Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-04-18

Fenella's father?
At last an idea came to him whereby
he could obtain the Governors counsel
without betraying his secret. He was
at the crisis. On what he did now the
future Of his life depended. And not
his own life, only, but Fenella's also,
perhaps, and - Bessie Collister's.
At 3 o'clock he was at the Govern
ment Offices in Douglas. Police inspec-
tors were Mt the door and moving about
in the corridors. One Of them took
him up to the Governor room-a large
chamber overlooking the street and noisy
from the tramcars that ran under the
windows. The Governors iron. gray
head was bent over a desk.table.
"Sit down. shall not be long"
Stowcll felt his heart sink in advance.
Never would he be able to say what he
had come to say.
"Well, you gave us the slip nicely,
didn't you?" said the Governor, raising
his head from his papers.
I'm sorry, SIR said Stowell (he
felt his lip trembling). 1T was an i'm.
portant matter, and I've come to town
today to ask your advice on it,
about?"
well yes"
I'm no authority on law. you
know"
Its not so much a matter of law,
sir, as of morality-what an honorable
man ought to do under difficult circum-
stances"
The Governor looked up sharply.
Stowell struggled on.
"A client I should say a
friend engaged himself to a a
young woman awhile ago, and now,
owing to circumstances which have
arisen since, he finds 1t difficult to de.
eide whether it is his duty to marry
her."
"Manxman?"
"Yes."
lips ! .h;rs trembling. ,t "oh' good enough class.
The Governor picked up his pipe from
the table, charged it. lighted It, turned
his chair toward the fireplace. threw
his leg over the rail. fender and said:
Fire away"
Then trembling and ashamed, but
making a strong call on his resolution,
Stowell told his own story-as II 1t had
been that of another man.
When he had come to an end there
was a long silence. The Governor
pulled hard at his pipe and there was
no other sound in the room except the
rattle of the tramcars in the street.
Stowcll felt hot, his lips felt dry. and
pushing back his black hair, he found
sweat on his forehead.
1T was shocking blunder, of
course" he said. My man doesn't de-
fend himself. Still he thinks the cir
You mean it wasn't deliberate?"
Good Lord. no!'
In fact a kind Of accidcnt?"
''One might say So"
Any harm donc?"
"Harm?' stowell turned white and
began to stammer: II no.
that is to say no. I've never
And yet he promised to marry the
"He felt responsible for her. He
couldn't be scoundrel.'
Did he care for hcr--lovc hcr?'
II can't say that, sir. He might
have thought he did"
'With all his heart and soul. SIR"
But" (the Governor was putting
placidly) "he has promised to marry
the little farm girl, and she's away
somewhere educating herself to become
his wife,"
That's it. sir said Stowell This
head was down.. ''and now he is ask
ing himself what il Is his duty to do.
] have told him it IL his duty AS Il man
Of honor to carry out his promise--to
marry the girl. whatever the conse-
Quences to himself. Am | right. sir?"
There was another moment of silence.
and then the Governor. taking his pipe
out OF his mouth, and bringing his open
palm down on the table. said:
"NO!"
"No?'
1T would be marrying the wrong
woman. wouldn't it,"
"Well yes, one might say
that. sir
Then it would be a crime"
"A crimcY'
"a three fold crime"
The Governor rose, crossed the floor,
then drew up in front Of Stowell and
spoke with sudden energy.
First. against the girl herself. She's
an attractive young person, ! suppose,
eh?"
Stowell nodded.
But uneducated. illiterate, out Of
another world. as they say:"
Htcwell nodded again.
Then does your pnn suppose that BY |
Hendlht her 20 schodI ~ Z few months |
AA WiV hpfdRo the RCi4 betW oon thAlu l