Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-09-26

Singular perVersion of language and
thought there! If two struggled like
wild beasts that was fighting like men!
But let that pass. continued the
woman. I don't deny your physical
courage, but I am going to appeal to
another kind of a courage which l be-
lieve you possess. You have showed
your evil side here in this room. but
don't believe that's the only side you
have, else I couldn't have liked you in
the past. You have made a charge
against two women; one dead and one
living. 1t makes little difference what
you say about me, l need TO defense
and no justification in the eyes of
those here who love me, and for the
rest of the world I don't care. But you
have slain this mans confidence in
woman he once loved, and who he
thought loved him AS you are a man.
tell him that it was a lie and that she
was innocent Of anything else although
she did love you"
What a singular situation, an obser-
yer who knew all might have reflect
ed! Here was Enid Maitland pleading
for the good name of the woman who
had married the man she Tow loved.
and whom by rights she should have
jealousy hated.
You ask me more than l CAN
faltered Armstrong yet greatly moved
by this touching appeal to his better
self.
1T AT hin, ODoolr No r,-c,I ,,
Newbold quickly Il wouldn't believe
him on his oath"
STEADY now, steady" fnterposed
Kirkby with his frontier instinct for
fair play. the mans down. Newbold.
don't hit him now"
Give him a chance" added Matt
land earnestly.
you would not believe me, eh?"
laughed Armstrong horribly, well
then this is what I say, whether it is
true or lie you can be the Judge"
What was he about to say? They
all recognized instinctiveIy that his
forthcoming deliverance would be a
final one. Would good or evil domin-
ate him now? Enid Maitland had
made her plea and it had been a pow
erful one; the man did truly love
the woman who urged him; there was
nothing left for him but a chance that
she should think better of him than
he merited; he had come to the end
Of his resources. And Enid Maitland
spoke again as he hesitated
20, think. think before you speak"
she cried
IF I thought, answered Arm
strong quickly, I should go mad. New
bold, your wife was as pure as the
snow; that she loved me cannot and
will not deny, she married you in a
fit of jealousy and anger after a quar-
rel between US in which I was to
blame, and when I came back to the
camp in your absence, I strove to
make it up and used every argument
that 1 possessed to get her to leave
you and to live with me- Although
she had no love for you she was too
good and too true woman for that.
Now you've got the truth, damn you,
believe it or not as you like Miss
Maitland" he added swiftly IF had
met you sooner, / might have been
a better man. Good bye"
He turned suddenly and none pre-
venting, indeed it was not possible. he
ran to the outer door: as he did so
his hand snatched something that lay
on the chest of drawers. There was
a fash of light as he drew in his arm
but none saw what it was In a few
seconds he was outside the door. The
table was between old Kirkby and the
exit; Maitland and Newbold were
nearest The old man came to his
senses first