Licking Valley courier. [volume] (West Liberty, Ky.) 19??-current, 1913-10-30

the headquarters Of the state central
committee. In the dawn, when the
east was following, and sparrows be-
gan to scuffe and splutter on the
caves Of the federal building looming
dour just over the way, the news of
the murder and frauds had come to
them. The governors face, white with
excitement and fatigue, had suddenly
darkened. Had it been the shadow
cast by the passing Of great ambi-
ton?
At the close of the long day the
woman, beckoned by Gilman into the
governors presence, fingered on the
threshold of the chamber. The room
was full of shadows. The figure Of the
governor, standing in the tall window,
shut out the waning light, and was sill
houetted, big and black, against the
twilight sky. He did not hear the
woman enter. She coughed to attract
his attention. This did not arouse him
from his reverie, and after moments
timid hesitation, she said:
MAY come in?"
The governor turned. "Be seated,
madam" he said. 81 shall be quite
frank with you. am acquainted with
this case, and do not believe it to be
one justifying executive clemency."
When she spoke her voice was trem-
ulous.
"Will you hear my story?"
"You may proceed" the governor re-
piled. He had pushed the papers aside
and was drumming lightly with his
long. white fingers on his desk.
The woman nervously pleated her
handkerchief, fearing to begin. "You
must excuse me-" she said presently
81 can not tell my story very well.
do not come here for mercy or any
thing like that. 1t is only a matter Of
Justice"
Had 1t not been for the gloom, she
might have seen smile steal over the
face of the dark figure at the desk.
Once plunged into her narrative, her
words flowed rapidly until-suddenly
she ceased to speak.
"That was five years ago." she said,
her voice dropping to sadly reminis-
cent whisper. 1--WE were to have been
married that spring, butt would rath-
er not tell the rest"
The woman probably felt her cheeks
flush with warmth.
The governor could hear her quick
breathing. In a minute he said kind.
ly:
"Well?"
The woman hesitated an instant
and then fairly blurted out the rest OF
her tale. The governor. through the
darkness, saw the woman lean, pant
ing, toward him. convulsively she
pressed her hands TO her face She
collapsed in tears. When her sobs
became more regular, though still la
bored, the governor said:
"And Whalen-he knew this?"
"He must have known"
"Then why did he not tell?"
The woman hung her head and said
in low voice:
81 was mistaken, sir. The othel
woman lied"
The governor sat for a long time II
somber silence. The woman could
hear the ticking of his watch. Pres
emily he drew II from his pocket ant
struck a match.
at is growing late" he said. 9TH,
tale you tell is very remarkable tale
My time is so fully occupied that 4
will be impossible for me TO devote
any thought to It Just now. II vol
will leave your address with my sec
rotary shall Communicate with you
Meanwhile-do not talk"
The convention met. The secretar!
never got down to s In calling the rol
Of counties, and the governor was re
nominated by reclamation. But nevel
in all the exciting scenes Of those tive
days, In the black moment Of suspense
before the roll.call began. in the Whit
instant Of agony pending the poll o
the Richland county delegation, in tn,
golden hour OF triumph, when he stool
pale and bending before the mad ap
plause rolling up to him in might.
pillows, did he forget the name o
Thomas Whalen, or did the face o
that woman pass from him. The,
, followed him persistently, they glim
mered in his dreams. There was NJ
escape from their pursuit.
After week in which he found n,
ease, with the determination that char
acterized him when once aroused, h
undertook a judicial investigation o
the case. He obtained transcript o
record. and read II as carefully as |
he had been retained In the case an
; sought error upon which to carry
to the supreme court. In the familia
. work he found for time relief.
Gilman, meanwhile, had forgotte
the incident OF the woman's visit. TIL
idea OF pardoning Tom Whalen wa
too preposterous to merit serious con
/ sideration. But, when the governo
told him to so TO the penitentlary an,
interview Whalen, and then to the cit,
and the locality OF the crime for th,
: purpose OF learning all he could abou
: Brokoski's death, he damned himsel
for having mentioned the fact OF IN,
woman's presence on that crowded
} tobacco-clogged, persplring morning
And as he left the capitol he resolve,
| that his visit should DO astonishingl
: barren OF results.
: Inside the wardens private Office q
] the penitentiary he saw Whalen. TIL
3 man had found the convict's frient
= consumption, and Gilman hardly knee
4 him. When the private secretary tol
!. him OF the application for his pardon
4 Whalen only smiled. Gilman foun
0 him strangely reticent, and after a
{ effort TO induce him to talk said:
d "Whalen, really now, did you li
4 Brokoski7"
:. The striped convict picked at Ii
!, cap he held in his lap. A bitter smil
a