Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-01-05
Fighting Hope .
From the Play by
WILLIAM J. HURLBURT

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 days? Is his
cold quite gone? Is Harold's finger
we'll again? Have they hid that hor-
rid penknife?" Anna was untying
Mrs. Mason's veil and pouring out her
questions in a torrent
| Mrs. Mason assured her that the boys
were both we'll and happy, that the
new nurse was doing beautifully and
that, except for a few hours when the
rascals had her locked in the chicken
house, she was having fine time.
"Oh, she won't mind an incense
quential thing like the chicken house,"
laughed Anna. handing Mrs. Mason her
veil pins. when once she's used to
J those boys They locked their mother
in one day, and l had to spank them.
poor little dears. Oh, but I'm sick with
longing for them-sick!'
II know, dearie." soothed Mrs. Ma.
son, patting her on the back. but
I've something else to tell you. You
couldn't guess why was so late COM
ing back? No? Well. I've been up to
see Robert"
"You have!" Anna started never so
slightly. Isis he we'll? Is he keep
ing up? What did he think about my
being here:'
"Oh, he's well, and he's keeping up.
They're all very good to him. They
feel he is up there through miscar-
riage of justice. They treat him kind
ly. They've made him what they call
'trusty.'"
Anna was listening with strained at
| tention.
you explained to him, didn't you,
Mrs. Mason? You made it clear just
| why l left home? You made him I'M
! derstand that am in position here
, to find out the truth that will convict
the man who has done this thtngT'
| Mrs. Mason plucked several imagt-
nary threads of her skirts to hide her
confusion.
AT first, you know" went on Anna.
II thought it best not to let him know
about my having left home. l knew
he would worry about the boys. But
a few days ago l managed to get him
word. 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.
"Well. 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. "Poor
boy! Hes afraid the work will prove
too hard for me. 1t won't I'll fasten
the crime yet, though it may break my
heart" The final words were almost
, choked She walked across to the win
dow and stool. staring out at the grim
prison there. It was little trick she
had learned whenever she wished to
steel herself in the fight she had un-
dertaken. Presently she turned back
a dumb, pathetic perplexity in each
gray eye.
"Oh, If I could get back to the con-
dition in which I entered this house.
the clear air where there are no OBJ.
securities, no mysteries'-
She spoke half to herself, but the
words fell like little whips on Mrs.
Mason's ears.
"What obscurities, what mysteries
are you talking Oft" she said sternly.
II don't understand"
mo more do mo more do IT, Anna
twisted and UNFINISHED her hands in
silence for a moment. "Only this l
know" she said at last when
| came here I could harden my heart
against the man with whom I had
come to wage war. could continual
" remember his responsibility for
Roberts imprisonment Oh, l could
fight fairly and squarely. But now
ITS strange" she went on redec'
tively-"strange. Now I always have
to bring myself up with a deliberate
effort. l have to think to hate him
don't hate him intuitvely any more
There's something about him"-her
voice softened oddly-"1 can't describe
It. Hes strong. somehow. Hes big
and deep and earnest and illimitably
strong. He draws one"