-
meat, as If taking her in from head to
foot Then he said coldly:
Madam. have no SON." He hesl-
tated. and added:
81 don't recognize"
She looked at him pleadingly.
But l want to speak to you. sir"
Mr.. 5eSries shook his head. and
moved toward the door.
81 repeat, have nothing to say"
Annie planted herself directly in his
path. He could not reach the door
unless he removed her forcibly.
Mr.. Je1ries," she said earnestly.
-please don't refuse to hear me
please"
he halted. looking as If he would
like to escape. but there was no way
Of egress. This detcrmined-lookins
young woman had him at disad.
vantage.
81 do not think" he said icily. that
there is any subject which can be Of
mutual interest"
oh, yes, there is" she replied Gag.
erly. She was quick to take advan.
tage OF this entering wedge into the
mans mantle OF cold reserve.
Flesh and blood" she went on
earnestly. is of mutual interest. Your
son is yours whether you cast him OF
or not. You've got to hear me. am
not asking anything for myself It's
for him, your son. He's in trouble.
Don't desert him at a moment like
this. Whatever he may have done to
deserve your anger-don't-don't deal
him such blow. You cannot realize
what 1t means in such q critical situa.
ton. Even II you only pretend to be
friendly with hIm-you don't need to
really be friends with him. But don't
you see what the effect will be II you,
his father, publicly withdraw from his
support? Everybody will say he's no
good. that he can't be any good or his
father wouldn't go back on him. You
know what the world Is People will
condemn him because you condemn
him. They won't even give him a
hearing. For Gods sake, don't go
back on him now!"
Mr.. Jenries turned and walked to-
ward the window. and stood there ga
zing on the trees on the lawn. She
did not see his face. but by the ner.
vous twitching OF his hands behind
his back, she saw that her words had
not been without effect. She waited
in silence Tor him to say something.
Presently he turned around, and she
saw that his face had changed. The
look OF naughty pride had gone. She
had touched the chords OF the IA
Tiers heart. Gravely he said:
"of course you realize that you,
above all others. are responsible for
his present position"
She was about TO demur, but she
checked herself. What did she care
what they thought OF her? She was
fighting to save her husband, not to
make the JeTries family think better
OF her. Quickly she answered:
Well, all right-rm responsible
but don't punish him because Of me"
Mr.. Jetfries looked at her.
Who was this young woman who
championed so warmly his own son?
She was his wife, OF course. But wives
OF certain kind are quick to desert
their husbands when they are in rou-
Bile. There must be some good in the
girl, after all. he thought. Hesitating.
ly, he said:
u could have forgiven him every.
thing. everything but"
But me-" she said promptly. Il
know It Don't you suppose feel it,
too. and don't you suppose 1t hurts?"
Mr.. Jetries saIened up. This WON.
an was evidently trying to excite his
sympathies. The hard, proud express
sion came back into his face, as he an.
swered CURLY:
Forgive me for speaking plainly.
but my sons marriage with such
woman as you has made 1t impossible
to even consider the question OF recon.