Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1912-01-26
tIOton. y
From the Play by
WILLIAM J. HURLBURT

fore he could have spoken: Il must
really go In now. I've promised Mrs.
Mason TO play game Of pachisi, or
cribbage, or something" she faltered.
So Temple, deliberately commissioning,
escorted her up the red gravel path.
Anna was growing excessively IN
easy. For quite two hours now she'd
been anxiously expecting Mrs. Mason's
return from Westfield. What could be
the matter? At the very least It must
be the measles. Finally, however, her
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
well again? Have they hid that hor-
rid penknife?' Anna was untying
Mrs. Mason's veil and pourin: out her
questions In torrent.
Mrs. Mason assured her that the boys
were both well and happy, that the
new nurse was doing beautifully and
that, except for few hours when the
rascals had her locked In the chicken
house, she was having a fine time.
"Oh. she won't mind an inconse-
quential thing like the chicken house."
laughed Anna, handing Mrs. Mason her
veil pins, when once she's used to
those boys. They locked their mother
in one day. and had to spank them.
poor little dears. Oh. but I'm sick with
longing for them-sickv'
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 80 late COM
ing back? No? Well, I've been up to
see Robert"
you havew Anna started never so
slightly. Isis he well? 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 n miscar-
rage Of justice. They treat him kind
ly. They've made him what they call
a '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 l am in a position here
to find out the truth that Will convict
the man who has done this thingT"
Mrs. Mason plucked several imagi-
nary threads or her skirts to hide her
confusion.
"At first, you know" went en- Anna,
IL thought It best not to let him know
about my having left home. I knew
he would worry about the boys. But
q few Gays ago managed to get him
word. l 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 1t 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! He's afraid the work will prove
too hard for me- It won't. I'll fasten
the crime yet. though 1t may break my
heart" The final words were almost
ehoked. She walked across to the win
dow and stood staring out at the grim
prison there. 1t was a little trick she
had learned whenever she wished to
steel herself in tie fight she had IN
dertaEen. Presently she turned back
a dumb. pathetic perplexity in each
gray eye.
"Oh. II I could get back to the con-
dition In which I entered this house
the clear air where there are no OBJ
scurities, 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 off, she said sternly.
II don't understand"
mo more do I-no more do T." Anna
twisted and UNFINISHED her hands In
silence for a moment only this l
know" she said at last when I
came here I could harden my heart
against the man with whom l had
come to wage war. could continual
~ remember his responsibility for
Roberts Imprisonment. Oh. could
fight fairly and squarcly. But now
ITS strange" she went on refiec.
tively-"strange. Now I always have
to bring myself up with a deliberate
effort. I have to think to hate him-I
don't hate him intuitiveIy any more.
There's something about him"-her
voice softened oddly-"I can't describe
It He's strong. somehow. He's big
and deep and earnest and illimitably
strong. He draws one"