Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1913-09-06

I
Gilman never forgot that wild night.
He had spent it with the governor at
the headquarters of the state central
committee. In the dawn, when the
east was following, and sparrows be-
gan to scufie 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 1t been the shadow
cast by the passing of a 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 a moments
timid hesitation. she said:
May l come I'M"
The governor turned. BE seated.
madam" he said. 81 shall be quite
frank with you. l am acquainted with
this case. and do not believe 1t to be
one justifying executive clemency."
When she spoke her voice was trem-
ulous.
viii 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 neryously pleated her
handkerchief, fearing to begin. You
must excuse me-" she said presently.
Il can not tell my story very we'll l
do not come here for mercy or any
thing like that. 1t is only a matter of
| Justice"
Had It 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, suddenly
she ceased to speak.
That was five years ago." she said.
her voice dropping to sadly reminis-
cent whisper. I'VE were to have been
married that spring, butt would rath-
er not tell the rest"
The woman probably felt her cheeks
| flush with warmth.
Tho pnvarpnr could oh
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 other
woman lied"
"Ah, l see" The governor turned
and looked out Of the windows. The
old-fashioned iron lamps on the broad
steps that led up to the state house
were blinking in the dark trees, and
the arc light swinging in the street
swayed the shadows of their foliage
back and forth on the white walks. A
| flash of heat lightning quivered over
the purple outlines of the elms,
The governor sat for a long time In
somber silence. The woman could
hear the ticking of his watch. Pres
emily he drew it from his pocket and
struck a match.
at is growing late" he said. THE
tale you tell is a very remarkable tale
Ny time is so fully occupied that it
will be impossible for me to devote
any thought to 1t just now. II you
will leave your address with my Sec
rotary shall communicate with you
Meanwhile-do not talk"
When the private secretary had con-
Quoted the woman from the room the
governor went to his window. The
voices of the June night floated up to
him, but he no longer heard their mu-
sic. For the second time. at the name
Of Whalen, and even in the darkness
there swept over his face the shadow
of the passing Of a great ambition.
The convention met. The secretary
never got down to s in calling the roll
Of counties, and the governor was re-
nominated by reclamation. But never
In all the exciting scenes Of those two
days, in the black moment Of suspense
before the roll-call began. in the white
instant Of agony pending the poll Of
the Richland county delegation, in the
golden hour Of triumph, when he stood
pale and bending before the mad ap-
plause rolling up to him In mighty
pillows. did he forget the name Of
Thomas whalen. or did the face Of
that woman pass from him. They
followed him persistently, they glim-
mered in his dreams. There was no
escape from their pursuit.
After a week In which he found no
ease, with the determination that char
acterized him when once aroused, he
undertook a judicial investigation of