The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-01-22

! an advantage in life L Degin to thinl
it is serious drawback. If Mary
Trumbley had been a rich society CIR
an opportunity of this sort could not
have come to her. I'd rather live on 6
farm at the foot of a mountain, as she
does, and be able to do what she il
doing than to marry a millionaire and
live in mansion in New York or Lon
dom
'sOh, boshv' Mrs Lang1am shifted.
"Of course it is good for her to have
such a talent, for that's all the poor
girl has, and she deserves something to
vary the monotony of her hard life. II
I didn't think you had more sense than
to do so I'd be afraid you were actual
" interested in Howard Tinsley,''
'sWhy, motherr' Cora's glance sank,
and her lips tWitched. Don't you
!! know he is in love with Mary Trum-
'b1ey 90 she faltered- EHe couldn't help
it after-after al that has taken place
recently. AS for me, he hates me-
that's what he does: he hates me. I've
never sent him a single word of en-
coura cement I wars afraid, you see,
to stand by him. I suppose am still.
I am coward. He'd been a friend to
me, but I deserted him the moment he
got into trouble. You influenced me to
do it. l had no will of my own
haven't yet, as for that matter.
Y 81 am unworthy. L wouldn't have
turned against Howard Tinsley as I
did if had been worthy. I'll never be
worthy till I can stand a test such as
Mary Trumbley has stood, and such a
chance may never come to me now.''
Cora suddenly covered her face with
her hands.
l.
ly do said Mrs. Langham- s'You
upset me frightfully,'' the mother
slowly said. ST see it all. 1t is this
trouble of Howard Tinsley's. You
ought never to have met such man
as he. You are allowing YOUR con-
science to bother you in a silly, fanci-
fu1 way. When you entertained him
at our house that day You showed by
your desire not to admit other callers
that you wanted him to yourself. You
had never acted so with any other
man. You were excited unduly. You
wanted to make good impression. I
don't know what passed between you.
/ might have listened, but was I'M
able to do So without your knowing
it, and
.sI'll tell YOU Cora uncovered her
face and with piteous eyes stared
straight at her mother. 'HThat very
visit separated me and him forever.
He saw the sort of life ! chung to, and
if-zzif he had ever thought of marrying
me he gave 1t up then. I saw it in his
face-in. his strong, manly face. L read
his contempt for every bit of gaudy
display we made that day. -
s.He had been holding off; ! thought
he was leaning to Mary Trumbley, and
fn h2t for T11e
fuge- I thought-oh, 1 thought that
perhaps when he saw newell, as
live at home-he would-would be in
1uenced as other men have been and
and declare himself"
You are idealizing very ordinary
person." the mother declared ssIf he
had killed that man impulsively or in
anger he might deseeve some little con-
sideration, but the fact that he is delib-
erately lying to save his neck
Don't. mother, don'tr' Cora broke in.
II stick to it. I know what am talk
ing about. Down home yesterday heard
that Hamilton Quinby of this place, who
stands at the top OF his profession as a
criminal lawyer, was at the KimbalI
House Well, cenfided in him-to some
extent. did not compromise you;
simply limited at Howard's attentions
to you ana told lzEG4 chat wanted 10
know IL he thought Howard was guilty
Or not. Why, he actually laughed at the |
Idea of Towards Innocence. He said, |
In confidence, that he had refused to !
defend Howard simply because of the
absurd and fatal claim of innocence
that he insisted on maKing.'s
Il don't believe he is guilty." Cora
said sharply. 81 don't care what Han-
uten Quinby says. Really, mother, am
sick with shame at leaving him in the /
turch. I may never have another chance |
TO be a real woman I've been tried
and found wanting in moral courage; Z |
have been forced to stand by and see a |
woman with more soul than I have |
pbey Gods holy law, while was bound
to things of the world.'