Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-08

to it; Violet watched 1t in its ebb and
flow and. seriously affected by 1t (why,
she did not know, for Mrs. Hammond
had made no other appeal either by
look or gesture). pushed forward
chair and begged her visitor to be
seated.
I'VE can converse in perfect safety
here" she said. When you feel quite
equal to it let me hear what you have
to communicate. 1t will never go any
further. / could not do the work l
do If felt it necessary to have a con-
fdant"
But you are so young and so-so-
$50 inexperienced you would say and
50 evidently member OF what New
Workers. call society Do not let that
trouble you. My inexperience is not
likely to last long and my social pleas
ures are more apt to add to my eff
cheney than to detract from it.
With this Violet's face broke into
smile. 1t was not the brilliant one so
often seen upon her lips. but there was
something in its quality which carried
encouragement to the widow and led her
to say. with obvious eagerness:
you know the facts?"
IT have read all the papers,"
II was not believed on the stand"
1T was your manner
Il could not help my manner. I was
keeping something back, and, being I'M
used to deceit, could not act quite nat
urally."
why did you keep something back?
When you saw the unfavorable impress
sion made by your reticence, why did
you not speak up and frankly tell your
story?"
Because I was ashamed. Because
thought it would hurt me more to speak
now; but l did then-and 30 made my
great mistake. You remember not only
the awful shock of my double loss. but
the sense OF guilt accompanying 1t; for
No.. Il
night, quarreled bitterly-that was why
l had run away into another room and
not because I was feeling i'll and i'm
patient Of the baby's fretful cries"
so people have thought" In saying
this. Miss Strange was perhaps cruelty
emphatic. DO you wish to explain tina t
quarrel? You think it will be doing
any good to your cause to so into that
matter with me now"
Il cannot say: but I must first clear
my conscience and then try to convince
you that. quarrel or no quarrel. he never
took his own life. He was not that
kind: He had an abnormal fear of
death. l do not like to say 1t, but he
was physical coward. I have seen
him turn pale at the least hint of dan
ger. He could no more have turned
mat muzzle upon his own breast than
ne could have turned it upon his ba by.
Some other hand shot him, Miss
Stranee- Remember the open window.
me shattered mirror; and I think 1
KNOW that hand.
Her head had fallen forward on her
breast. The emotion she showed was
not so eloquent of grief as OF deep per-
sonal shame.
you think you know the MANI" In
saying this. NioIet's voice sank to a
whisper. II was an accusation of muir
der she has just heard
10 my great distress. yes. When Mr.
hammond and J were married." the
WIDOW now proceeded In more deter
mined tone. there was another mana
very violent one-who vowed even at
the church door that George and !
should never live out two full years to.
gether. We have not Our second an
niversary would have been in Novem-
Gut
Let me say this: The quarrel OF
which speak was not serious enough
TO occasion any such act OF despair on
his part A man would be made to end
his life on account of no slight disa gree
ment. 1t was not even on account OF
the person of whom / have just spoken
though that person had been mentioned
between us earlier in the evening, MI
Hammond having came across him face