Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1911-10-26

curb. A young woman, heavily yelled,
descended, paid the driver, and walked
quickly through the gates toward the
house.
Annie tried to feel brave, but heT
heart misgave her when she saw this
splendid home with all its evidence Of
wealth, culture and refinement. 1t was
the first time she had ever entered
its gates, although, in a measure, che
was entitled to look upon 1t as her
own home. Perhaps never so much
as now she realized what a deep gull
lay between her husbands family and
herself This was a world she lac
never kncwn-a world Of Opulence
and luxury. She did not know how she
had summoa.ed up courage enough to
come. set there was no time to be
lost. Immediate action was neces'
sary. Howard must have the best
lawyers that money could procure.
Judge Brewster had been deaf to her
entreaties. He had declined to take
the case. She had no money. How
ards father must come to his assist
ance. She would plead with him and
insist that it was his duty to stand
by his son. She wondered how he
would receive her, If he would put
her out or be rude to her. He might
tell the servants to shut the door In
her face. Timidly she rang the bell,
The butler opened the door, and sum
moning up all her courage, she asked:
"Is Mr.. Jeffries in?"
To her utter amaZement the satleT
offered no objection to her entering
Mistaking her for a woman reporter,
several Of whom had already called
that morning, he said:
Go right in the library, madam;
the other newspaper folk are there"
She passed through the splendid re
ception hall, marveling inwardly al
the beautiful statuary and pictures,
no little inundated at finding her
' self amid such splendid surroundings
On the left there was a door draped
; with handsome tapestry.
! Right in there, miss" said the
butler.
She went in, and found herself in q
= room of noble proportions, the walls
y Of which were lined with ~bookshelves
y filled with tones in rich bindings. The
: light that entered through the stained
- glass windows cast a subduad half
- light, warm and rich in color, on the
= crimson plush furnishings. Near the
heavy fiat desk in the center of thS
room a tall, distinguished man wal
standing listening deprecatingly u
the half dozen reporters who wer'
~bombarding him with questions. Al
Annie entered the room she cauEh'
the words of his reply:
THE young man who has inherited
"a my name has chosen his W path Il
"a life. l am grieved to say that his con
~ duct at college, his marriage, hal
n completely separated him from hi
family, and l have quite made up m,
mind that in no way or manner ca
a his family become identified with an,
"a steps he may take to escape the per
" atty of his mad act. l am his fathel
20 and l suppose, under the circun
to stances, I ought to say something. Bu
,r l have decided not to. don't wis
a. to give the American public any o.
a cuse to think that l am palliating @
~ c~ondoninE his crime. Gentlemen,
at wish you good-day."
Annie, who had been listening II
%. tently, at once saw her opportunit,
10. Mr.. Jeffries had taken no notice
m. her presence, believing her to be
ba newspaper writer like the others. A
"a. the reporters took their departuT
Al. and filed out Of the room, she r
NAMED behind. As the last one diSa
90 peared she turned to the banker an
ID said:
10. MAY l speak to you a moment?"
IN. He turned quickly and looked at b
in surprise. For the first time /
hi. was conscious Of her presence. Boz
air ing courteously, he shook his head:
Il am afraid l can do nothing fl
,,r you madam-as I've Just explained
Az your confreres Of the press"
20. Annie looked up at him, and 50
m. boldly:
81 am not a reporter, Mr.. Jeffries.
are am your sons wife"
IN, The banker started back in ama2
arc ment. This woman, whom he b
ain taken for a newspaper reporter, W
IN an interloper, an imposter, the We
last woman In the world whom
, ! would have permitted to be admit
to his house. He considered that 81
an. as much as anybody else, had &C
tributed to his sons ruin. Yet WI
could he do? She was there, and
nv was too much of a gentleman to ha
her turned out bodily. Wondering
ne his silence, she repeated softly:
Lot I'm your sons wife, Mr.. Jsfriei
The banker looked at her a n
tho ment, as If taking her in from head
md foot. Then he said colGly:
do- Madam, l have no son" He hs
tated, and added:
81 don't recognize"
She looked at him ~pleadingly,
But / want to speak to you, sir
Mr.. Jeffries shook his head, q
Im moved toward the door.
II repeat, l have nothing to say.
ol Annie planted herself directly In
MAJ path, He could not reach the d.