Evening capital. [volume] (Annapolis, Md.) 1922-1981, 1923-03-22
THE CONFESSION
BY CHARLOTTE TALLEY

TO solve II he problem Of the tragic
lines around the otherwise perfect
mouth Of Mrs. Archer, his secretary.
and 20 obliterate them.
As he sat at his roll-top desk tap
ping II nervously With his slim white
fingers. the afternoon Of his return to
his law Office after a week Of illness,
II was Doctor Jones extraordinary adj
vice to him, and not the neat piles Of
business letters before him, that occu-
pied bis thoughts. Get what's worry
Ing you of your mind the doctor had
said IF you're In love, propose"
Well, he was in love, but Jean Archer
had not responded very noticeably
Now 'he meant 10 propose, however,
without delay.
He went over to where Mrs. Archer
sat before typewriter, in her black
gown with It's soft, white collar, and
stood looking down at the tendrils OF
dark hair that curled above her white
neck. JEAN" he said, flushed and
bold, 81 want TO talk TO you. Bring
over your pad SO, II Pablo comes In,
he'll think I'm debating"
Mrs. Archer finished typewriting a
sentence before she spoke. Her cheeks
had grown pink as laurel blossoms in
June and she said sweetly, without
looking up, her thick black lashes veil
Ing her gray eyes, Mrs Archer, If
you please. Mr.. Mckee" Then she
brought her pad and pencil and sat
down beside his desk.
"You'll always be Jean TO me. Mrs.
Archer" Thomas began, whlmslcally
II have decided that / ought TO get
married. Now, no wife on earth would
live with me peaceably II she knew
what nm attractive secretary ! have.
] don't care for any other woman.
moreover, so the only solution of the
problem, as see It, Is for you TO mar
ry me-"
Mrs. Archer's face matched the
blink white pad before her as she fall
tered, II shan't marry anyone, Mr.. Me-
Kee. II would be wrong; at least. l
should have to make n confession
which would be most painful to me,
and might not then be acceptable"
Thomas flushed. He was silent for
some moments. But his faith In Jean
Archer was as strong as his love for
her.
THAT'S all right" he said, stoutly.
Lets hear IT,"
Mrs. Archer's reply was to go over
10 her desk and, unlocxiog the right
hand drawer, TO take ffWn II folded
typewriter paper which she placed
before him. He took up her confes-
sion and read:
Ny husband was dying.
Weeks before, the doctor had told me
he could not possibly live We did not
expect him TO last through the night.
At intervals, according TO the doctors
instructions. l administered medicine
or nourishment.
IF my husband died that night.
Marion. my little girl of eight. and
would have five thousand dollars from
an insurance policy with which to face
life. II he lived little longer, we
should have nothing; money had al
ready been borrowed on the policy and
the last day of grace would expire the
following day.
ave were strangers In the South
western town, where my husband had
been sent by his Eastern physician to
save his life. There was no one 20
whom | could turn as a friend.
my husband was sleeping profound
~ after paroxysm of coughing. when
the thought came TO me. What would
he wish II he were able 10 Judge the
situation? Marion had always been
his idol. Why should she he made to
suffer? n was almost time for his
heart stimulant (This temporarily re-
newed his hold on life, o,1y to prolong
his suffering. When l felt his pulse
II was very weak.
81 went into the next room and
looked ut Marion. our beautiful.
helpless darling. with all of life be-
fore herl l was distracted; almost
hysterical. from the strain of work be
yond my strength. and weeks of
worry.
II then returned 10 my husbands
bedside 10 prepare his medicine. He
was awake and conscious. bur with n
feeble hand he thrust away the medi-
cine glass.
"'Jean. he whispered hoarsely, TO
day - the insurance ~ Marion - I'm
going soon, Let me go I'm peace This
was not the first time that my huS-
bands thought and mine had been
Identical.
Il tried to soothe him as held the
glass to his lips, but he would have
none OF Ii.
For a few moments l sat watching
him. making no effort to use force
Then suddenly he gasped and was
gone.
Had my delay FASTENED his end?
Dlstractedly l begged the doctor TO tell
me as he filed out my husbands death
certificate. 1t may have by q few
hours he said, but that is ALI
But / ponder the question often.
and l never forget what failed TO do
that night, for l truly loved my huS-
band :"
Thomas Mckee drew a perplexed
1t ~ $780,.