The Point Pleasant register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, W. Va.) 1909-1939, 1910-06-01

Judge Brewster.
Mr.. Jeffries shrugged his shoulders.
y repeat-my sons marriage with
the daughter OF man who died in
prison"
She interrupted him.
That was hard luck-nothlug but
hard luck. You're not going to make
me responsible for that, are you!
Why. ! was only eight years old when
that happened Could I have pre-
vented it," Reeklessly she went on:
We'll. blame 1t on me II you want to.
but don't hold 1t up against Howard.
He didn't know It when he married
me. u never would have known It
but for he detectives employed by
you to d:s IN my family history. and
the newspapers did the rest. God!
what they didn't say! never real.
lied | was OF so much Importance.
They printed 1t in seare-head lines. 1t
made fine sensation for the rublic.
but 1t destroyed my peace OF mind"
"a eonVict's daughtcr!" sad Mr..
Jefries contemporary.
He was a good man at that" she
answered holly. "He kept the squares
poclroom in Manhattan. but he re-
fused to pay police blackmall. and
he was railroaded to prison" Ind's.
nantly she went on: 'If my fathers
shinSle had been up in Wall street.
and he'd made so dishonest millions.
you'd forget It next morning. and you'd
welcome me with open arms. But he
was unfortunate. Why. Billy Delmore
was the best man in the world. He'd
give away the last dollar he had to
friend. wish to God he was alive
now! He'd help to save your son. I
wouldn't have TO come here to ask
you"
Mr. Jerries shifted uneasily on his
feet AID looked away.
you don't seem to understand" he
said impat:ently. "I've completely cut
him OF rem the family. It's as II he
were dead"
She approached nearer and laid her
hand gently on the bankers arm.
Don't say that. MI Jenries. It's
wicked to say that about your own
son. He's a good boy at heart. and
he's been so good to me. All, II you
only knew how hard he's tried to get
work I'm sure you'd change your opln-
ion Of him. Lately he's been drinking
a little because he was disappointed
in not getting anything TO do. But
he tried so hard. He walked the
streets night and day. Once he even
took a position as guard on the ele-
waited road. Just think Of It, Mr.. JefH.
ries. your soR-to such straits were
we reduced-but he caught cold and
had to give IT up. wanted to go to
work and help him out l always
earned my living before I married
him, but he wouldn't let me. You
don't know what a good heart he's
got He's been weak and foolish, but
you know he's only boy"
She watched his face to see II her
words were having any effect, but Mr..
Jefries showed no sign OF relenting.
Sarcastically, he said:
And you took advantage Of the
fact and married him?"
For a moment she made no reply.
She felt the reproach was not unmer.
tied, but why should they blame her
for seeking happiness? Was she not
entitled to It as much as any other
woman? She had not married How.
ard for his social position or his
money. In fact she had been worse
on since her marriage than she was
before. She married him because she
loved him, and because she thought
she could redeem him. and she was
ready to go through any amount of
suffering to prove her disinterested
devotion. Quietly. she said:
Yes, l know did wrong. But L
l love him, Mr.. Jefrries. Believe me
or not-I love him. It's my only ex.
cuse. l thought l could take care Of
him. He needed some one to look aft
er him. he's too easily influenced. You
know his character is not so strong
as 1t might be. He told me that his
fellow students at college used to hyp-
notice him and make him do all kinds
OF things to amuse the other boys. He
says that somehow he's never been
the same since. IL Just loved him