The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-02-09
The |N
 NOveIized by VIRGINIA LEILA WENT1
(Conunued.)

conflicts with himself. He felt q sud den warmth behind his eyes and + his throat. All he did, however. wa to look big, hold his tongue and env. the dead their enforced responsibility
 "I-Pm not often agitated,' said Anna, rising, with an odd, starr! smile, ''and you must pardon me that display of oversentiment-" But be fore he could have spoken: 'I must really go in now I've promised Mrs. Mason to play a game of pachisi, or cribbage, or something," she faltered. So Temple. eIaborately commiserating, escorted her up the red gravel path
 
 Anna was growing excessively un- easy. For quite two hours now she'd been anxiously expecting Mrs Mason's return from Westfield- What could be the matter? At the very least it must be the measles. Finally, however. her elder friend came in smilingly, disarm- ing all fears.
 And how's the new nurse getting on with them? Does she make Robbie wear his rubbers on wet days7 Is his cold quite gone? Is Harold's finger we'll again7 Have they hid that hor- rid penknife?" Anna was untying Mrs. Mason's veil and pouring out her questions in torrent.
 Mrs. Mason assured her that the boys were both well and happy, that the new nurse was doing beautifully and that, except for few hours when the rascals had her locked in the chicken house, she was having fine time.
 "oh, she won't mind an incense quenrial thing like the chicken house" |" laughed Anna. handing Mrs. Mason her veil pins, when once she's used to those boys. They locked their mother in one day, and had to spank them. FOOT little dears. Oh, but I'm sick with longing for them-sickr'
 'I know, dearie," soothed Mrs Ma son, batting her on the back. ''But I've something else to tell you. You couldn't guess why was so late com ing back? No? We'll, I've been up to see Robert
 You haveI'' Anna started never so slightly. Isis he well? Is he keep ing up? What did he think about my being hereT"
 "Oh, he'sNwe11, and he's keeping up. They're all very good to him. They feel he Is up there through a miscar- riage of justice. They treat him kind Iy. Tbay've made him what they call a trusty.'"
 Anna was listening with strained at- tention.
 You explained to him, didn't you Mrs. Mason? You made it clear just why I left home? YOu made him un- derstand that am in a position here to find out the truth that will convict the man who has done this thingF'
 Mrs. Mason plucked several imagi- nary threads off her skirts to hide heI confusion.
 "At first, you know" went on Anna. ~rI thought it best not to let him know about my having left home- knew he would worry about the boys But a few days ago managed to get him word 1 felt the time had come And now. what does he sayT'
 Mrs. Mason still faltered- Her con science would not permit her to tell less than the whole truth; neverthe- less, she longed for some fashion in which to put it gently.
 ''Wen. he said, dear-he turned white and said he didn't want you to remain in this house. Said it didn't look quite right; that he'd rather have you home with the children than here in Temples house."
 Anna smiled indulgently. 'Poo. boy! He's afraid the work will prove too hard for me. It won't. Til fasten the crime yet, though it may break my heart" The final words were almost choked. She walked across to the win dow and stood staring out at the grin prisCn there. r. was a little trick she had learned whenever she wished tc steel herself ia the fight she had un. dertaken. Presently she turned back a dumb. pathetic perplexity in eacL gray eye
 "Oh, if I could get back to the con dition in which entered this house the clear air where there are no ob scurities. no lnysteries''-
 She spoke half to herself, but the words fell like little whips on Mrs Mason's ears.
 "What ohscurities, what mysteries are you talking of?'' she said sternly 'I don't understand
 'sNo more do Tho more do Ti'' Anna twisted and untwisted her hands ir silence for a moment "Only this know" she said at last. "When came here I could harden my heart against the man with whom I had come to wage war I could continual ly remember his responsibility foI Roberts Imprisonment. Oh. I could fight fairly and squarcly. But now
 Its strange" she went on rehec tively-"strange. Now always have to bring myself up with a deliberate effort I have to think to hate him-l don't hate him intuitively any more There's something about him'-heI voice softened oddly-"I can't describe it. He's strong. somehow. He's big and deep and earnest and illimitabl5 : strong. He draws one"