she did for the master. I tried hard not to allow my hatred of her
to prejudice me in an estimate of her character, but I found noth
ing redeeming in her. I tried to tell the master that she was not
the woman that he wanted for a wife, but he would not believe
me. I could not understand bow a man, who was considered one
of the best editors in the State, could be so blind when it came to a
woman. I saw this woman in her unguarded moments, when the
mask was for the instant thrown aside, but I was unable to put in
words what I saw.
"The master had, as you know, a very intense love . nature.
He would do anything for a friend, but was most unrelenting
toward an enemy. The master possessed the love nature of a
water spaniel, the fighting qualities of a bull dog. He was never
afraid to espouse the most unpopular cause, if he thought the
cause was just. When his friend, Senator Collins, was the most
unpopular man in the State, and the majority of the papers were
attacking him, the master was the only editor that dared to brave
public sentiment and defend the Senator. Perhaps, considering'
these things, it is no wonder that the master failed to find the
faults in this woman who he intended to make his wife.
"Nearly every afternoon last fall after the paper had gone to
press, the master and I would go for a walk. He used to forget
the cares of life during these walks. He would forget the heat
and the turmoil of the great political battle that was then raging,
the bitter attacks that were daily made against him because he
advocated the return of Senator Collins to the United States
Senate. Arid I, I would forget that an evil day was
,coming when
Ruth and the master would be married; their home would never
be my home, for I could not tolerate that woman. The open air
and the exercise brought the health color back into the master's
pale, intellectual face, and he used to say that ther walks cii4 him
more good than all the doctor's medicines. He was frequently
pointed out to visitors as 'the man that rnOe the Gazette a power
in state politics.' Was it any Wonder that I was
,proud of the
master ?
"One afternoon, during our walk, .I overheard the conversation