The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-01-31

What have | done?"
Mr.. JeIries looked out of the win
dow without answering, and she went
on:
! worked in factory when | was
nine years old, and I've earned my
nVlng ever since. There's no disgrace
In that. is there? There's nothing
against ne personally-nothing dis
graceful, | mean. know I'm not edu-
Gated. lin not a lady in your sense
OF the word but I've led a decent life.
There isn't breath of scandal against
me-not breath. But what's the
good OF talking about me? Never mind
me. I'm net asking for anything.
What ere you going to do for him?
He must have the best lawyer that
money can procure-none OF those
barroom orators. Judge Brewster.
your lawyer, is the man. We want
Judge Brewster"
Mr.. Jeffries shrugged his shoulders.
Il repeat--my sons marriage with
the daughter of a man who died in
prison"
She interrupted him
That was hard luck-nothing but
hard luck. You're not going to make
me responsible for that. are you9
Why, | was only eight years old when.
that happened. Could / have pre-
vented it?" Recklessly she went on:
well, blame it on ME If you want to,
but don't hold 1t up against Howard.
He didn't know it when he married
me. He never would have known it
but for the detectives employed by
you to dig up my family history, and
the newspapers did the rest. God,
what they didn't say! / never real
lied / was of so much Importance.
They printed 1t in scare-head lines. II
made fine sensation for the public,
but it destroyed my peace of mind"
"A convicts daughter" said Mr..
Jefries contemptuously.
He was a good man at that" she
answered hotly. "He kept the squarest
poolroom in Manhattan, but he re-
fused to pay police blackmail, and
he was railroaded to prison" Indig-
nantly she went on: "If my fathers
shingle had been up in Wall street.
and he'd made so dishonest millions,
you'd forget it next morning, and you'd
welcome me with open arms. But he
was unfortunate. Why, Billy Delmore
was the best man in the world. He'd
give away the last dollar he had TO
friend. / wish to God he was alive
now! He'd help to save your son. I
N 10
you"
Mr.. Jeffries shifted uneasily on his
feet and looked away.
You don't seem to understand" he
said impatiently. 'T've completely cut
him off from the family. It's as If he
were dead"
She approached nearer and laid her
hand gently on the bankers arm.
Don't say that, Mr. Jeffries. It's
wicked to say that about your own
son. He's a good boy at heart, and
he's been so good to me. All, IL you
only knew how hard he's tried to get
work I'm sure you'd change your opin-
ion of him. Lately he's been drinking
a little because he was disappointed
in not getting anything to do. But
he tried so hard He walked the
streets night and day. Once he even
took a position as guard on the ele-
waited road. Just think of it. Mr.. jeff
ries, your son-to such straits we're
we reduced-but he caught cold and
haG to give it up. | wanted to go to
work and help him out. always
earned my living before l married
him, but he wouldn't let me. You
don't know what a good heart he's
got. He's been weak and foolish, but
you know he's only boy"
She watched his face to see If her
words were having any effect, but Mr..
JeHries showed no sign of relenting.
Sarcastically, he said:
And you took advantage of the
fact and married him?"
For a moment she made no reply.
She felt the reproach was not unmer-
tied, but why should they blame her
for seeking happiness? Was she not
entitled to it as much as any other
woman? She had not married How
drd Tor his social position or his
money. In fact, she had been worse
off since her marriage than she was
before. She married him because she
loved him, and because she thought
she could redeem him, and she was
ready to go through any amount of
suffering to prove her disinterested
devotion. Quietly, she said:
Yes, | know did wrong. But l.
| love him, Mr.. Jeffries. Believe me
or mott love him. It's my only ex-
cuse. | thought | could take care of
him. He needed some one to look aft
er him, he's too easily Influenced. You
know his character is not so strong
as 1t might be. He told me that his
fellow students at college used to hyp-
notlZe him and make him do all kinds
~ In hsNa.N