Licking Valley courier. [volume] (West Liberty, Ky.) 19??-current, 1912-05-02

-s"S
It Was tho Woman Who Broke tho
Silence.
didn't love you none, Newbold, an she
did love this here wuthless Armstrong,
but for the sake Of her reputation, I'll
prove to you all from them letters Of
hisn, from his own words, that there
didn't live cleaner hearted, more vir-,
tuous upright female than that there
wife Of yourn, even II she didn't love
you. It's Gods truth an you kin take
1t from me-"
"Mr. Armstrong" cried Enid Matt
land, interposlng at this juncture. mot
very long ago told you l liked you
better than any man l had ever seen.
l thought perhaps l might have loved
you, and that was true. You have
played the towards part and the liars
part in this room"
did fight him like a coward?"
asked Armstrong.
NO." answered Newbold for her, re-
membering the struggle; you fought
like a man."
Singular perversion Of language and
thought there! II two struggled like
wild beasts that was fighting like men!
"But let that pass" continued the
woman. II don't deny your physical
courage, but I am going to appeal to
another kind Of courage which 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 couldn't have liked you in
the past. You have made charge
against two women; one dead and one
living. 1t makes little difference what
you say about me. need no defense
and no justification in the eyes of
those here who love me, and for the
rest Of the world / don't care. But you
have slain this mans confidence In a
woman he once loved, and who, he
thought loved him. AS you are man,
tell him that It was 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>now loved,
and whom by rights she should have
jealousy hated.
you ask me more than can"
faltered Armstrong yet greatly moved
by this touching appeal to his better
self.
Let him speak no word" protested
Newbold quickly. II wouldn't believe
him on his OATH"
STEADY now, steady" interposed
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 say, whether 1t ia
true or lie you can be the judge"
What was he about to say? They
all recognized instinctlvely that his
forthcoming deliverance would be q
final one. Would good or evil domin
ate him now? Enid Maitland had
made her plea and II had been q pow
erful one; the man did truly love
the woman who urged him; there was
nothing left for him but chance thai
she should think better Of him thar
he inerited; he had come to the enc
Of his resources. And Enid Maitland
spoke again as he hesltated.
20. think, think before you speak.
she cried.
IF thought" answered Arm
strong quickly. II should go mad. New
bold, your wife was as pure as tn,
snow; that she loved me cannot an,
will not deny. she married you in
At OF jealousy and anger after a quar-
rel between us In which was +
blame, and when l came back to tn
camp in your absence. strove I
make 1t up and used every argumen
that / possessed TO get her to leav
you and to live with me. Althoug
she had no love for you she was to
good and too true a woman for thai
Now you've got the truth. damn yol
believe II or not as you like. Mis-
Maitland" he added swiftly. IF hh
met you sooner. l might have bee
a better man. Good bye"
He turned suddenly and none pr,
venting. indeed It was not possible, h
ran to the outer door; as he did 8
his hand snatched something that Ia
on the chest OF drawers. There wa
fash Of light as he drew In his ar
but none saw what II was. In 70
seconds he was outside the door. III
table was between old Kirkby and Il
exit; Maitland and Newbold wei
nearest. The old man came to h
senses first.
After him." he cried, he means
But before anybody could stir Il
dull report OF pistol come throul
the open doorl
|, They found Armstrong lying on b
s, back in the snowy path. his face
white as the drift that pillowed b
head. Newbolds heavy revolver Ut
clutchod In his right hand and
bloody yelling smudge on his Il
breast over his heart. 1T was the "
. man who broke tho silence.
(. "oh," she sobbed, 1T can't be-"
!, Dead" said Maitland solemnly
= "And It might have been by =
hand" muttered Newbold TO hlmsl