The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1911-02-21

IIFOm MS, she rose ana started un
certainly toward the door. Sh
stumbled over chair and woul
have fallen, had he not caugh
her. She pushed herself ava
from him, shuddering.
Don't touch me, don't toucl
Incl"
He watched her, hardly able t,
comprehend the completeness o
Ibis brutality's triumph or tn,
startling change in the woman
who had Knocked him so often
until she passed out of the room
And as she went from his sight
the sweetness of his savage JOY
turned to bitterness in his mouth
left him to face the supreme
fact of his life.
A minute later, mechanically
ASHAMED and humbled by his own
cruelty, he followed her into the
hall. But she had gone up
stairs to her room. He went on
to the door, whence the governor
and Mrs. Dunmeade we're return
ing. 1t did not require Mrs. Dun
meade's keen eyes to discern that
something was wrong.
"Are you leaving so soon?"
Eyes, | must"
She did not seek to detain him.
but held out both hands to him.
81 shan't boast of my pre-
science. But l must say that I'm
glad-for your sake as well as
ours. l expect great things OF
you, Robert McAdoo."
He dropped her hands quickly
"You can't expect much from
me-" he answered roughly.
And Selling his hat and coat,
without waiting to put them on
or to say good-by to Dunmeade,
he strobe out into the night.
The mansion had been some
time sunk in the midnight quiet
when Mrs. Dunmeade, troubled by
Eleanor's non-appearance, tiptoed
softly along the hall to her
guests bedchamberr> Through the
transom the light still shone.
She raped softly. "Are you
asleep, Eleanor"
There was a short wait before a
tired voice anwsred, mo"
MAY l come in?"
Eyes"
| Mrs. Dunmeade opened the
door and entered. Eleanor was
in bed, her bright hair strayine
loosely over the pillow. She was
staring hopelessly at the flicker
ing gas-jet. Mrs. Dunmeade saw
no traces of tears.
| She seated herself on the bed
[side. MY dear" she said gently,
leaning over to stroke the pretty
hair, will you tell me what is
the natter"
| Eleanor restively moved her
head away from the caress. Don't
pet me-" she said bitterly. "I'm
not child, but woman nearly
ltwenty-seven years old, who has
just been told she is responsible
for the shameful life and death
of her husband"
"Oh!" Mrs. Dunmeade cried in
shocked surprise, did he taunt
you with that? My dear, don't
take it to heart. We all know
you were the one sinned against"
Yes, that was one of my pref
ty fancies, too" Eleanor said in
the same bitter tone. Until to-
night, when he opened my eyes. !
have been lying here seeing things
as they are. What he said was
true. That's why it hurt let
Leonard Gilbert go to hell and
didn't lift finger to save him.
Only" she added YEARLY, Il
would rather have heard it from
anyone but him."
MY poor child" Mrs. Dun
meade breathed softly, taking
Eleanor's hand. II had hoped
his coming would bring nothing
but happiness"
Can he bring happiness to
anyone?" Eleanor queried wan1y
| And wise Mrs. Dunmeade, hop
ing to draw Eleanor's mind g
little from her own trouble, told
her the story of John Dunmeadt
from the very beginning: of the
long, lonely struggle, with it's de
feats and compromises and infini
Itesimal victories, of the open fight
now being waged against him by
his enemies, and why. Then she
told her of the time when Bob haC
refused to help the governor, anC
how for years they had hoped and
waited for his conversion; anG
lastly, ignoring her husbands
promise to Bob, of the alliance
THAT had been formed that night
and what it meant to the reform
lers.
1T is asking a good deal to ash
lyou to forgive him. But, dear,
think he is suffering from some
cause. Some day he will be sorry
He is man who hasn't yet founC
himself" she concluded gently
But when he does find himself
he will bring happiness to many
Eleanor shook her head list
lessly. But not to me. He de
Ispises me, and he will never re
lent. But l have no resentment
The slow flush crept into hei
cheeks and she put her arms over
her eyes that Mrs. Dunmeadt
might not look into them.
Mrs. Dunmeade bent over i'm
pulsiyely and-put her arms around
her. My dear child" she whis
pered understandingly, has 4
come to you at laSt-aud so7"