, 1910-07-07

Il could have forgiven him every
thing, everything but"
But me-" she said promptly. 81
know it. Don't you suppose / feel Il,
too, and don't you suppose It hurtsf
MIR. Jeffries stifened up. This wom-
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 o has made 1t impossible
to even consider the question Of recon
Citation"
With all her efforts at self-control,
Annie would have been more than
human had she not resented the insin-
uation in this cruel speech. For o mo
ment she forgot the importance of
preserving amicable relations, and she
retorted:
Such a woman as me? That's pref
~ plain. But you'll have to speak
even more plainly. What do you mean
when you say such a woman as me?
What rave l done?"
Mr.. Jeffries looked out of the win
dow without answering. mt she went
on:
Il worked in . factory when I was
nine years old. and I've earned my
living ever since. There's no disgrace
In that, is there? There's nothing
against me personally-nothing dis
graceful, l mean. know I'm not edu-
Gated. I'm not . lady in your sense
of the word, but I've led a decent life.
There isn't a breath of scandal against
- a breath. But what's the
good of talking about me? Never mind
me. I'm not asking for anything.
What are you going to do for him?
He must have the best lawyer that
money can procure-none of those
barroom orators. Judge Brewster,
your lawyer, is the man. We want
Judge Brewster"
Mr.. Jeffries shrugged his shoulders.
81 repeat-my sons marriage with
the daughter of a man who died in
prison"
She interrupted lin.
That was hard luck-nothing 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 / have pre-
vented it?" Recklessly she went on:
We'll, blame it on me II you want to,
but don't hold it up against Howard.
He didn't know 1t when he married
me. He nev would have known 1t
but for the detectives employed by
you to dig up my family history, and
the newspapers did the rest. God!
what they didn't say, I never real
lied | was of so much Importance.
They printed it in scare-head lines. 1t
made a fine sensation for the public,
but it destroyed my peace of mind"
"A convict's daughter!" said Mr..
Jeffries contemptuously.
HE was a good man at that" she
answered hotly. H kept the ~squarest
fused to pay police blackmail, and
he was %railroaded to prison" Indig-
nantly she went on: IF my fathers
single 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
q friend. I wish to God he was alive
now! He'd help to ave your son. I
wouldn't have to come here to ask
you"
feet and looked away.
You don't seem to understand" he
said impatiently. 1--WE completely cut
him of from the family. It's az If he
were dead"
She approached nearer and laid her
hand gently on the bankers arm.
Don't say that, Mr.. Jeiries. It's
wicked to "a 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 opin-
ion of him. Lately he's been drinking
in not getting anything to do. But
he tried SO hard. He walked the
streets night and day. Once he ever
took a position as guard On the ele-
waited road. Just think Of It, Mr.. Jen.
ries, your son-to such straits were
we reduced-but he caught cold and
had to give 1t up. I wanted to 90 to
work and help him out ! 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 a boy"
She watched his face to lei II her
words were having any effect, but MI.
Jeffries showed no sign of r~elenting.
Sarcastically, he said:
"And you took advantage Of the
fact and married himf"
For a moment she made no reply.
She felt the reproach was not unmer-
ited hut whv ahould thew blame her