The Washington herald., 1914-08-02

tinct shock OF Jealousy when he told me
that Lissem had left home a fortnight
before to be married and was expected
back that evening with her husband.
/ ! stayed for supper and while driving
home that night | could not help saying
to myself: Poor Lissem! Poor Lis
sem T. though | could have given no rea-
son for my forebodings, as Wyatt had
made good impression.
Nearly two years after Lissem's mar
riage again saw Wyatt. He came to
my Office in the custody of the sheriff
and asked for private interview. l
took him to my back room and offered
him a chair Poor devil! | pitied him,
but my heart was sorest for Sweet
Alyssum.
What can | do for you?" asked
Il have been arrested" he answered.
leaning his elbows on his knees and
burying his face in his hands.
"On what CHARGE" inquired.
"Bigamy," he replied. hoarsely.
! He waited. fully three minutes and
continued: "My name is not Wyatt 1t
is Garlan. | was cashier of New York
bank. A hundred thousand dollars was
lost through no criminal fault of mine,
for lost my entire fortune in the same
| investment. ! was sentenced to Sing
! Sing. | escaped and in an unlucky hour
came here While in the Tombs in New
! York ! was served with notice of di-
vorce proceedings instituted by my wife
| When | married LisSem | thought
thought was divorced. / was wrong"
"Ah, that changes the casep | re-
sponded joyfully. IF you had good rea-
son to believe that your wife had pro-
cured divorce, it is at least palliating
circumstance"
After a long silence he continued: Il
lied when | said that | believed my wife
had obtained a divorce A few days
after my escape | saw in a New York
paper that the case was about to be dis
missed was madly in love with Lis
sem. | fought desperately for five
years. / tried TO run away. but she
clung to me so piteously, and then the
/ thought | could remain hidden by her
side all the rest of my days You know
Lissem and can judge OF my tempta-
ton"
You are honestly married to Lis
sem?" l asked
Yes, it was all regular. am not bad
enough to have had it otherwise Lis
sem has the certificate all blurred by
her kisses" he answered. turning his
face from me for a moment.
You are not so much to blame as one
might suppose" l answered. III pro-
cure bail for you and then we'll prepare
for the defense"
"If we defeat this charge. there is the
old sentence in New York." he said
gloomily."
They can't extradite you so long as
this charge is pending" suggested.
We'll take one at a time"
Early that afternoon Wyatt was at lib
erty on bail, and il was arranged that |
should go at once and undertake the aw-
ful task of telling Lissem and Roanoke.
When | reached the oig log house |
found Roanoke on the porch in rustic
armchair, and Lissem sitting on the low
est of the three front steps holding a
sweet little copy of herself, perhaps
year old The baby was cooing in the
sunlight, but the mother was weeping
gently in the deep shadow of her grief.
Roanoke, too, though usually immov-
able. was greatly moved.
What is the matter she cried.
why did the sheriff take him."
A bad story is better told quickly. so
! said MIR. Wyatt has been arrested
on a charge OF bigamy-another wife in
New York. He's out on bail and will
be here SOON
LiSsem turned and resumed her seat
on the step. lifting her baby from the
ground as she did so. Roanoke rose,
looked at me for moment, went into
the house and presently returned with
his old long-barreled rifle, which he
leaned against the porch post.
Now. I'm ready to heah it al" said
he. calmly resuming his chair
Il have told you all" | answered "He
has another wife in New York and will
probably go to prison for having mar
ried Lissem.'
Lissem looked up quickly at me, then
back to the baby
Hell nevah go to prison" remarked
Roanoke, glancing toward his rife.
Presently LiSsem asked in her soft !
tones: VIII they send him to prison
because he married me-"
Yes / answered. There would be !
no crime if he had not married you"
Suddenly l noticed her looking to- |
ward the gate. l turned and saw BoleS, !
the States attorney, coming up the path. |
| introduced him and explained that he
was the man who would prosecute !
Wyatt. Roanoke invited him to the
porch and gave him a chair Lissem
did not look at Boles, but remained /
seated on the steps, kissing her baby
and thinking. thinking, thinking.
After few words about the weather,
Boles drew notebook from his pocket
and addressed Lissem:
Mrs. Wyatt, you probably know why
Mr.. Wyatt has been arrested"
Yes" she murmured, without looking
up.
We'll, I'd like to ask you a few ques-
tions preparatory to prosecution. Tell
me, please, when and where you were
married to Mr.. Wyatt"
A long pause. Lissem's eyes were
cast down, intently watching the baby.
Il never was married to him at al"
she answered, lifting her eyes and look
ing BoleS straight in the face, without a
quiver of hesitancy.
At her reply Roanoke sprang from his
chair and his eyes fairly burned as he
gazed at his daughter After perhaps
a minute, l noticed him look toward the
road, straighten up and reach for the
rife. turned and saw Wyatt hitching
his horse.
Go stop him." whispered Lissem,
oianrinu I'm IN me