The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-08-22
FRAILTY OR FIDELITY?
BY ELSIE SEE.

hat her fair beauty was even more
pronounced than usual. The senate
was discussing bill for the control
of public utilities by city governments,
and Abigails father had just conclud-
ed speech in its favor.
While the interest was at It's height, II
the heavy swinging doors of the SEN
ate chamber opened slowly and there
entered a pale, sad-faced young wom-
an who looked at the strange scene .
about her in a confused way.
AS the woman slowly approached
the brass rail which formed a semi |
circle dividing the senatorial desks |
from the seat section for visitors, Abb |
gail Thomas recognized her as Mamie |
Morton, who, as Mamie Ellis, had been |
her classmate in grammar school. |
Only a day or two before, Senator |
Thomas had spoken of the efforts |
Mamie was making to have her hus-
band pardoned from state prison, and
when Abigail saw her standing there
she felt desire to help her.
Perhaps the desire was made strong
er because Abigail was beginning to
feel remorseful about q quarrel she
had had with Stanley Worth the night
before. Stanley Worth was governor
of the state and a sutton for Abigail's
hand. After proposing to her four
times in three months and being given
q different reason each time for her
refusal, he had told her that although
he honestly loved her he would not
longer furnish her opportunities for
indulging her capriciousness.
Abigail's estimation of him went up
many points upon this show of spirit
but a moment later it was consumed
in the heat of her wrath, as he gave
a semitragic quotation of "Frailty,
thy name is woman" SO the quarrel
continued until Abigail said to her
self that she would make him suffer
for that contemptuous SANDER of her
sex.
Mamie Morton approached the SER
gcant at arms and told him she must
| speak to Senator Thomas.
| 81 cannot promise that the governor
/ has taken. any action" said Senator
! Thomas in answer to her eager ques-
! ton. MANY matters of state claim
! his attention at this time, and he may
not have had time to look into this"
"But sir" protested the woman, be
| coming holder in her suspense, at has
! been a whole week since the petitions
from our citizens and the judge and
jury who tried poor Henry were sent
to his office Henry is innocent, sir.
and has already served year In pris-
| on"
II believe he is innocent" said the
! senator. sin spite of the circumstan-
tial evidence indicating that he took
the money from Jabe Ewing's cash
drawer. l hope the governor will
come to see it as | do. Come with
me- and we viii see what has been
done"
And let me go, too, won't you
dad?" asked Abigail, who surprised
her father by Joining them and greet
ing Mamie cordially.
When they reached the governor
suite of offices. Senator Thomas CAV,
his card to a smiling secretary. WHIT
took it at once into the governor:
private office and returned a momen
4 later bidding the senator enter tn
e. gubernatorial presence. As they sd
waiting, Mamie told Abigail how ev
e erythine pointed to Henry's innocence
AS the door of the inner offiC
opened, Mamie stopped talking ant
started from her seat as Senate
, | Thomas entered, followed by the gov
p ernor. The governor handed Mani
Morton a long folded paper bearin
the state seal.
81 am happy to give you this paper
Mrs. Morton" lie said kindly. "Whe
you present it to the warden of tn
D. prison he will give freedom to you
husband"
Senator Thomas quickly guided NJ;
le ME to the door and out through tn
II long corridors to the entrance of til
: building.
In the governors office, Abga
m turned and walked up to Stanle
j. Worth in way that made him wol
at NcI NlltlHcI HIS SOOt loI tune was
dream. The smiling secretary had di
creetly withdrawn to another room.
STANLEY, l came here partly to he
that poor woman by being with her
Up her distress and partly to be preSel
when you have to recognize that Il
name of one woman. at least, was n
ar frailty. But do you know why l ha'
Il remained?'
is mo, I do not" he said, and h
ed voice sounded queer and unnatural.
he I've remained to say that the I'D,
ity shown by that woman has ma
me ashamed of what you called I
frailty, and to say" Abigail pause
and her lovely head went higher a
he her clear blue eyes looked fearless
into Stanley Worth's gray ones, 9Th
-, II you're determined not to propose
We me again, then I'll take advanta
of of leap year and propose to you"
he The blissful expression brought
the governors face by this startli
copfaScior yx-oc PARTIALLY flimmad +