Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1894-03-02

&c bent his head to catch my response,
and there acds another pause
You have come alone. Mime. Leroys" he
asked
"Yes"
There was no friend you cared to bring"
mo"
These faltering monosyllables must have
betrayed me, even II he doubted the evil
aence Of my voice, but the belief that
wished to remain unrecognized was suffi-
cient to withhold him from discovering his
knowledge.
"You are yoing to stay with us, Mime.
LerOyi" he asked.
mo; think of leaving this afternoon"
stammered.
He made no reply, but look of pain came
into his face, and I was silent, too, not hav-
Ing the courage to tell him why had come.
But he must have concluded that was In
trouble and in need Of help, for presently,
drawing some unopened letters from the
Inner pocket Of his coat, he said:
These letters came last night. Will you
open them and tell me vino they are fromi"
They were from sympathizing friends in
London. l read the names and addresses
10 him.
Have you opened them all" he asked.
Eyes"
II hoped there was one from a friend-a
dear friend of bygone days-from whom I
have been hoping and expecting to hear by
every post. Do you mind looking through
them againr
l understood his motive in giving me
the letters now. and seizipg the opportu-
nifty asked him If it was from a poor
woman in distress that he expected to hear
"a nameless creature who dared not show
her face.
1T cannot be my little friend" he said
sadly. "She would not fear me. We were
comrades. she and I, and should be still
companions in adversely. To think that I
could judge her harshly is to judge me yet
more harshly."
"She does not fear you. but she breads
those who have less charity"
''She is in trouble, you tell me. Can
help her?'
"She hopes you will. Her happiness
more than she can tell you-depends on
hat"
Tell me what she wants."
''She is in need of money"
Does her happiness depend on thatW
Yes"
You are sure she asks for nothing more
han money!"
Nothing"
He bowed his head as if to conceal the
pain that came into his face. Then, quickly
recovering himself, he said gently:
Poor soul, ifmoney can make her happy,
Ihe shall have it."
He rose, felt his way to a writing table
and seated himself before it. From q
drawer he took out checkbook, opened it,
and passing his long nervous fingers over
The paper he slowly wrote his name in the
light hand corner. Then he tore out the
check, and returning to his former seat
gave 1t to me.
Il have left it open," he said ASK her
TO write in-my unhappy little friend-the
amount she needs. and tell her, in case she
doubts it still. that her secret is safe in my
keeping and that she has made me happy
BY remembering me in her distress"
took the check, faltering some incoher-
ent words Of gratitude.
You will stay with us day or twos" he
asked.
No; must go away today"
Have you far to 60 homet"
II am going to London" he replied eva
lively.
You are staying with friends theret"
NO; have no friend to go to-"
Are you quite alonev"
Quite"
He was silent for q moment, seeming
greatly shocked by his discovery. Then be
iaid:
But you have friends"
None but Mere Lucas and
He held out his hand quickly. and as 1t
sloscd on mine u smile broke over his face
And me-" be said. "Oh, If my ear and
reason deceived me the sense OF touch
would tell me whose hand this is hold.
Let us give up this game Of crooked Ques-
tiOns and cross answers and be ourselves,
Have faith In me, little friend"