The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1912-04-13
The
Fighting
Hope
Novelized by
VIRGINIA LEILA WENTz
From the Play by.
WILLIAM J. HURlbURT .
Copyright. 1871. by American Press

Copyright. 1871. by American Press
Association
CONTINUED

At your home. Very we'll. I'll fetch
1t down myself tonight Goodby"
Miss Dale" he said, turning to his
secretary, II think if you'll get me that
letter out Of the safe I'll take the next
train for New York"
The room seemed to be darkening.
She made a few steps toward the safe,
tottered and fell upon the divan. With
long shudder that relaxed all her
young limbs her senses left her.
Poor little woman, she's been work
ing too hard! 1 ought to have thought"
Temple rang the bell for Mrs. Mason.
then bent above her in a tender alb
sorption, speaking to her as he might
have spoken to a child, calling her,
comforting and rousing her. His deep
voice had an enchanter's sweetness,
and gradually it wooed her back to
life. She did not know what he was
saying to her. but she responded. Her
white lids fluttered; she moved; a deep
sigh lifted her breast.
At that moment the door In Mrs. Ma
sons hand escaped her and swung to.
"Mrs. Mason, is that you?" said Tenn
pie, without looking around "Will you
come here? Poor child, I'm afraid she
needs your care
Anna raised herself by an effort. Her
first half conscious impulse was to
throw herself into the arms Of. the
woman standing by her. Then as she
perceived Mrs. Mason clearly, as her
reason came back and her gaze stead
led, the impulse died.
THAT was dowdy sort Of thing to
do" said she alphabetically, with a
faint smile. She rose to her feet.
"Did I turn up my eyes to heaven,
wabble once and overwhelm you, Mr.
Temple? I've seen it done like that
on the stage; it looks melodramatic.
I'm sorry" She was talking frivo-
lousy against the awful blackness of
despair in the background Of her mood.
"Now, Mrs. Mason" Temple said,
with big kindness, "help Miss Dale
to her room, lock her in If need be,
and don't let her show her face until
tomorrow at noon. Strict orders, you
understand" he added smilingly.
''Shes overworked. Oh, and Miss Dale,
I'm so sorry to trouble you, but just
one moment before you 60. Would
you mind giving me that combination
so that l can jot it DOWN." Suiting
the action to the words, he pulled out
a book of memoranda.
"I'- In very bewildered, pathetic
fashion Anna Changers hands went
up to her heavy masses of hair. ''It's
my dizzy, dizzy head, Mr.. Temple"
said she. Tin afraid I can't re-
member the combination just now"
"Well, never mind" returned he
gently. 'There's a later train I can
take, and when it comes to you Just
send it down by Mrs. Mason. Good
evening. and sleep well tonight. I've
lots to say to you tomorrow, Miss
Dale,' he called after them in down
right boyish fashion. His burden of
months had been lifted, and he was
coming to his own again.
Once in the privacy of her own room
Anna told Mrs. Mason everything. She
sat there now, twisting and untwisting
her hands in silence, her face very
white, her pupils wide and black.
"And now" she began again DULY,
Il shall have to go before the man
L have wronged and make my awful
confession. shall have to face the
first big look of incredulity sweeping
over him; then the tightening of his
lion lips and lastly, perhaps, the pity
of his eyes. Oh, I can't, I can't I
never knew before that was a cow
ard. But l am, I am"
Anyhow, dearie," ventured Mrs.
Mason, you've done your duty toward
your children-you have cleared their
name'
"Not really I haven't, not really and
truly. Why, Mrs. Mason, I've just told
you their fathers guilty-guilty as
hell! And to think I shall have to 20
back again to Westfeld and take up
my life with that man, Her brows
tw1tched and she trembled.
"Yes," pursued the stern old Puri-
tan who, because of a peculiar twist
OF conscience, could see the matter
only from one side. "It's the debt
you owe the boys, Anna. No woman
has any right to give helpless souls
the wrong father. And when the day
of reckoning comes it's she must pay.
not the children she's betrayed into
life. Oh, look here! Here's something
was just going to bring you when
Mr.: Temple rang the bell for me. 1t
had just come in the post"
From her pocket Mrs. Mason drew
an envelope, out of which she took two
enclosures.
'They sent them to me, as I told
them" she explained to the wan moth
or, handing her the children's letters.
"Harold writes pretty well for five,
doesn't he, Mrs. Mason" observed
Anna with pride, opening the younger
boys missive first And she read
; aloud: -, E.. ~;>r