The labor world., 1912-04-20
The
Fighting
Hope
Novelized BY
VIRGINIA LEILA WENTz
From the Play by
WILLIAM J. HURlbURT
Copyright. 1911. by American. Press
Association
[coNT1NUED.l
CHAPTER TX.
BACK FROM PRISON.

MdSOu y udI1OW, uAU0UU.
ing. shortsighted code every
thing in life was prepared In
~ advance-a mans political con-
victfons, a woman's religious convfc-
t1ons, child's nursery stories, the ba-
bies' prayers. Her puritanic soul was
outraged wholly now, and, flushing
angrily, with an instructive shrinking
back Of her whole person. she attack
ed the woman before her.
MAY the Lord have mercy on such
women as you, Anna Granger! You're
wicked. dagrantly. deliberately wick
ed, to utter such thoughts Isn't it
enough to have the unlawful feeling?''
She wheeled suddenly to Temple
"Oh, I've seen for long time that
you loved her. Every one has seen
1t. But I thought her sense Of de-
cency"-
Temple stepped forward at that, his
eyes blazing.
Mrs. Mason" he said forbiddingly,
don't you think you have gone quite
far enough: Have you no pity, no
sense of Womanliness?
The househeeper WINGED at the
mans tones. The words escaped her.
Anna had risen. Very white and
still, she stood for second. Then:
''Mr. Temple, I must leave this
house, leave it at once. But ySu may
count upon me. When your case
comes up for trial I shall be there. I
I'm going to clear you. Mrs. Mason
fhinks"-her eyes travelling slowly to
the elder woman-"that it's not be-
cause you're innocent that l insist
upon giving my testimony. She
thinks It's because love you. I do.
But you at least know I've nothing
further to hope from this. am Rob
ert Granger's wife till death!'
Temple bowed.
'Yes, know he said simply. x
want you-in my soul T want you-to
be always as you are now-right and
loyal"
THAT is what 1 longed to hear you
say, just those words" said she, with
little, quick, sobbiug breath.
Mrs. Mason was forgotten. For a
brief moment they two were alone, re-
moved from the rest of the world
The silence was eloquent, yet never
had Burton Temple felt farther from
the woman he loved than now after
she had made her hearts confession.
He adored her inaccessibi]ity, her code
Of honor as wife and mother.
1t was she who broke the silence,
and when she spoke the great moth
erliness Of her voice sank into his
troubled soul and quleted him.
ut had to come some day-the awak-
ening. viii you try to believe me
when I say it is not all a loss, be-
cause we will not allow it to be loss?
and IT,
She smiled up at him with trembling
lips and eyes running over Then she
lifted one hand and placed it upon his
dark head, even as he little while
ago had placed his upon her own.
And in this case again it was not a
caress, but a benediction, and he un-
derstoOd.
She turned and moved evenly toward
the door. There came sharp rap, a
feverish, insistent, wild sort Of rap,
and she paused. Cato looked up alert
ly from his nap and threw back his
ears.
Temple stepped quickly to the door
and threw it open. Then, in amaze
ment, he stepped back.
''Grangerv' he exclaimed. "What
are you doing hereT'
A little white faced man, wearing a
long ulster and carrying his hat in his
hand, entered. It was not his close
cropped hair and subservient hangdog
manner alone which witnessed to the
late prison life and discipline; the tim
Id, interval spaced movement Of the
lockstep bore its witness as we'll
He cast but one sickly glance Of con-
fusion at Burton Temple. Then he
turned to the woman who stood stone
still at one side of the door staring at
him piteously.
anna, I've been pardoned," he said,
coming to her quickly. II came here
ut once, you see. want to speak with
Kou for moment alone" His words
were hurried, furuve, like the jailbird
Accustomed to sneaking Whispers In
the prison line to his pal. Involun-
tarily the wife shivered.
"There's no need, Robert" she an
bwered duly. 'There's nothing to con-
zeal now; they know who 1 am
Wearily she turned to Temple. 'The
pardon has been granted" said she.
Temple bowed, without speaking.
EYES," broke In Granger with nerv-
BUS haste. They've been working for
/ pardon for some time, you know.
You've seen it In the papers, haven't
you? You see, the public felt that I
was innocent, unjustly condemned,
yo"-
He paused, seeing slight, beseech-
ng gesture Of his wife to Temple. The
big financier understood and, turning,
iu1t the room quietly, leaving man and
wife together. Mrs. Mason, whose
curiosity was quite as alive as her