The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1912-05-23

-Ahi I begin 10 understand. You
knew Robert Underwood Howard
knows your yoice--he heard you--taik.
ing to him Oh. MIRA. Jeffriesi Are
you the woman who visited his apart
ments that niKhtf'
The bankers wife bowed her head
and collapsed on q chair.
Yes" she murmured III a low tone
Annie looked at her IN amazement.
why didn't you come forward at
once7" shs cried. Think OF tho pain
which you might have spared usl"
Alicia covered her face with her
handkerchief. She was crying now.
The disgrace-the disgsacel" she
moaned.
-Disgracel" echoed Annie. stupe-
Ned. Indignantly. she went on: "Dia-
srace--to your But what Of me and
Howardf"
Cant you realize what II means to
be associated with such a crime7" the
walled.
'Disgrscel" cried Annie contemptu.
ousiy. What Ia disgrace when hu-
man life n at stakef"
1t seemed 90 useless" moaned Al.
icia-~"a useless sacrifice in the face
OF 'Howards confession. OF course
III I'D known--if I'd suspected what
you tell me--rd have como forward
and told evcrythinK-no matter at
what cost" Tearfully she added:
Surely you realize the position It
puts me inf''
A new light shonc In Annie's eyes.
What was this womsn's misery TO
herf Her duty was TO the poor fel.
low who was counting the hours until
she could set him free. His stepmoths
er deserved no mercy. Utterly self
ish. devoid Of spark Of humanity.
she would have left them both TO
perish Ia order to protect herself from
shame and ridicule Her face was set
and determined as she said calmly:
IT must BE dono now"
Yes murmured Alicia In a low
tone that sounded like a sob, 1T must
10 done nowi oh. n I'D only done Il
befdre--if I'D only told Mr.. JeYries
the whole truth You speak OF How.
ards sufferings. II he didn't do Il,
he has 1T least the consciousness OF
h's own innocence. but Tho con-
slant fear OF being found out is worse
than any hell tho imagination can con.
jure up. dreaded It'll dread Il now
1T means disgrace--social ostracism
my husband must know-the whole
world will know"
Annie was not listening. Still bo-
wildered. she gaxed with tho utmost
establishment at her companion. To
think that this mysterious woman
they had been seeking was Howard's
stepmother.
80 you're the missing witness wa
have all been hunting fori- she said:
4 can't believe II even now. How
AID It happenf"
He and I were once engaged.
broke It on when I found him ont
After I married Mr.. Jefrries / met I'm.
derwood again. Foolishly. I ailo&ed
he old intimacy to be renewed Us
took advantage and preyed on my
friends. forbade him my house.
He wrote me a letter In which he /
threatened 20 kill himself. was
afraid he meant It'll wanted 70 pre.
rent him went 70 his rooms that
night I--didn't sell Mr.. JefYrses
When the truth Is known and &C.
knowledge that visited this man.
can you ses what II meansr-vhat n
fuss there'il be. Everybody viii nut
the worst construction on it,"
Trust them for thatl" said Annie
grimly. She was sorry for the wom-
ans distress, yet being only human.
she felt certain sense OF satisfaction
In seeing her suffer a little of what
she had been made to suffer.
They'll say that God knows
what they'll sayi" went on Alicia dis
my husband will be
dragged through the mire Of another
public scandal-his social prestige will
-oh. I dare not think Of IT. know
my duty il to that unfortunate boy. 4
think OF myself"
Have you the letter that Mr.. In
derwood wrote your" demanded her
"Yes-1've never been able to de-
stroy It. don't know why kept II.
but thank God I have it," Moaning,
he went on: