The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1912-04-13

word, the foul thing. My testimony
would have weight, would it not?- It
would have weight because it would
be against my interest,"
1T would have weight with the iurv.
yes" Temple nodded. A pause, "But"
he hesitated, then went on bravely-
mo one knows Of your having burned
this letter%
Mrs. Mason knows. She's an old
friend Of my mothers. I found her
here by chance. She knows, but she
won't speak. She's on Roberts side.
Oh, but she must speak! She mustv
cried Anna. with sudden resolve. "She
must help in this. She must help
undo the wrong l have done. Ring
Tor her, please. L want her.
MRS. Mason" said she when the
housekeeper entered, taking in the ST.
uation at glance. i've got to 20 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.
It Of you" H.
II know" returned Anna duly. But
Mrs. Mason didn't like the CLEAN that
shone in her eyes. She attacked it
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.
quittedY
But he's guilty, you see, guilty as
HE'LL! She leaned back in her chair
with half closed eyes.
well. it's one thing to send guilty
husband to jail" continued Mrs. Ma
son, land it's another thing to send
your children's father there, branded
felon by their 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
Jailed 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 that 1 was
mother and had two boys with two
names to carry through ifer
f0Q0h IN kI@S~
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 half hour ago Sob
o1ngly In your room how their fathers
disgrace would be thrown in their
faces all the days Of their life
"Oh. I 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 it by rote If it isn't already born
In you. Your duty is to your boys, to
give your boys an honorable name"
AN. IT ! could! If I only could!"
cried Anna bitterly. But can't give
them that. you see"
You can give them at least the an
pearance of an honest name whether
their father is honorable or not. I'm
not pleading any longer for Robert,
the scamp. Let the men out Of it. both
your husband and-Mr. Temple
She of the Puritan conscience nodded
coldly to one side to where the biz
hnancier stood silently. taking no part
IN the discussion. AFTER ALL" she add
ed. Il suppose Roberts no worse than
good many other men in the world
OF finance. You shouldn't Judge him
20 harshly, Anna
Annals delicate brows twitched.
When she spoke it was in an odd.
faint voice. Mrs. Mason and the whole
room seemed to be moving out Of her
vision.
Il don't know many men," she said
measuredly. Il never did Judge Rob
ert by general standard. Il judged
him by the standard I held out to him
before | married him. It was a pretty
Dig one, but he knew 1t, and, God for
give him, he knelt beside me and
swore it was his own.
And now'-again, that spasmodic
tw1tch1ng of the brows. while the low.
measured voice went on-''and now it's
not only against my standard that I
balance him. weigh him against one
Who 1s my standards standard
ITO BE coNr1NuzD.l
s 3, # IS -