The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-02-09

me for-for what I've done. or let
mother know. I couldn't tell n stranger
even if he went right TO Arthur with
H." Then. stepping mp to my side, she
whispered in my ear There is some
thing | conld say which might
I stopped her. Right or wrong. l
stopped her. She possessed evidence.
or thought she did. which might help
10 clear Arthur. Evidence of what?
Evidence which would implicate Car
mel? The very thought unneryed me.
~ had rather not be the recipient
of this confidence II II is all important
or nj all In the line of testimony. Re
member the man mentioned He will
be glad to hear Of anything helpful to
his client"
Her distress mounted to passion.
"It's-it's something that will de-
stroy my mothers confidence In me.
! disobeyed her. did what she
would never have let me do II she had
known. IL used TO meet Arthur in
the driveway back by the barns. l
had key made TO the little side door
so that could do IL. I used to meet
him late. would get up out of bed
when mother was asleep and dress
myself and sit at the window until |
heard him come up the street Then
l would steal down and catch him on
his way to the stables. IL had a
good reason for this, Elwood. He
knew would be there. and it brought
him home earlier and not quite So
SO full Of liquor IL he was very bad
he would come up the other way, and
| would sit waiting and crying till 3
o'clock struck. then creep into my bed
and try to sleep. Nights and nights
I have done this. Nothing else in life
seemed 80 important. for it did hold
him back little. but not so much as
IL he had loved me more. He loved
me some, but he couldn't have loved
me very much or he would have sent
me some word or seen me. If but for
a minute. since Adelaide's death. And
he hasn't-he hasn't-and that makes
II harder for me TO acknowledge the
watch I kept on him and how l know
he never went through our grounds
for the second time that night. He
went once. about o. but not later
am certain of this. for / was looking
out for him till 3 in the morning. II
he came back and then returned aft
erward 10 town IL was through his
own street. and that takes so long
be would never have been able to get
to the place they said he did Mt the
time they have agreed upon. know
that he needs some one to come out
boldly in his cause. and want to be
that some one, and 1 will be, too.
J whatever happens to me. if-if must"
she family added
was dumb. but not from lack of In
lerest or from unsympathetic feeling
for this brave hearted girl. The sig
nifcance of the situation was what
held me speechless. Here was help for
| Arthur without my Drawing all the
horrors Of Carmel's downfall by any
J mpuIsive act of my own. For mo-
ment hope in one burning and renew
( ing flame scared high in my breast
was willing to accept my release In
this way. was willing TO shift the
load from my own back to the delicate
shoulders of this shrinking but ardent
girl. Then reason returned IL consid-
Grafton halted. and | asked myself:
But is the help she offers of any prac-
tical worth? Would her timid declara-
tons. trembling as she was between
her awe Of her parents and her desire
TO serve the man she loved, weigh In
the balance against the evidence ac-
cumulated by the district attorney"
1t seemed doubtful. She would not
be believed. and should have to back
I'D her statement with my own hither-
10 suppressed testimony-a woman TO
be sacrificed whichever course / took.
Such native chivalry rs remained 10
me urged me to spare this little friend
of mine Then Carmels image rose be-
fore me, glorious, imprisoned, driven
by the fierce oprush of some mighty
inherent force into violent deeds I'M
drea med of by most women, but when
thus undriven. gentle In manner. ele-
waited in thought, refined as only few
rare characters are refined, and my
heart stood still again with doubt and
| COulu uOL guy. II 10 youi uutJ ~
save him at all hazards. Brave your
father. brave your mother, brave pub
lie opinion and possibly the wrecking
of your whole future, but tell the
truth and rid your days of doubt. your
nights of remorse." / could not say
this. So many things might happen TO
save Arthur. to save Carmel, to save
the little woman before me. ] would
trust that future. temporize a bit ana
give such advice as would relieve us
both from immediate fear without
compromising Arthur's undoubted
rights TO justice.
Meanwhile something must be said
at once. As soon as she looked my
way again spoke:
ELLA. this is no easy problem you
have offexed me- can sympatnize
with you. possibly as no one else cam
but I cannot reach Arthur either py
word or by message. Your father Is
the man to appeal to in case interfer'
ence becomes necessary and you must
speak. You have not quite the same
fear of him that you have or your
mother He's a just man. You may
shock his fatherly susceptibiliteS. you