The Wrangell sentinel., 1910-03-17
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Novelized From Eugene Walters Great Play %


 would have deterred man of ordi- nary moral caliber, you would have adhered to the rule though every word of your counsel lad been to you as the scar of white hot iron and its utter. ance had been death"
 { For the first time in her life she saw q look of sternness pass: over his face. And it was mingled with pain.
 Emma" he said, T guess we'll go down now. And we'd better take a short cut, if there is one. or We won't be home for dinner. 1ou must be hungry. and of all the''-
 No. Jimsy, hear me- she interrupt ed You must and shall hear me. You have said what you had to say. Now it is my turn, and l. too, will speak plainly. You helieye--you know -I am and always nave been good woman. You believe that l was faith ful as far as was humanly possible, to the spirit as well as the letter of my marriage vows, made ferVently, trustingly. 1 swore to love and honor Joe Brooks. It was easy for I did then love and honor him beyond un- derstanding now. But neither love nor honor is kept alive eternally by the virtue of an oath in the face. of de fusion and worthlessneSS. Gold vas tinsel: diamond was glass You were witness to the slow murdering of love, and you saw it strangled and thrown down at the last as he would have strangled me had you not prevent ed" ...s. -' He would have. spoken. but she checked him with a gesture of con- mand.
 "No, don't interrupt Hear me to the end and then speak. What is this thing that you are asking me to do: You are asking me to go to a living death, to make Of my heart q sep- ulcher of all sweet or elevating emo tion, to surrender my lips to the fetid kiss of an IScariot. to deliver 1rfy body to his loathsome embraces. vuile my soul sickens with disgust and horror my body that he would have betrayed. hired out for a piece of silver ana. gloating. taken back again. You are asking me 10 immolate myself with all that hold sacred and beautiful on an altar that you style duty. Now apply your rule to this. Is it right: Is it wrong? Oh. Jimsy. answer me, Be fore God, is it right?'
 She stood trembling with the yehe- mence of her defense and the strength of her feeling. her arms outstretched in Interrogation and appeal.
 \ great sigh was the indication of the conflict that was raging in Smiths heart. and for one single instant tic mask of fmpenet-ability fell from his face.
 She read the answer there.
 Removing feverishly the glove from her left hand. she forced from her finger the wedding ring that in the years had frightened closely upon it and hurled it from her. IL ricochetted on a rock and went bounding over the outer edge of the plateau far down into the painless. tangled brush of the almost perpendicular declivity.
 Smith turned away In silence. and in silence they made their way back along the little path up which they had come. Neither spoke. even at the difficult places when he stretched out his hand and helped her with its strong, sustaining clasp.
 Jimsy was grave and abstr acted. In his Gethsemane he had drunk too deeply of the waters of knowledge, and they were bitterswect. heavily impregnated with regret and dismay Emma had discovered the secret which for years he hGrf guarded so iealously and-oh. tae Llissful torture If it,-had revealed to him that she loved him. This WAS the outcome Of his self sacrificing mission on behalf of the husband who stood between them with the right of the might of law and the conventions and whose trust was in the keeping of his honor His role Of platonic friendship was ended. His privileged relations with the woman who was dearcr to him than life could no longer be main- taiced. The home of the Harris fam fly could TO longer be the refuge of Eis loneliness. the pleasant oasis in the desert of his existence. where he could f-d consolation and rest for his sufering heart, beyond which the world lay, darl;, ard indiscernibIe.
 CHAPTER NXIt. !,
 P T was 10 Brooks ra intern !nable Z waal- aI.-,ca5 F;