Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-01-10
From the Play by
WILLIAM J. HURLBURT


? No. you see. it wasn't wholly natural.
! was fighting against hope"
"But the hope fought. too. didn't it.
dear?" he asked solemnly.
A light leaped into her eyes.
aye" said she. lit was fighting
hope 1t fought. and it has won." she
whispered half to herself with trem-
bling lips. looking far. far past him.
And it was JOY to the man to see
the smile in her eyes. II know now
with every faculty what my heart
must have known from. the first. I
know that Ives. know" she shud-
dered. but mustn't say it."
"You love me-" cried he. "No. don't
say it." He swallowed painfully. But
It will be a comfort to think some
times that a 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 it's moor
ings.
" uCA SuC SlJOAC ~ "tAo OAA SAAAASAAs
~ practical thing she had to say:
"There's some way at least, thank
God, in which l can repair little the
injury I have done you. When your
case comes up for trial can give my
testimony. can tell what became of
that letter. I can repeat it. word for
word, the foul thing. My testimony
would have weight. would it not? 1t
would have weight because it would
be against my interest,"
1T would have weight with the jury,
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. l found her
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 l have done Ring
for her, please. want her
"Mrs. Mason" said she when the
housekeeper entered, taking in the sit
uation at glance. 1--WE 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:'
tie 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 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.
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 guilty
husband to Jail" continued Mrs. Ma
son. land it's another thing to send
your children's father there. branded
a 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
failed in helping them" she pursued.
you needn't fail. Why. I'd let every
man on earth 60 to prison and stay
there before I'd forget that l was a
mother and had two boys with two
names to carry through life!"
''l'll 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
bfngly 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 OH 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"
"Ah. if could! If only could!
cried Anna bitterly. But I can't give
them that, you see''
You can give them Mt least the ap-
pearance of IN 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 big
dnancier stood silently. taking no part
In the discussion. AFTER ALL" she add
ed, Il suppose Roberts no worse than
a good many other men in the world
Of finance. You shouldn't Judge him
so harshly. Anna"
Annals delicate brows twitched
When she spoke it was in an odd.
faint voice. Mrs. Mason and the whole