Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-19
le Wheeler Syndicate. Inc.)

patched !, to Mabel at the box fac,o.
b! his own .alet.
Mabel was starting FOR home at the
end Of q hard days work, when the
note was handed To her She read il
as she walked homeward. Half aloud.
and in Grass wonder. she read:
Dear Miss Morrisey.-I have just
returned from Europe, and CHANGED TO
hea", this noon OF your financial plight.
II YOU viii do me the honor to call
al my house at $50 this evening /
should Ike 10 talk over with you a
position that have in m!nd-a po-
s.tion that viii bring YOU in more
IMAM enough money TO send your moth
CT 10 the .ldirOndacks.
Il trust you viii avail yourself Of
this opportunity. a. il viii permit me
10 atone, in part, for the past. and 20
prove my regret for my fathers unjust
persecution OF your unhappy brother.
am anxious 10 make amends. Won't
you give me the chance? II not for
NY own sake. for your sick mothers ?
Faithfully yours.
HENRY ROkESON"
Mabel thrust the letter into the
ate over her mothers illness Much
AS she loathed the idea OF acccpting
help from Henry Rokcson. or OF aid
ing him 10 lessen hs very just re-
morse, she felt she had no right 10 de-
cline the offer. Her mothers life might
depend on it,
Up the long stairs 10 their tenement
home She hurried. forcing herself TO
smile chccrily as She entered her moth
cr's room, AS soon as supper was
eaten aud cleared away, she made an
excuse to go out
Two minutes later Tom came home.
Opening The door OF the suite, he
looked about him in horror NJ the
SQua!id poverty Of the rooms. Then.
with cry OF Mother! Mother" he
flung himself upon his knees at Mrs.
Morriseys bedside.
With his mothers arms about his
neck and his mothers dear voice whis-
T'rir- low. words in his ear. lie was.
for the moment, almost happy. for the
first time in TWO fearful years. Pres
entity he ASKED:
Where 8: Inbel?"
she had - sc out to see about a
be back in a little while. Go 10 the
Kitchen and get yourself some supper.
dear. You look fam!shed. wish
mamma were strong enough TO get up
and wai' on her darling hoy ON!
Tom il * so wonderful to have You
at home lgain."
As he crossed the kitchen Toms eye
fen upon q crump!cd letter that lay
on the floor where ii had dropped from
envelope was eone-aud his eye fell
on Henry Rokeson's signature. In un-
believing dismay nc read the missive.
Then, snaichine up his hat he rushed
from the house
Mabel. arriving at the Rokeson man
sion. was conducted by man servant
10 the library where Henry sat await
ing her. He rose eagerly TO greet
her. She ignored his oUts;rctched hand
and said coid!y in reply TO his fer"id
greeting:
you said YOU had = position 10 Of
fer me 1t IL is within my power to
accept 1t, / mus; do SO. My mothers
lie depends on it. What is the posi-
ton. please
Il want you to be my Wife" l."
II would rather starve." she retort-
cd, turning to leave the room. Good
night"
She made as though to pass through
the doorway. But he claspeh her in
his arms, imploring' her to reconsider.
and declaring over and over his adj
miration for her She struggled vain
~ to free herself. Their swayinG in
trriockcd figures were silhouetted for
an instant against Il lowered window
shade.
AT the same moment step sounded
or the veranda outside. y hand
tuggcd M the fastcnings of the win
dow. Henry switched off the lights.
dragged Mabel from the room and
thrust her out Of tho house by the front
doorway into the library and turned on
the light again just AS Tom Morriscy
burst in through the window.
where is my sister you hound?"
yelled Tom, springinS at him. What
have YOU done with her.
He grappled fercely with Henry.
seizing him by tho throat as though
seeking to tear the truth from him.
The valet snatched up n chair and
brought II crashing down upon TOMS
head. Tom. stunned and helpless. COL
lapsed to the floor.
His first thought, when he came to
his senses. an hour later, in n police
station cell. was:
II can't tell the truth about il with
ont bringing Mabers name into the
story. For her sake must keep
silent"
SIX weeks later Tom Morrisey--tried
and convicted on charge of house,
breaking and assault--faced a Judge,
for the third time In his twenty-five
years OF life.
Thomas Morrisey," said the Judge.
solemnly, "a jury Of your peers has
found you guilty. This is your third