Part 45 (2/2)

”Howard knows nothing about it,” said Annie confidently.

”Are you sure?” demanded the lawyer skeptically.

”Quite sure,” she answered positively.

”But he is going away?” persisted the judge.

”Yes, I want him to go--I am sending him away,” she replied.

The lawyer was silent. He sat and looked at her as if trying to read her thoughts. Then quietly he said:

”Do you know they intend to make Robert Underwood the ground for the application for divorce, and to use your own perjured testimony as a weapon against you? You see what a lie leads to. There's no end to it, and you are compelled to go on lying to support the original lie, and that's precisely what I won't permit.”

Annie nodded acquiescence.

”I knew you were going to scold me,” she smiled.

”Scold you?” he said kindly. ”No--it's myself I'm scolding. You did what you thought was right, and I allowed you to do what I knew was wrong.”

”You made two miserable women happy,” she said quietly.

The lawyer tried to suppress a smile.

”I try to excuse myself on that ground,” he said, ”but it won't work. I violated my oath as a lawyer, my integrity as a man, my honor, my self-respect, all upset, all gone. I've been a very unpleasant companion for myself lately.” Rising impatiently, he strode up and down the room.

Then turning on her, he said angrily: ”But I'll have no more lies.

That's what brings me here this morning. The first move they make against you and I'll tell the whole truth!”

Annie gazed pensively out of the window without making reply.

”Did you hear?” he said, raising his voice. ”I shall let the world know that you sacrificed yourself for that woman.”

She turned and shook her head.

”No, judge,” she said, ”I do not wish it. If they do succeed in influencing Howard to bring a suit against me I shall not defend it.”

Judge Brewster was not a patient man, and if there was anything that angered him it was rank injustice. He had no patience with this young woman who allowed herself to be trampled on in this outrageous way. Yet he could not be angry with her. She had qualities which compelled his admiration and respect, and not the least of these was her willingness to s.h.i.+eld others at her own expense.

”Perhaps not,” he retorted, ”but I will. It's unjust, it's unrighteous, it's impossible!”

”But you don't understand,” she said gently; ”I am to blame.”

”You're too ready to blame yourself,” he said testily.

Annie went up to him and laid her hand affectionately on his shoulder.

With tears in her eyes, she said:

”Let me tell you something, judge. His father was right when he said I took advantage of him. I did. I saw that he was sentimental and self-willed, and all that. I started out to attract him. I was tired of the life I was living, the hard work, the loneliness, and all the rest of it, and I made up my mind to catch him if I could. I didn't think it was wrong then, but I do now. Besides,” she went on, ”I'm older than he is--five years older. He thinks I'm three years younger, and that he's protecting me from the world. I took advantage of his ignorance of life.”

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