, 1911-11-23

| think 7 understand"
mo-! Annals voice was low. but
steady now, and she spoke with a sort
OF retrospective finality. mo. it was
not wholly natural. II had to fight
to do 1t all. 1t wasn't easy. this de
ceiving you. this spying upon you. I
had to 20 against my instinct every
time-give the lie to my IMPULSES
From the moment l saw You I must
have been believing in you. I think.
And every day since I've been here
I've been believing more and more.
No, you see. II wasn't wholly natural
was fighting against hope"
But the hope fought. too. didn't II.
dear?" he asked solemnly.
A light leaned into her eyes,
AYE" said she. at was n fighting
hope. 1t fought. and II has won" she
whispered half to herself with trem
bling lips, looking far. far past him
And it was a joy to the man to see
the smile in her eyes. "I know now
with every faculty what my heart
must have known from the first. |
know that Yes. I know" she shud-
dered. but 7 mustn't say IT"
you love mel" cried he. mo. don't
say IT," He swallowed painfully. But
It will be n comfort to think some
times that n scrap of the very best
that is in you is mine. That can do
no harm. can it?'
She could not answer for fear that
her heart might tear from its moor
ings.
When h spoke 1t was an eminent
ly practical thing she had to say:
''There's some way at least. thank
God. in which | can repair a little the
injury l have done you. When your
case m up for trial | can give my
testimony. I can tell what became of
that letter. | can repeat it, word for
word. the foul thing. My testimony
would have weight. would it not? 1t
would have weight because 1t would
be against my interest"
at would have weight with the jury,
yes" Temple nodded. A pause. But
he he itatcd. then went on bravely-
mo II knows of your having burned
this letter.
Mrs. Mason knows. She's an old
~" VI ny = d. 4 lDllIu ttt
here by chance. She knows. but she
won't speak. She's on Roberts side.
oh. but she must speak, She must!'
cried Anna. with sudden resolve. 'She
must help in this. She must help
undo the wrong | have done. Ring
for her. please. l want her.
Mrs. Mason" said she when the
h~ousekeeper entered, taking in the sit
uation mt a glance. 'lve got to go to
court and tell what I've done. I've
got to tell the truth. My testimony
means Mr.. Temples liberty-and
more
The old New Englander had been
almost prepared for this. Neverthe-
less she turned toward Burton Temple
in indignant protest.
Surely you won't ask her to do
this"
He shook his head gravely.
Il shall ask nothing he said.
"You see. Anna. He'll not require
it of you"
Il know" returned Anna duly. But
Mrs. Mason didn't like the CLEAN that
shone in her eyes. She attacked 1t
first by cunning.
You wouldn't have the heart to
send your husband back to prison just
as he's about to be pardoned or &C.
quitted?"
But he's guilty. you see, guilty as
hell!' She leaned back in her chair
with half closed eyes.
Well, it's one thing to send a guilty
husband to jail continued Mrs. Ma
SON. and it's another thing to send
your children's father there. branded
a felon by heir mother.'
She saw by the spasmodic clutch of
Annals hand on the arm of the chair
how directly her shaft had gone home.
you told me awhile ago that you'd
failed in helping them" she pursued.
You needn't fail. Why, I'd let every
man on earth go to prison and stay
there before I'd forget tha | was a
mother and had two boys with two
names to carry through lifef"
"Im teach them to make their names
over. I'll look out for my boys" Anna
stirred on her chair tiredly.
you'll teach them to make their
names over? Why. Anna Granger.
you told me only a half hour ago sob
bingly in your room how their fathers
disgrace would be thrown in their
faces all the days of their life
"Oh. | know. | know" moaned the
woman on the chair.
"Well," concluded Mrs. Mason,
that's the thing for a mother in your
place to remember. right or wrong
Learn 1t by rote If 1t Isn't already born
In you. Your duty is to your boys, to
give your boys an honorable name"
"Ah. If | could. If I only COULD"
cried Anna bitterly. But I can't give
them that. you see"
You can give them at least the APP