The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1897-03-13

ihOlVb W HdluC, cilliG DuCk 10 ueUldEu u
reconsideration. Philip resisted, inter-
posing the inertia of illness between
himself and the nagging of the self-ex-
aiming impulse. 1t was much pleas
anter to lie back among the pillows
watching Elsie's sllillful fingers ply
the industrious needle-pleasante and
more restful. After a time he said:
You are all very good and kind to me
here"
! Elsie looked up quickly. II shouldn't
think you'd say that-after made you
sick dragging you all over the noun
tain"
at isn't your fault that haven't any
more vitality than q transplanted Chin
panzee; and, besides, the tramp was my
own proposal"
But do blame myself. You didn't
know how far it was over to the Pocket,
and did"
",Ihats nothing; il wasn't so nearly
done for little walking wouldn't put
me down"
"You mustn't get discouraged. Think
OF what you have to live for, and just
make up your mind you won't give up"
SIS there so much?"
Isn't there always?-while there is
good to be done and evil to be pre-
vented? You found one thing yester-
day"
"Yes, if can only live long enough to
set it right"
She caught at the hopelessness in his
voice, and answered it out of heart
full of pity. "You oughtn't to look at
it i'll that way. Why can't you turn Mr..
Kilgrow's trouble, and everything else.
into so many stepping stones to carry
you across to where you can feel the
solid ground under your feet again?"
There was swift undertow of in
ference in her question that carried
him quickly out into the sea of i'm
pulse. do you really mean that? Do
you think I should be justified in taking
the help need wherever I find it?"
"Why not? Isn't it right and neces-
sary that you should? Father says If
we will look around US We'll always find
something TO make bridges out of, no
matter how deep or how wide the
istream is"
5. Sand you think there is hope for me;
II don't mean for mere existence
that alone isn't worth fighting for-but
that 1 could win some of the better
things if should grid myself for the
battle?"
u "Srrely you could. What is there
that you couldn't win, with health and
strength and the will to win it?-noth-
ing that is worth having"
! The fervor of her own appeal carried
Elsie out of herself, and, remember
ing only that a man before her needed
help, she answered out of the depths
of a compassion which was as profound
and comprehensive as it was imper-
.sonal. She saw, as only woman can
zee, the besetments that were drag
ging Philip down into the quagmire
of despair; and the passionate desire
to rescue, speaking in her voice and
eyes, gave Thorndyke his first glimpse
of that sexless shrine hidden deep in
the heart of all womanhood, upon whose
altar burns the light of pity and compass
sion for all the world-a light which is
not divine only because it is human.
To the woman who first reveals her.
self to any man in her true character
of ministering angel is given the power
TO bind and loose, and the opportunity
which Elsie had unconsciously grasped
had never been offered to Helen save
at the moment of parting, when Philips
abruptness had forestalled it. 1t was
inevitable, therefore, with Elsie's words
ringing in his ears, and with the con-
seriousness that he had been permitted
to see the light Of that sanctuary which
is closed to all but the suffering and
despairing, that Philip should be swept
far beyond the bounds of his allegiance
TO Helen; and since he was man, it
was equally inevitable that he should
be unable to associate the offer of help
from the personality of the woman who
rendered it. Raising himself among
the pillows, he answered her with the
fire of a new ambition beginning to
quicken his pulses.
81 can win-or, if not, can at least
die in harness. If try, will you helr
me in the heat of the battle as you have
helped me just now? Think well before
you answer; it's a graver responsibility
TO save life than to take it."
Elsie saw that she had raised The
spirit of resistance, and her intuition
warned her that she also troubled the
depths of an unknown and unfathomeC
pool, but she responded without hesita
ton.
didn't I promise, yesterday, that
would help you? We will all do that
cheerfully and gladly"
''No, but that is not what I meant
You know what I mean, Elsie. Loot
ut me. VIII you be to me all the way
through what you are just now, the
enc person in the world who know:
my weakness and my need of inspira
tion-who will hold up before me the