The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1911-05-26
CHAPTER XH.-continued.

He halted. looking as IL he would
like to escape, but there was no way
Of egress. This observation-disclosures
young woman had him at q disad-
vantage.
II do not think" he said icily, that
there Is any subject which can be of
mutual interest"
"Oh, yes. there u.s." 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, rs OF mutual interest Your
o is yours whether you cast him OF
or not. You've got to hear me. l 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 a blow. You cannot realize
what It means In such a critical situa-
ton. Even If you only pretend to be
friendly with him-you don't need to
really be friends with him. But don't
you e what the effect will be If 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 60 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 60
back on him now!"
Mr.. Je1ries 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 for 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 fer
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 Jeffries family think better
Of her. Quickly she answered:
We'll. all right-I'm responsible
but don't punish him because of me-"
Mr.. Jenries looked at her.
Who was this young woman who
championed SO warmly his own son?
She was his wife, Of course. But wives
OF q certain kind are quick to desert
their husbands when they are in trou-
BILE. There must be some good in the
girl. after all. he thought. Hesitating-
". he said:
4 could have forgiven him every
thing. everything but"
But me-" she said promptly. II
know It. Don't you suppose l feel It.
too. n don't Q suppose 1t hurts?"
Nj. Jeffries stifened up. This WON
a 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 q
woman as you has made It impossible
% even consider the question Of recon
~siliation."
With all her efforts at se~lfcontrol.
Annie would have been more than
human had she not resented the insin-
nation IN this cruel speech. For q mo
ment she forgot the importance Of
preserving amicable relations, and she
betorted:
Such . woman a me? That's pref
" plain. But you'll have to speak
hvsn more plainly. What do you mean
When you say such : woman g me?
What have ! done1"
M. Jeffies looked out Of the win
- without answsring. and she went