The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-01-04

| fighting for your children and the man
YOU believed In. and you fought to the
bitter end. IL was natural. suppose.
think l understand"
"Now Annals voice was low. but
steady now. and she spoke with sort
OF interpretive finallty. mo. 1t was
not wholly natural. IL had to fight
TO do 1t all. 1t wasn't easy. this de-
ceiving you. this spying upon you. I
had TO go against my instinct every
time-give the lie 10 my impulses.
From the moment l saw you I must
have been believing In you. i think.
And every day since I've been here
I've been believing more and more.
No. you see, 1t wasn't wholly natural.
l was fighting against hope"
"But the hope fought, too, didn't IT,
dear?" he asked solemnly.
A light leaped into her eyes.
"Aye," said she. sit was n fighting
hope. 1t fought. and II has won." she
whispered half to herself with trem-
bling lips. looking far. far past him.
And 1t was JOY to the man to see
the smile in her eyes. IL know now
with every faculty what my heart
must have known from the first.
know that I-yes. know" she shud-
dered. but mustn't say It,"
"Yon love mel" cried he. "No. don't
ray H." He swallowed painfully. But
| II will be a comfort to think some
t,mos tAs. scrap OF the worry best
that is in you is mine. That can do
no harm, can itT
She could not answer for fear that
her heart might tear from its moor
ings.
When she spoke It was an eminent
ly practical thing she had to say:
'srhere's some way at least, thank
| God. In which / can repair little the
injury have done you. When your
case comes up for trial / can give my
testimony, l can tell what became of
that letter. i can repeat IT, word for
word. the foul thing. My testimony
would have weight. would 1t not? It
would have weight because 1t would
be against my interest"
at would have weight with the jury.
yes" Temple nodded. A pause. "But"
he hesitated. then went on bravely-
mo one knows of your having burned
this letter."
"Mrs. Mason knows. She's an old
friend Of my mothers. i found her
here by chance. She knows. but she
won't speak. She's on Roberts side.
Oh. but she must speak! She mustw
cried Anna. with sudden resolve. "She
must help in this. She must help
undo the wrong l have done. Ring
for her. please want her
'NIrs. Mason" said she when the
housekeeper entered, taking in the sit
uation at glance. I've got to go to
court and tell what I've done. I've
got to tell the truth. My testimony
means Mr.. Temples nberty-and
more"
: The old New Highlander had been
almost prepared for this. Neverthe-
: less she turned toward Burton Temple
in indignant protest.
Surely you won't ask her to do
this?"
He shook his head gravely.
IL shall ask nothing" he said. isi-i
"You sec, Anna. He'll not require
1t of you"
~ know" returned Anna duly. But
Mrs. Mason didn't like the CLEAN that
shone in her eyes. She attacked 1t
first by cunning.
you wouldn't have the heart to
send your husband back to prison just
as he's about to be pardoned or ac-
quitted?'
But he's guilty, you see, guilty as
hellw She leaned back in her chair
with half closed eyes.
well, it's one thing to send guilty
husband to JAIL" continued Mrs. Ma
son. land it's another thing to send
your children's father there, branded
a felon by their mother!'
She saw by the spasmodic clutch Of
Annals hand on the arm Of the chair
how directly her shaft had gone home
> you told me awhile ago that you'd
failed in helping them," she pursued
> You needn't fail. Why. I'd let every
man on earth go to prison and stay
: there before I'd forget that I was a
: mother and had two boys with two
: names to carry through lifew
I I'll teach them TO make their names
: over. I'll look out for my boys" Anna
{ stirred on her chair tiredly.
. You'll teach them to mako their
l names over? Why, Anna Granger.
! you told me only half hour ago Sob
t bingly in your room how their fathers
disgrace would be thrown in their
} faces all the days Of their life"-
, "Oh, / know. I know" moaned the
{ woman on the chair.
T We'll" concluded Mrs. Mason.
that's the thing for a mother in your
{ place to remember. right or wrong.
, Learn it by rotc If it isn't already born
in you. Your duty is to your boys, to
give your boys an honorable name"
t "Ah. If could. If I only couId!'
= cried Anna bitterly. "But I can't give
them that. you see"
You can give them ut least the ap-
: pearance of IN honest name whether
their father Is honorable or not I'm
. not pleading any longer for Robert,