The Washington herald., 1914-08-02

She seems to be stunned, but she has
shown no emotion of any sort except
cry or two when | first came. She just
now told the prosecutor that she was
never married to you"
"She did ii to save me-" he replied,
half choked by emotion. I'VE were mar
ried truly enough. She has the certif-
cate. I'll soon put her right with the
world on that score"
IF you want to consider her happiness
and your own welfare, take my advice
and allow her statement to stand, at
least for a time" | suggested.
He did not reply, but passed me and
started toward the house. Roanoke stood
on the porch with his gun half lifted.
Lissem remained seated on the lowest
step, holding the baby and watching
Wyatt Roanoke, being above and be-
hind her. she did not see him When
Wyatt passed me l was sure he would
never reach the house alive, so l ran
ahead of him hoping to pacify Roanoke.
When | was within ten feet of the
porch, heard Wyatt, who was perhaps
twenty feet behind me, cry out:
Fire, Father Brooks! Don't hesi-
tatep'
Lissem turned quickly and sew that
her father had his gun to his shoulder.
She tried TO place Eerself between the
gun and Wyatt, but her father being
abovc her. she was not tall enough.
When Lissem saw that she could not
interpose her own body and receive the
bullet intended for Wyatt, without an
instant's hesitation she held her baby
above her head and thrust the littlc body
before the muzzle OF her fathers rifle.
A lock OF terror, such as | had never
seen on the human countenance, came
to Roanoke's face. His great love for
Lissem had been intensified to worship OF
the baby. | closed my eyes and heard
the sharp crack OF the rife.
The rife fell from Koanoke's hand to
the ground. He stood for a moment
dazed, ther started down the steps to-
ward Liss=m and Wyatt. thought he
was going = attack him, so interposed,
saying:
NO. you don't, Brooks! You'll whip
ME frst!"
"Cawd. I don't want to whip no.
body" he aEswerd family, tears falling
unheeded over his cheeks. Il jest want
my lii gel
saw that his anger had vanished, so
allowed him TO proceed. He put his
hand gently on Lissem's shoulder and
spoke her name in tones of love and
fear and tenderness that brought tears
to my eyes. | noticed that BoleS, too,
hid his handkerchief out.
With her arms still about WAITS
neck, Lissem turned her face to her
father.
Don't touch me-" she said quietly.
or you will make me want to kill you"
Roanoke turned and sat down on the
steps, covering his face with his hands.
Go to your father and ask him to
forgive you," said Wyatt, gently, but
with i note OF command.
He would have killed YOU He did
kill my baby she walled
No, he did not. said Wyatt. u saw
him lift his gun
md Just then plaintive little cry,
halt cO1, hall scOlding, came from the
baby on the grass.
After a minute or two Roanoke went
to Lissem sill kneeling OF the ground,
and spoke to her pleadingly:
My Gawd. child! Do yo' love the
man like that Mo than the baby?"
A thousand times" she answered,
without lifting her head.
''COTe into the house. Mr.. Wyatt"
said Roanoke We'll stand by YOU,
right or wrong. When a woman loves
a man that-a-way she sanctifes him"
All, daddy. forgive me-" cried Lis
sem. looking mp 10 Roanoke, whereupon
he fell to his knees beside her and fold
ed mother and baby in his mighty love.
Boles. who had been standing on the
porch, took me to one side There were
tears in his eyes as he spoke. Look
here, Howard! he said, I'm not going
TO prosecute this case. To tell YOU the
truth. the charge OF bigamy was made
only iOr the purpose OF holding Wyatt
until eXtradition papers could be pro-
cured to take him back to New York
where he was convicted several years
ago for looting a bank Representatives
of the New York bank are in Blue River
now. II seems that they had reason to
believe that Wyatt did not know his
wife had obtained a divorce and it is nv
opinion that II the money lost which
was only hundred thousand dollars or
such matter. were paid back. the whole
thing would be dropped. l believe it is
all scheme to collect the money from
Brooks. who is able to pay it. WyG:t's
New York wife obtained a divorce
shortly after his conviction. SC there
would have been no bigamy even lad
he married this girl"
Their | went crazy and began to shouc.
vas so excited that l couldn't tell Lis
sem, Brooks, and Wyatt, so Boles told
them.
Pay 1t? Gawd! OF cou'se we'll pay
It, if it takes Duh last cent, won't we
Lisser7? said Roanoke
Yes, daddy" softly answered Lis
sem, rising and going to the top step of
The porch. where she sat down, still hug
ying the naked baby to her breast.
'Yo' tel. the New Yawk men III be
n :own tonight and pay them every dol
ah, said Roanoke.
"Tomoi row will be soon enough"
Boles.
After talking a moment longer. we
'aid good day" and started down the
oath. When half way to the gate We
urned to wave a last farewell and saw
-isSem sitting on the top step of the
,orch, the whole scene bathed in the
-adiance of her joy.
Wait a moment, | have something 20
'ay to them said Boles. turning to me.
We went back to the porch and BoleS
poke to Wyatt: The only condition /
make in promising not to prosecute you
S that you shall marry this girl at once"
We all looked toward Lissem She
n 81 D1la ~,