The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-02-03

what's the matter? You're pale as
death-you-"
Alicia could contain herself no long
or. Her nerves were on the point oil
giving way. She felt that If she couid
not confde her secret TO some one
she must go lad. Pacing the hoor'
she cried:
What am to do? What am TO
do? believed Howard guilty. Why
shouldn't I? had no reason TO DOUBT
his own confession. Every one be-
lieved this own father included.
Why should | doubt it. But | see IL
all now. Underwood must have snot
himself as he said he would"
Annie started. What did Mrs. JET
fries mean? Did she realize the ire
mendous significance of the words she
was uttering?
I "As he said he would?" she repeat
ed slowly.
"Yes," said Alicia weakly.
Annie bounded forward and grasped
her companions arm. Her race
flushed almost unable to speak from
suppressed emotion, she cried:
"Ah! I begin to understand. you
knew Robert Underwood? Howard
knows YOUR voice-he heard you-talK-
ing to him Oh, Mrs. Jenries! Are
Won the woman who visited his apart
ments that night?'
The bankers wife bowed her head
and collapsed on a chair.
Yes" she murmured in low tone'
Annie looked at her in amazement'
"Why didn't you come forward at
once?" she cried. Think OF the pain
which you might have spared u.s.
Alicia covered her face with her
handkerchief. She was crying now
THE disgrace-the disgrace" she
moaned.
"Disgrace!" echoed Annie, stupe-
fed Indignantly, she went on: DIS
grace-to you? But what OF me and
Hcward?"
Cant YOU realize what It means to
be associated with such a crime!" sne
walled.
"Disgrace!" cried Annie contemptu-
ously. What is disgrace when d nu-
man life il at stake?"
TT seemed so useless" moaned Al
icia-"a useless sacrifice In the face
of Howard's confession. OF course
If I'd known-f I'd suspected what
YOU tell me-I'd have come forward
and told everything-no matter at
what cost" Tearfully she added:
"Surely you realize the position II
puts me in?"
A new light shone in Annie's eyes.
, What was this woman's misery 10
her? Her duty was to the poor lei
low who was counting the hours until
she could set him free His stepmoth-
or deserved no mercy. Utterly SELL
ish. devoid of a spark of humanity,
she would have left them both to
perish in order to protect herself from
shame and ridicule. Her face was set
and determined as she said calmly:
1T must be done now
yes" murmured Alicia In a low
tone that sounded like sob, ut must
he done now. Oh, If I'd only done 1t
before-if I'd only told Mr.. Jeffries
the whole truth, You speak OF How
ards sufferings. II he didn't do 1t,
no has at least the consciousness of
his own innocence, but 1.-The con-
slant fear of being found out is worse
than any hell the imagination can con-
lure I'D. / dreaded it-I dread 1t now
1T means disgrace-social ostracism
my husband must know-the whole
world will know"
Annie was not listening. Still be-
wildered. she gazed with the utmost
, astonishment at her companion. 10
think that this mysterious woman
they had been seeking was Howards
stepmother
$50 you're the missing witness we
have all been hunting for!" she said;
'I can't believe It even now. How
did It happen?"
He and I were once engaged.
broke It off when I found him out.
After married Mr.. Jeffries | met Un-
derwood again. Foolishly, | allowed
the old intimacy to be renewed. He
took advantage and preyed on my
friends | forbade him my house.
He wrote me a letter in which he
threatened to kill himself. | was
afraid he meant it wanted to pre-
vent him. went to his rooms that
night. didn't tell Mr.. Jeffries.
/ When the truth Is known and | ac-
knowledge that I visited this man
can You see what it means?-what a
fuss therell be. Everybody will put
the worst construction on it"
Trust them for that" said Annie
grimly. She was sorry for the wom-
ans distress, yet, being only human,
+ ehe felt a certain sense of satisfaction
in seeing her suffer little OF what
! she had been made 10 suffer.
They'll say that God knows
what they'll say!" went on Alicia dis
tractedly. My husband will be