The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1914-07-31

Then you have been arrested and
bound over before?"
No; this is the first time"
"You-you tangle me all up | don't
understand you. But, really, haven't
learned anything by coming. You sim
ply say that you are not guilty. We
expected you to say that. Can't you
tell me just little something-some-
thing to help me in the office? | for.
got to tell you, but this is my first
assignment"
Il never shall forget mine," he
said.
"Oh, and were you a reporter
Yes; and quit it-beeause the pa
per changed hands. Never could get
another job. But have been think
ing that | might make arrangements
to send in news from the penitentiary
society news, for instance"
oh" she said, Frightening, Il
might make something of that. Well,
goodby."
Ferron sat gazing at the chair.
Jumping up he FASTENED to the
window and watched the girl as she
was getting on car. She did not
look back at the house, and even SO
little a thing as that made his heart
heavier. She was sent as beauti-
full torture" he said. Now shall
have a worry harder to bear than
the other one. Go on. vision; that's
all you are"
The vision was going on toward
the Office, framing a sketch in her
mind; and she wrote it with a dash
1T was so full Of spirit that 1t leaped
and dubbed from her pen; but when
| she took it to the city editor he
frowned at IT and declared that 1t
was too long. When, however, he had
read 1t, with a few sweeps of his mas
tering eye, he complimented her and,
with a shrug of his shoulder, dis
missed her. The sketch appeared,
vivid light amid a gloom Of ordinary
crimes; and the next day she re-
|
know that | could serve as such an
inspiration. My trial is set for next
Friday. Come over
She was sent to write something
about the trial. Her sketch had made
the case important. He smiled at her,
and. though it seemed to send a light
into her heart, she resented 1t, and in
her report she said few mean things
about him. That would teach him a
lesson. And it did, for the next day
he simply looked at her. Then she
was sad, and sought an opportunity
to beg his pardon, The jury acquitted
him, and he went away without giving
her a chance to speak to him. Il knew
he was not guilty" she mused. Per
haps now he might still wish to make
his detailed statement.
When she went, however. she did
not pretend to have come for a state
ment. Boldly she declared that she
had come to beg his pardon for nav
ing said mean things about him. HE
smiled and begged her not to think
os it. He had not been offended. he
deserved all that she had said.
No; was cruel, and you so limo
cent, too"
He laughed. Singular how limo
cent some can be, isn't it," he said
looking into her eyes.
She said yes, and looked down
Then he spoke, and his voice was Sc
solemn that 1t startled her. miss
Smith, I made one confession. didni
II"
Yes, you confessed your innocence
and you were not guilty"
II now have another confession tt
make. | was guilty"
"Oh, you don't mean it."
81 do mean it. | was a scoundrel
| sat here one day musing over thu
fact that the whole world was Iras
cal and a swindle needed $4,000
and knew how l could get the none!
by wrecking a concern of which
was the manager. | did it nicely
most delicately. l was proud of m,
work. OF course, was indicted.
knew that would be done. But ais
knew that my work was so line ina
they couldn't prove anything An
they didn't. Now call me scoundreI
and bid me good-by."
Il don't believe you,' she gaspec
Its true. But look here, l hav
lust squared up with the concerr
See this receipt" He handed to he
a piece of paper. The $4,000 had bee
returned. She handed back the pa
per and sat looking down. Il mus
90" she said. She got up, and h
followed her to the door. was
scoundrel, but I'm not now" he sale
II despise myself for having bee
weak. Something made me strong
YOU made me strong. Yes. love yo'
and my love for you and dishonest
could not go together. Until l KNEE
YOU my soul was unfinished. 1t wa
barbaric. You" The tears were
her cheeks. And you feel sorry fo
me, do your"
whats become Of Miss Smith
, the city editor inquired.
And a reporter replied: Marf1e
that fellow Ferron."