Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1912-02-16

Copyright. 1911. by American Press
Association
which loomed larger and darker, az It
| closed in on him. He stared from her
TO the safe. then back again. He. too,
drew his hands across his eyes to cut
| out the picture of the woman who
sank now on her knees before him.
sobbing bitterly. cenvulsively.
Il didn't think. you see. l couldn't
think" she moaned. Il saw only my
boys names branded through life"
Still he did not speak
ooh. why-why don't you say some
thing? Why don't you curse me-"
A vast. overwhelming pity surged up
In Temples heart. Suddenly he forgot
himself, his own horrible future. in
the picture Of the woman he loved so
abased
"Ah. you poor, poor little mother
he said at last very gently. He laid
his hand on her bowed head. please
get up" he said hoarscly
Anna rose and stepped back. her
hands clasped closely against her
breast. A light, akin to worship. shone
in her eyes as she looked at him.
THAT'S what you have to say to
me-" she breathed-"that? 1t is like
the magnanimity Of God. came into
your life. deceiving you, spying upon
you, cheating you. I've destroyed the
one PRICELESS thing that stood between
you and prison, and now your thought
Is for me-my suffering and shame"
Impulsively she raised his hand to
her lips and held it there for an in
slant. It was not Il caress, but bene-
dictiOn.
'Oh. you prince Of princes among
men," she said revcrcntly. II have no
words in which to tell you how hon
or you"
Temple smiled sadly, remotely.
II think l can understand why
you came. why you deceived me, why
you did this terrible thing. You were
fighting for your children and the man
you believed in. and you fought to the
bitter end. 1t was natural. suppose
think understand"
"NOw Annals voice was low, but
stendy now. and she spoke with sort
OF interpretive finality. mo. it 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 60 against my instinct every
time-give the lie to my impulses.
From the moment I saw you l must
have been believing in you. think
And every day since I've been here
I've been believing more and more
No. you see. it 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. at was n fighting
hope. 1t fought. and 1t 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 II know now
with every faculty what my heart
must have known from the first. II
know that Yes. know" she shud-
dered. "but mustn't say It,"
you love me-" cried he. "No. don't
say it." he swallowed painfully. But
It will be a comfort to think some
times that scrap OF the very best
that Is in you is mine. That can do
no harm. can itY'
She could not answer for fear that
her heart might tear from its moor
ings.
When she spoke it was an eminent
" practical thing she had to say:
There's some way at least, thank
God. in which can repair a little the
injury have done you. When your
case comes up for trial can give my
testimony, can tell what became of
that letter. / can repeat IT, word for
word. the foul thing. My testimony
would have weight. would 1t not? 1t
would have weight because it would
be against my interest"
1T 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 must"
cried Anna, with sudden resolve "She
must help in this. She must help
undo the wrong ! have done. Ring
Tor her. please. 1 want her.
Mrs. Mason" said she when the
housekeeper entered, taking in the sit
uation at glance, 1--WE got to go to
court and tell what I've done. I've
got to tell the truth. My testimony
means Mr.. Temples liberty-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
You see. Anna. He'll not require
1t of you"
Il KNOW returned Anna duly. But
Mrs Mason didn't like the CLEAN that
shone In her eyes. She attacked It
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
hell." 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