Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1912-01-26


g. Fins. MASON" sighed Anna
.iNs YEARLY one day. Here I've
vi been for nearly month and
c-J I've found out nothing.
don believe | ever will find out any
tL.ag ~ myself against Mr. Temple"
The housekeeper started and eyed
her our.ouSly.
'Eyeu II you don't dnd out anything.
fearie," she said stolidly. "you may lie
Pretty certain that your husband will
be set free. Mr.. Temple may be In
clctcd now any day. and everybody.
oil the papers, say the c.rcumstantial
evidence is 50 strong that he must be
convicted. He's surely guilty" Mrs.
On, is all who knew her were
aware. once having formed an opinion.
hc.d 10 Il.
Il don't want Robert cleared on cir
cumstantial evidence" protested Anna.
That's not what I'm making this
fight for know what public opinion
Is. lis tickle; 1t cries 'Hosannahv on
Palm Sunday; 1t cries Cruelty" on
Good Friday know the sway OF
t.le press can make or unmake q man.
Just now it's making Robert and
breaking Mir. Temple, but after the
claror will coIne doubt want the
proof Of Roberts innocence in my
own hands. / don't want any senti-
mental vindication for the father OF
my boys"
The father Of her boys! Yes. It had
come to be just that. Unconsciously
she had said 1t. To keep herself to
her duty she had fallen back on that
last reserve Of q woman's strength,
her mother love.
And how hungry she was growing
for them, these boys Of hers! "Oh, I
need them," she exclaimed in a sud-
den outburst-"I need them. Do you
know, without them even my prayers
have come to be stricken and palssed
things. without them the great scheme
of the universe seems to have got gro
tesquely mixed, irrationally jumbled.
With q child in her arms a woman
feels always less like speck of sand
under the eye Of the Infinite, the In
comprehensive. It's the unbreakable
link Of the Human Son binding US to
the feet Of God. suppose" Anna
leaned forward over her machine and
buried her head in her arms.
A light was dawning upon Mrs. Ma
son-a light which she dreaded. She
came over and stroked the buried
head.
what beautiful hair you have.
child" she said fatuitously, not know
ing what else to say.
'Uh-huh!' murmured the young w0
man whimsically. Its pleasant to
feel soft and smooth, isn't 1t, yet Of
fering slight resistance to stroking?
It's modern. independent hair"
This mood would never do. The
rrim New Englander saw 1t. II say,
Anna, what you need is to have lit
tie visit with your children. Mr.. Tenn
pie will excuse you for day. I know.
You can run out to see them, and
"Oh. but I can't-I can't. you see,"
cried Anna In IN extremity Of desire
and duty. "a day? Why, just In
that very day the evidence I'm seek
ing might come-a letter, q telegram,
q telephone message. Look here,
Mrs. Masonw Opening a drawer Of
her desk, she took out handkerchief.
One corner Of It was tied In q hard
knot over many tiny scraps Of paper.
"As Mr.. Temple was leaving the
room just before you came in he tore up
this letter and threw it in the waste
basket, you understand? You ask me
often why / am so white in the morn
lngs when l come down to breakfast.
Well, its because / haven't slept. It's
because I've been passing the night
trying to piece together just such
scraps as these. Always-always with
no result.
Nothing works against him. Every
thing-every little bit Of evidence
works for him. A little side light ON
his splendid fighting qualities here;
another on some unknown patrician
act Of kindness to some fellow being
there. oh, it's horrible, horrible! As
say. the whole Of life seems to have
got mixed-jumbled.. Yet must 60
on hoping against hope for the chill
dren's sake"
'Dearie, I know what I'll do. I'll
run out myself tomorrow and see
them and fetch you back direct word.
Would you like IT."
For reply, in an abandon Of CRATE
fulness, Anna drew the elder woman
down to her and kissed her again and
again.
That afternoon, taking a stroll IN the
garden, Annals heart felt lighter. and
her dimples stirred incipiently, remem-
bering Mrs. Mason's promise.
Tomorrow" she said softly. stop
ping for second before q rQsebush