The Wrangell sentinel., 1910-03-10
\ () IL
 John w. Harding
Copyright. 1908. by G. ". Dillins.
 ham Go.


"I guessed you'd be kind of surs prised to hear from him. Since you left Joe he's been leading a strictly honest life. He has a good job in a bank at good salary. has saved mon- ey, and all he wants is for you to for give and forget and start over again. Joes all right now, there's no doubt about that, for I've looked up the rec ord he's made since you've been sepa! rated. Not only that, but he loves you more than ever. That's gospel truth, too, know"
 Forgive and forget. Yes, I have forgotten, and oblivion enshrouds for giveness with it. Joseph Brooks is dead, as dead for me ds though he were in bis grave. I have even ceased to bear his name. Sometimes I have wondered if he ever existed. If I re member him it is as one recalls night mare from which one is glad to have awakened"
 and, plucking fern branch, began to pick the fronds from 1t nervously, let ting them fall to the ground.
 That's all very well, Emma" he objected gently, but Joe Is none the less very much alive, and he is your husband. You mustn't forget that ever. And he's all right, I honestly believe. If he did fall into temptation he meant we'll He thought he could put the money back easily enough, and he wanted you to have more com fort and be happy. The best of us ain't no better than we should be If you come right down to the contem- plation of the naked fact. You know that the book says, There is not a ] just man upon earth that doeth good and sinneth not To me the man who is real sorry for having done wrong, especially when his wrongdoing had such pardonable motive as Joe's had, l is as good as he was before he did the thing"
 You are the one man I know whom would never have suspected of har- boring treasury of such homely plat ltudes," she said scornfully.
 If it were only a question of for giving a man who had sinned so weak. ly as that, but it isn't" he went on. More is involved-his absolution and salvation by duty if not by love. Elm. ma. you are Joe Brooks wife. You took oath before God-and you meant it then-to stick by him in diversity as in prosperity, to help him in time of trouble. Your place is by his side now Yours is the only hand that can guide him right" -
 She rose and placed both of her little gloved hands on his shoulders and looked into his eyes.
 Do you believe what you are telling me, Jimsy Smith?' she asked gently: Do you, speaking from your inmost heart, order me to return to the arms of.that n1an?"
 He rose, holding her wrists firmly against his shoulders and speaking with intense earneStness:
 Emma, there are some things on this earth that we're called on to do. ordained by an all wise and mercifuf Providence. We may not like to do
 
 ton. We have to make our decisions | by the rule of right or wrong. Is it right or is it wrong?' It's an arbitrary rule, but I guess it works out for the best in the end. It has always seemed to me so. Therefore l say go back to Joe, your husband. Joe pleads to your heart that was his. Tell her. he said, that I'm more sorry than I can ex- press; that I'm sorry and miserable. Tell her that there is no light in life without her. Those were about his words.'
 He released her wrists. She had lis tened to him at the last with averted face that was bloodless and looked ghastly under it's coat of sun tan. She walked away wrestling with herself.
 Smith stood as impassiye as fate. But oh his brow a dampness had gath- cred, and she had seen tie sweat beads ooZe there as he spoke.
 The little cool clad form with it's clnging skirt returned slowly.
 "Jimsy. why did he charge you to tell me these things"
 Why? l don't know. Because I'm his friend and yours. suppose. Be cause there was no oue else could do I it. <
 And, like the good man you are, you were governed in your decision by. the rule of right and -wrong.''
 That was about ifs if you cut out ] AI--- IL .a z d,