Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-11-15

and then still pulling the hem of her
| handkerchief straight on her knee
his, wife said, in a Hfeless voice:
Need we talk about 1t any more9
On Tuesday we will send 1t back:
| (Monday is holiday. You cant SEND
It until Tuesday,. Then we VIII never
talk about 1t any more"
Send what back?''
THE money. To Mr.. Hammond.
Are you out of your sensesY' ne
said, roughly.
She looked up. confusedly. "You
can't send 1t until Tuesday," she re-
peated. mechanically.
| He brought his fist down violently
on the table "I will never send It
back! Never! You are insanei Why,
! II would be aclxnowledging--
"It would be confession" she agreed.
"WellI that would be ruin.
RUM"
why, If people knew" he began.
ut is ruin anyhow" she said, duly.
Don't you see? The only thing left
Is restitution"
1T can't make what you iall res
titution, without-ruin; absolutely
ruinl Do you realize what 1t would
mean to me, in this town, to nave II
known that I-borrowed from the
trust, and--and had not yet returned
lit? On the stand, of course, had
to protect myself. and that would
be-against me. And It would be
known Hammond would never let
1t be settled privately He couldn't
prosecute me on the old charge; but
l suppose he might make claim
of-of perjury. Anyhow, just the pub
licity would ruin me. And he would
make 1t public. Trust Hammond
Besides, I've given 1t back ten times
over in unpaid-work to the estate"
He stopped abruptly. Amy had faint
ed.
Sunday was a long day of struggle.
The Immediate horror of violence was
over; he was ashamed; and he loved
her; and ne was frightened. But ne
was immovable. His hardness was
worse than his violence.
Monday the holiday--Monday, they
struggled to the death.
1t was IN the afternoon that she
suddenly tagged. She had been kneel-
ing beside him, entreating him; and
he had been hard and violent and
childish by turns; but he would not
And toward dusk there came q dread
full pause 1t was a sudden blasting
consciousness that the man must
save or lose his own soul. II she
forced him to make restitution, the
restitution would not be his, but ners.
No, he must save himself. She could
not save hin.
She drew away and looked at him;
then she covered her face with her
hands. II am done" she said, family.
The afternoon was very long; once
he went and, walked drearily about
the snowy lanes, avoiding pasersby
as well as he could. But for the most
part he sat in the library and tried
to read or smoke.
1t was late at night that his wife
came back into the room. She stood
in the old place, on the hearthrug. !
Very gently she told him what she
had to say.
II have thought 1t all out" she
began in a low voice; land l see l
was wrong" He stared. IT was
wrong. You must save your own
soul. can't do 1t for you. oh, I |
would! but l can't. / shall not ever
again insist"
Amy" he began, but she checked
him.
shall pay the money back, somehow.
sometime. (Oh, wait--wait; don't in
terrupt mel! OF course. shall not |
betray you. My paying it shall not |
tell the truth, because, unless, the /
truth is from you, 1t cannot help you.
1t must be your truth, not mine. But |
/ shall save. and save, and pay it |
back; to clear my own soul. For T.
I have lived on that $4,000, too" she
said with a sick look. TT will take
"a long time" she said, family.
Thomas Fleming, looking doggedly |
at the floor, said: 81 suppose you'll |
get separations"
Get a separation" she glanced at |
him for an instant. why, we are1
separated" she said. 1--WE can't be |
any more separated than we are. l
suppose we have never been together.
But won't leave you, II that is what
you mean"
you'll stay with me?" he burst
out ~ thought you despised mel"
'Why, no." she said, slowly; II
don't think | despise you. don't
think | do. But, of course" She
looked away, helplessly 'Of course
have no respect for you"
well" he said, I'm sorry. But
there's nothing ] can do about It,"
Amy turned listlessly as If to go up
stairs again; but he caught at her
dress.
You really mean you won't-leave
me?"
mo, won't leave YOU"
"of course" he said, roughly, "you |
don't love me, Dut- Ills VOICE la |
tered into a sort of question.
She turned sharply from him, hiding |
her face In her arm, and moving, |
blindly, toward the door. oh" she !
said; "oh-Im afraid-I-"
And at that he broke Love |
brought him to his knees; his arms |
around her waist, his head against
her breast, his tears on her hand.
AMY / will do 1t. l will give 1t
back. oh, my Amy"
(The end.)