The Washington herald., 1912-02-04

ways loved you. Darwin won you, but
l loved he cried, earnestly, "and / be-
lieve you loved me oncer
She paled and her figure stiffened.
Please don't refer to that nowp she
commanded, coldly. And she wondered
that he had dared to say il or that she
deigned to say anything more--even
that much. But primal human pas
sions had taken possession OF both and
the smooth veneer Of convention was
shattered. "You loved the excitement
OF making money! she went on with
icy bitterness. "Of building up for
tunes. for yourself and othersl Sue
cess had more attractions for you than
than a woman's love"
And your husbandl Doesn't he love
success! Doesn't he sacrifice every one
even you'll to gain it?"
Please don't-"
Don't you think he won victory
enough over me when ne got you1" he
went on passionately "You know the
kind of man he is--not justice, but
vengeance Punishment personifedl
are you going to place our lives in his
Your liyes% she exclaimed, in a
startled whisper.
a man like my father doesn't sur
vive term in prison, and IL won't
live to see him sentenced Spare us,
CatherineP he ended, desperately She
looked almost pityingly at his haggard
face, but shook her head.
"Betray my husbandl" she exclaimed.
Wilbur, | can't do thatl These mat
teTs are intrusted to him, and no mat
ter what he is, his work as a prosecutor
IS great and noble. He is the hand of
the government How can you ask any
woman to coldly, deliberately sacrifice
her husbands honor"
It's not his honor--it's his ambition
Father is old-he hasn't long to liyel
And-Catherine, love your he plead
ed, desperately IL have never loved
you more than when you stand there
living wall between me and the pur-
pose of my coming here tonight Can
you do this thing to man that loves
you"
Catherine turned away with quivering
lips.
"You-haye no Sight-to speak of
love. lts--it's an insultp she faltered.
No mans love Is an insult! don't
ask you to return that love I'm only
asking you toto help me for my
fathers sake His voice broke. There
was a moments silence. and when she
turned to face him once more she was
mistress of herself.
What is It you want me to do?" she
asked in a low voice. He spIang
quickly toward her.
Give me those notes and say moth
ing to Mr., Darwin of my visit here! |"
ne cried, eagerly She shook her head
miserably.
Il can't Wilbur, l can't! My God, l
can'tP = she groaned, piteously. How
can ] look my husband in the face
again if deliberately rob him of the
results OF his honest work."
Honest work Dishonest work,
Catherine y he blazed out, his voice
trembling with sudden fury Gle
wormed and tricked those things out of
one of our most trusted officials by
promises of freedoml He bribed a man
TO betray his partnersl Is the man who
bribes any better than the man who is
bribed? I'm afraid that you'll discover
that your god has feet of clay, Cath
erineP
She WINGED at the unconscious irony
OF his last bitter shot Her god But
she could not yield, and she felt that
she could not much longer resist.
PllaaII ask Mr.. Darwin to
To-"
Hell laugh at your cut in the man,
bitterly. And she knew that he spoke
the truth
perhaps he will-he will-he will
relent Or" Emersons sardonic
laugh cut her OFF. "Oh, it's hard-ifs
hard to be placed in this position!" she
walled, wringing her hands. 81 want
to help You and I-dare not | don't
know what to do lust think il he asks
me tomorrow if these things have been
sent would lie and go on lyingl
OIL the dishonesty of the whole thingl
And It isn't the dishonesty as much as
i is.why-why do you force me to do
this" she cried, facing him with tear
tul eyes. You are forcing me l am
giving way against my will If l did
this thing | should tell know
should I'm never able to keep secret
from him! He has way Of compell-
ing YOU to tell all vnu Luan,u and-I,n,