The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-04-11

Ttfs ltlf L es5t 81
and that he may Be proved Innocent
but everything Is overwhelmingly
against him. think yousare the only
one in NeYy York to express such q
doubt" ass
Don't forget hil wife" remarked
the Judge. aEyly,
NO." she replied. Il really feel
sorry for the girl myself. VIII you
give her some money III
The lawyer shook his head,
S"she won't take II. ! tried 1t. She
wants me to defend her husband
tried to bride her to 60, to some other
lawyer, but 1t wouldn't work"
well, something ought to be done
to stop her annoying us!" exclaimed
Alicia, Indignantly. Mr. Jeftrles sui;
feFs terribly. can hear him pacing
W, and down the library till three or
four in the morning. Poor man. he
suffers so keenly and he won't let any
one sympathize with him. He won't
let me mention bis sons name. ! feel
We ought to do something. Try and
persuade him to let me see this girl
and-you are his friend as well as his
legal adviser"
Judge Brewster bowed.
Your husband is very old friend
Mrs.. Jefries, | can't disregard his
wishes entirely"
There was knock at the door Of
the private ONCE.
Come in" called the judge. ~
The door opened and the head
clerk entered, ushering in Howard
IeffrIes, Sr. The banker, still aristo-
cratic and dignihed. but looking tired
and careworn, advanced into the room
and shook hands with the judge, who
greeted him with a cordial smile.
There was no response on the bank:
er's face. Querulously he demanded:
brewster, what's that woman doing
out there again? It's not the first
time I've met her, in this ONCE
Alicia looked up eagerly rs she
out there now" she cried.
What right has she to come here?
What's her object?" went on the
banker irritatedly
The lawyer Shrugged, his shoulders
THE same old thing" he replied.
"She wants me to take her case"
The banker frowned.
Didn't you tell her It was impos
Vlble?"
"Phat makes no difference"
laughed the Judge. She comes Just
the same. I've sent her away a dozen
times. What am I to do Il she in
sists on coming? We can't have her
arrested. She. doesn't break the furni-
ture or beat the office boy. She sim:
ply sits and waits"
Have you told her that ] object to
her coming here?" demanded the
banker, haughtily. &
"T have" replied the Judge calmly.
but she has oYerruled your obiec-
ton" With covert smile he add
ed, "You know we can't use force"
Mr.. Jeffrles shrugged his shoulders
impatlently. .
you can certainly use moral force"
he said.
What do you mean by moral
Eorce?" demanded the lawyer.
Mr.. ,Jeffries threw up his hands as
II utterly dIsgusted with the whole
business. Almost angrilyr he an
swered:
Moral force is moral force. l
mean persuasion, of course. Good
God, why can't people understand
these things as do?"
The Judge said nothing, but turned
to examine some papers on his desk.
He hardly liked the inference that he
could not see things as plainly as
other people, but what was the use
of getting irrItated? He couldn't at
ford to quarrel with one Of his best
clients. s,s.
Alicia looked at her husband anx-
lously. Laying her. hand on his arm,
she said soothingly:
Perhaps II | we're to see her"
Mr.. Jetfries turned angrily. 2
How can you think Of such a
thing? can't permit my wife to
come in contact with woman OF
that character"
Judge Brewster, who was listening
in spite of the fact that he was SEEM
ingly engrossed in his papers, pursed
his lips.
"oh, come" he said with forced
laugh, shes not as bad as all that"
I'm sure she isn't said Alicia, EN-
phatically. she must be amenable
to reason"
The bankers wife was not altogeth'
err bad. Excessive vanity and ambi'
ton had steeled her heart and stifed
impulses that were naturally good,
but otherwise she was not wholly de-
void OF feeling. She was really sorry
for this poor little woman who was
fighting so bravely to save. her hus.
band. No doubt she had inyeigled
Howard into marrying her but she Z
Alicia-had no right to sit in judy
ment on her for that. II the girl
had been ambitious to marry above