The Alaska citizen. (Fairbanks, Alaska) 1910-1917, 1911-07-31
s;s se ss ze ss& s m
|Ihe4 light land : .: ;:; ;;:: , ;::,


During thl next four days jim
Warren's bank account grew some
forty-fve hundred dollars. Tyson :
conjecture that the railroads and
a few big contractors would drop a
few crumbs in Jim Warren's hands
Just for the sake of making friend
of him proved correct On
the fifth day a messenger brought a
note to Jim Warren's suite He
glanced at the superscription and it
startled him; he opened the envelope
with fevered fingers.
My dear Mr. Warren: A, last
have come 20 see what you meant
owe you a thousand apologies VIII
you call tomorrow afternoon at -four
and allow me to make them in per
SON.
Sincerely.
EDNA TILL1NGHAST."
jim Warren was dazed a little;
the words were jumbled together
meaninglessly After long time
The noe futtered To the floor. jim
Warren's ewes closed as though he
were in pain and he dropped back
Imply into chair. his face in his
hands.
What have | done" he said.
XIII.
White and haggard and gaunt. Jim
Warren stalked back and forth across
the drawing room as Edna talked
His hands were Clenched savagely
his teeth crushed together. From
time 10 time he turned fatty and
looked down upon this woman with
the misty eyes. She was apologizine
to him: he owed her apologies. not
she, Occasionally there was little
catch in her voice. a half sob. as she
ralked: then she recovered herself
and went on bravely.
There were DAYS and DAYS when
| merely hated you for what you
had said" she was saying in a low
tense voice Il thought your innu
endoes were cowardlv; ! told YOU they
were cOwardly - and all the time
You were merely trying to make me
understand. couldn't bring myself
10 believe that this man to whom
had given so much was anything
but what | had pictured him in my
own foolish dreams. When finally
did come TO understand who he
was and what he was'-she raised
her moist eyes pleadlngly- You can
imagine what il meant to me. Every
shred of affection | had ever cher
ished for him died in that instant
the hate that | had directed toward
YOU was turned upon him" She shud
dered a little He had not only de-
ceived me. lied TO me. but he was a
thief. a traitor. criminal.
Jim Warren strobe toward her
imretuously sh" extended her hands
Extensively.
Never mind all this" I've said
harshly. 1T doesn't -
Please hear me to the end. she
begged Il suppose you knew | was
hetrothed TO this man; and YET she
spoke very softly-''it was hardly
love. the feeling | had for him. l.
was rather admiration for what the
man had done had no way OF
knowing - | didn't even dream OF
the manner in which he had gained
his power only knew he had it;
and woman is prone to worship the
strong. Besides. he was going 10
make my father governor; he had
already made him speaker She
paused suddenly and her limpid
ewes reflected her agony and shame
You understand, don't you?'
Il think do" Again Jim War
rem strobe toward her; again she
stopped him.
When finally comprehension
came" she continued in a strained
thin voice. Il went TO my father
and explained that the marriage
would not be would be impossi
BILE
A great gladness pulsed in Jim
Warren's heart. softened the harsh
ness of his face. melted the STEEL
ness CT his sky-blue eyes.
The rest of it is ugly-ugly.
she said family.
please stop" Jim Warren urged
You know the ambition my faith
er has? He wants TO be governor
and after that United States senator
II should break my pledge to Mr.
-Mr.-him-it would mean that all
his power would be directed against
nv father to defeat him. My faith
er saw it instantly and pointed II
out to me. He too-my own father
had deceived me; but what could
do?" She stopped. Jim Warren
started to say something. She went
en- hastily: IF my betrothal were
allowed to stand it would hold his
support to my father" Her face
famed suddenly. You see I'm goods
Pm chattels they're bargaining
with me-"
Jim Warrens fingers closed and
Enclosed spasmodically. He would
have given something at that in,
slant to have had them about the
fat neck Of the honorable speaker.
Finally | agreed to my fathers
wishes - | could do nothing else.
Edna resumed The betrothal is to
stand for the present, but ! am
going away going away tomorrow
to be gone for months. ! couldn't
bear to remain here and live the
lie that ! should have to live.
l felt that ! must make you un
derstand before | went. | wanted
you TO know that | know who and
what this man is. want to apollo
SlIe 10 you anu wait " 'iloih
you" She sighed YEARLY. That Is
all You understand now?'
How trivial. how pitifully incon
sequential it all was compared to the
confession helm Warren-had to
make! She had believed in the man
whom she was to marry. 1t was just
and right that she should believe in
him. But he. Jim Warren - He
drew a chair up opposite to her and
sat down looking straight into her