The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1897-08-26

suggestions: Il want you 10 90 away
for month";" she said to him, 'and let
Helen miss the constant devotion that
she has had ever since your bctrothal.
Let her feel that void has come into
her life, and how dun and cherries it
would be if she lost you. The wedding
day is set for June 10, and this is April.
Stay away until the 5th or 9th of June
1t seemed to him good advice, and be
had business in the west that would fill
his time proGtably. 1t gave him the
first really happy moment of his en-
gagement, when Helen said gently, yet
with a shudder:
81 cannot bear to think of you on rail
way trains, VIII. Write often, that |
may know you are safe"
Fer lips met his in tender pressure,
such as loving sister might bestow-
hut with far more affection tran she
had ever before given him. Was he
winning her? The hone r'pfe tbs I'M
expected absence endurable, and for
two weeks life held mere pleasure than
it had done in all the days of his court
ship.
Then came blow, sudden, sharp,
overwhelming lie was in large
wester city, when, aftcrnight, returning
10 his Lotcl, a man on crutchcs asked
for charity. The voice was familiar.
and, in shock of horror, the face
struck him. One gasping cry escaped
him:
George Nanhorn!"
The man would have hurried away,
hut he followed easily.
Let ne so, Spcncer!" the crippled
man pleaded. Il did not recognize
you! Don't you know am dcad?"
81 know you are coming in here with
me-" VIII said, gently, substituting his
arm Tor ono Of the crutches. and enter
ing the hotel where he had room.
Steady now" and he led him, feclins
how he trcmblcd, until he had hin
seated IN 4 great armchair in his room.
and felt his heart stirred with dec
compassion at the havoc pain and pov.
crty had made.
lie would not let his guest speak un.
til he had ordered a supper and made
him comfort, bic. Then, turning tt
him. he saw that he was vccping.
"Sec what woman you make OF mel
the poor fellow said. you thought
was dcad?"
"Nesl All your friends think So"
ut was narrow escape. and won.
wonder why was spared Nine months
in a public hospital have left me Grip
pied ard ncurably i'll. They would MOI
keep me after | could get about Of,
crutches, hut l have bergcd or starved.
and it viii not be for long! would not
let anyone know for fear it would get
to--to-Ilclcnl'
you want to-hide from hcr?"
"Ycs-ycs. What would her life be
tied to mine? You will not bctray me,
Spenccr?"
"But you may recover"
'Nol l should be only wreck if l
could, but | cannot. | have internal
injuries that the cold and hunger of
last winter have increased, fatally"
WIN Spencer literally could not speak.
This man asked of him only the ST.
lcnce that would give him his wife.
Could Ilc let Helen remain in ignoraacc
of this strange adventure the memory
of her old loye might die away in time
When he could speak again lie led the
conversation TO Helen. lie w2s very
frank, telling George Nanhorn how tru-
~ he had been incurred, but saying
nothing of his own hopes, and it y,as
easy to see how George had loved her
how utterly sclf-sacriGcing his silence
had been. To spare her pain, he had
Kept from her all knowledge Of his own
suffering.
But his pride yielded to Wits entrcat
les to be allowed TO befriend him. lie
was very weak, very i'll, and he allowed
VIII to get him pleasant room in q
quiet boarding house, to furnish him
with necessary clothing, to engage
doctor, and TO take u brothers place
beside him.
And then true, unselfsh love tri-
IMPLIED.
"She will never marry me-" win
thought. ruefully, as he folded long,
long letter, 'but she shall not be
cheated out of what little happiness life
may still hold for her"
Tie wrote, too, to Mrs. Raymond, a let
ter that caused that respectable lady to
grind her teeth, but which she obcyed,
packing ier trunk and accompanying
Helen in the Journey westward.
It was Win Spencer who met the two
at the depot, and accompanied them to
the boarding house, where he kept Mrs
Raymond IL the parlor af or scndine.
Helen upstairs, alone. 1t was Win
Spencer " no smoothcd away every Diff
ulty, engaging rooms for mother and
daughter, and quietly e;fncing himself.
Ii We're far too long story 10 try 10
record the three months that followed.
George Nanhorn was rcso,utc On ono
point. lie wopld not marry Helen. he
had no hope OF recovery, bat il ihc un
expected should happen he would not