Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1912-05-17

Arthur without my Drawing all the
horrors of Carmers downfall by any
act of my own. For mo-
ment hope in oQe burning and renew
ing fame scared high in my breast. l
was willing to accept my release III
this way. l was willing to shirt the
load from my own back to the delicate
shoulders of this shrinking but ardent
,irl. Then reason returned II consid-
Grafton halted. and I asked myself:
"Rut is the help she offers OF any prac-
teal worth? Would her timid declara-
tions trembling as she was between
her awe Of her parents and her desire
TO serve the man she loved. weigh IN
tbe balance against the evidence ac-
cumulated by the district attorney"
II seemed doubtful. She would not
no believed. and should have to back
nm her statement with my own hitler
to suppressed testimony-a woman TO
be sacrificed whichever course l took.
Such native chivalry as remained 10
me urged me to spare this little FRIEND
of mine. Then Carmel's image rose be-
fore me, glorious, impassioned, driven
by the fierce onrush of some mighty
inherent force into violent deeds un'
dreamed of by most women, but when
thus undriven, gentle in manner, ele-
waited In thought. refined as only Few
rare characters are refined, and my
heart stood still again with doubt and
I could not say: 1T IS your duty to
save him ut all hazards. Brave your
father, brave your mother. brave pub
lie opinion and possibly the wrecking
of your whole future. but tell the
truth and rid your days of doubt, your
nights of remorse." l could not say
this. So many things might happen to
save Arthur. to save Carmel. to save
the little woman before me. would
trust that future, temporize a bit and
give such advice as would relieve Us
both from immediate fear without
compromising Arthur's undoubted
rights to justice.
Meanwhile something must be said
at once. As soon as she looked my
way again spoke:
ELLA, this IL no easy problem you
have offered me. can sympathize
with you, possibly a. no one else can,
but I cannot reach Arthur either by
word or BY message. Your father II
the man to appeal to In case interfer-
ence becomes necessary and you must
speak. You have not quite the same
fear Of him that you have OF your
mother. He's a Just man. You may
shock his fatherly susceptibilities. you
may even lose some Of his regard, but
he will do the right thing by you and
Arthur. VIII your
II viii try. I could only tell father
on my knees, but win do It if-if !
must. Now I must 60. You have
been good. only I asked too much" "
And with no other farewell she left
me and disappeared up the walk.
fingered till / heard the faint ciich
Of her key in the door she had secret
" made her own: then I moved on
As I did 30 heard q rustic some
where about me on street or lawn.
never knew whence It came, but fell
assured that neither her fears nor mine
| had been quite unfounded- that q liz
tener had been posted somewhere neal
rs and that 4 part. II not all we had
said had been overheard. I wal
| furious for an instant; then the sooth
ing thought came that possibly Provi
dence had ordained that the GordiaI
knot should be cut In just this way.
But the event bore no ostenxibll
fruit The week ended, and the cas'
Of the people against Arthur Cumber
land was moved for trial.