Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1897-07-02
him. One gasplng cry escaped
hi i'm:
George VanhOrn.'
The man would have hurried

George Vanhorn.
The man would have hurried
away, but he followed easily.
Let me 90. Spencer the cripple
pleaded, Il did not recognize you,
Don't YOU know l am deadP
Il know YOU are coming in here
with me- Will said, gently, sub
stitutiDg bis arm for one OF the
crutches, and entering the hotel
where he bad loom, STEADY
now,' aud he led L N, feeling how
he irembled, until he had hun
seated III a great arMchair Ia his
room, and felt his heart stirred
with deep compassion at the havoc
pam ana poverty had made.
He would not let his guest speak
until he had ordered supper and
made him comfortable. Then,
turning to him, he saw that he
was weeping.
See what a woman you make OF
me- the poor fellow said. You
thought was deadP
Yes. All your friends think So
1T was a narrow escape. and |
wonder why | was spared Nine
months in public hospital have
left me crippled aud incurably i'll.
They would not keep me after l
could get about on crutches, but |
have begged or starved, and it
will not be for long! | would not
let any one know tor fear it would
get to-to-Heleun
You want 10 hide from herr
'Yes-yes! What would her life
be tied to minel You viii not
betray me. Spencer
But you may recover
No! | should be only a wreck If
| could, but I cannot. 1 have IN.
ternal injuries that the could and
hunger oflasJ winter have increas-
ed fatally
Will Spencer literally could not
speak. This man asked OF him
only the silence that would give
him his wife. Could he let Helen
remain in ignorance OF this strange
adventure the memory of her old
love might die away N time.
When he could speak again he
led the conversation to Helen. He
was very frank telling George
Vauhorn how truly he had been
mourned, but saying nothing OF
his own hopes, and 1t was easy to
see how George had loved her,
how utterly self-sacrticlng his
silence haG been. TO spare her
pain he had kept from her all
knowledge of his own suffering.
But his pIide yielded to Wills
10 be allowed 10 beIrlend
him. He was verv weak, very Ill
and he allowed N!l 70 get him a
pleasant loom in Il quIet boarding.
house, to furnish him with neccss
ary clothing, to engage a doctor,
and to take d brothers place be-
side nIm.
Aud then true. unselfish love
t'iumphed.
She Will never marry me- VIII
thought, ruetully, as he folded
lOug long letter, 'but she shall
not be cheated out of what little
happiness life may still hold for
her.
He wrote, too, to Mrs. Raymond
a letter that caused that Iespeeta
bly, lady to grind her teeth, bnI
which she obeyed, packing her
trunk and accompanying Helen in
the journey westward.
1t was Will Spencer who met
the Two at the depot, and accom-
panied them TO the clearinghouse
where he kept Mrs. Raymond IN
the parlor after sending Helen
upstairs alone. 1t was Will Spencer
whosmoothed away every difficulty
engaging rooms for mother and
laughter, and quietly ehaclng
himself.
1t was far too long story to
try to record the three months
that followed. George VanhOrn
was resOlnte on one point. BE
would not marry Helen. He had
no hope of recovery. but If the un'
expected should happen he would
not risk running Helen's lite by
binding it to his.
On she would cry, what am |
to deserve the love Of two sncb
meni Mother, it humbles me to
think how they love me!
And by this love her courage
ai Il. .