Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1912-02-23

- 3 GyA w.
Copyright. 1911. by American Press
Association
Ice.
"Sh-h-h! What do you mean any
how? am innocent; / am" He did
not whisper now; he almost shrieked,
even as he had in court that day when
the jury pronounced him guilty. And
now, as then, he fancied he saw over
his head the cruel Roman symbol OF
vengeance, the faces and the ax-saw
too, the calm women who spin the
thread Of life, crouching on the shad
owy frescoed wall Of the courtroom. a
naked skull at their feet.
Something seemed to grip his throat.
He strangled an instant, then he
coughed and spat. He drew his hands
across his eyes and pulled himself to-
gether.
II am inaocent, fnnocentw he IN
sisted
Don't! Don't. Robertw cried Anna,
pity at the shameful sight Of her per
5ured husband rising in her heart. Il
know the whole of 1t. I've read the
letter you wrote to Cornelius Brady,
you see."
He shook as a man seized suddenly
by some deadly disease. Then in
stinctively, fearfully, he looked to-
ward Mrs. Mason.
'She knows ALL" said Anna quietly.
"Who has that letter? Where Is it?
Has Temple got it: My God. why
don't you tell mel"
There is no letter now, Robert. I
read 1t. and burned it without think
ing"
You destroyed It? Then it can't be
used against me! Oh, Anna, you're a
trump He seized both her hands and
kissed them in frenzy Of relief. Even
in that pivotal moment, though. when
the weight Of months had fallen from
him and left him light. suspicion
came to him, a jailbird suspicion.
"But you said without thinking
Without thinking what AnnaY'
without thinking that a. well as
c0nvicting You that letter was the only
evidence to vindicate Mr.. Temple" an
swered she calmly.
Then Mrs. Mason. with a sneer.
made It plain.
Maybe your wife feels that an inno-
cent man mustn't be sent to prison,
Mr.. Granger, or maybe she feels
some stronger motive. I remember that
you were adverse to her staying on
here the day that I saw you. Now,
believe. she thinks of giving evidence
about the destruction Of that letter."
At the last sentence the ugly, con-
demning. vindictive expression which
had come into Changers face at her
discriminating words vanished.
ANNA. it's not true! It couldn't be
true that you would expose mey' he
gasped in a sort Of terror. You are
not going to tell about that letter!
Why, I am your husband. Anna-your
husband! I did certify that check.
Yes, 1 did. But. good God. why should
you want to ruin me?"
He sank at her feet in pitiful, alb
ject appeal.
"Anna, as your husband. a. q man
who loves you and whom you once
loved. I say, forgive me. Great heav-
ems! I've repented. I've paid thrice
over again for my folly. What can !
Do now7 I can't undo what's been
done. It's you who must wipe out the
stain; help me to begin over again.
Your forgiveness would be absolution.
Anna. you will forgive meT'
Curiously the woman touched his
shoulder. Instinctively she wanted to
feel just little bit alive. But she
might AZ well have touched a post Of
wood. It seemed as though the very
faculty Of feeling had been obliterated
within her.
"Forgive you? I suppose 1 must.
Robert" she said Mfelessly. "All wo-
men forgive. They were put into the
world like priests or governors, think.
Only we are not supposed to give pen
ances or sentences Her voice trailed
of YEARLY.
"You see, Anna." Granger went on.
trying to excuse himself. II knew I
hadn't made the success Of my life
that you'd expected. 1t touched my
pride to the quick to see you living in
that narrow way-you. who might
have been a queen among women" A
look of cunning came into his face.
"And then, the boys
but. Robert, didn't you know that
would sooner have worked my I'M
gers to the bone and my brain to lit
tie white spot than have you do this
awful thing? Didn't you know I would
sooner have worn rags than have you
steal7" She made a pitiful little ges-
ture and ended with half sob.
II know, / know" said he. Its easy
now to see what a mad idea it all
was But I had that chance to get q
fresh start in life. With money could
do big things; could make myself all
that you wanted me to be- The boys
were growing up We needed more for
them for college and to give them a
fair start.
"And listen. Anna"-he moistened
his lips-"I've invested the money. I
put IL in stocks that would pay we'll:
I was going to use the interest for you
and the boys. little at time You
see, it was for you and them l did it.
I was fool, perhaps-I was worse
Yes, know. But you'll help me now.
won't you? I need you"
The appeal had gone home; he had
aroused the maternal instinct, always
dominant in Annals breast. CThe
Largo Of Motherhood" in the "Sym-
phony Of Womanhood" was playing
again.) She put cut her hand toward
him again with a quick, unconscious
gesture, such as she used In the nurs-