Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-06-11

wester city. when, after night, returning
To his hotel, man on crutcbes asked
| for charity. The voice was familiar,
and. in a shock of horror. the face
struck him. One gasping cry escaped
him:
George Nanhorn!"
The man would have hurried away.
but he followed easily.
Let me go, Spencer!" the crippled
man pleaded. IL did not recognize
you! Don't you know am dead?"
81 know you are coming in here with
me-" VIII said, gently. substituting his
arm for one of the crutches. and enter
! ing the hotel where he had n room.
''Steady now" and he led him. feeling
how he trembled, until he had him
seated in a great armchair in his room.
and felt his heart stirred with deep
compassion at the havoc pain and pow
erty had made.
lie would not let his guest speak un-
til he had ordered a supper and made
him comfortable. Then. turning TO
him. he saw that he was weeping.
"See what a woman you make of mel"
the poor fellow said. you thought l
was dead p
Eyes! All your friends think So"
1T was a narrow escape. and won
wonder why was spared. Nine months
in public hospital have left me Grip
Piled and incurably i'll. They would not
keep me after | could get about on
crutches. but have begged or starved.
"A nd VOL Ina |
let anyone know for fear il would get
to-to-Ielenl"
You want to hide from her?"
'Yes-yes! What would her life be
tied TO mine? You will not betray me,
Spencer?"
But you may recover"
mo! | should be only wreck if
could, but | cannot have internal
injuries that the cold and hunger of
last winter have increased. fatally"
Will Spencer literally could not speak.
This man asked of him only the ST.
lence 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 in time
When he could speak again he led the
conversation 10 Helen. lie was very
frank, telling George Nanhorn how tru-
Nv he had been mourned, but saving
nothing Of his own hopes, and it was
easy TO see how George had loved her.
how utterly self-sacrificing his silence
had been. To spare her pain. he had
kept from her all knowledge of his own
suffering.
But his pride yielded to Wills entreat-
les to be allowed 10 befriend him. lie
was very weak, very i'll, and he allowed
VIII 10 get him pleasant room i'm a
quiet boarding house, to furnish him
with necessary clothing. TO engage a
doctor, and to take a brothers place
beside him.
And then true, unselfsh love tri-
umphed.
"She will never marry me-" viii
thought, ruefully. as he folded a long,
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. let
ter that caused that respectable lady to
grind her teeth, but which she obeyed,
Helen in the journey westward.
1t was VIII Spencer who met the two
at the depot, and accompanied them To
the boarding house. where he kept Mrs.
Raymond in the parlor after sending
Helen upstairs. alone. 1t was Will
Spencer who smoothed away every diff
Guilty, engaging rooms for mother and
daughter. and quietly effacing himself.
II were far too long story to try TO
record the three months that followed.
George Vanhorn was resoute on one
point. He would not marry Helen. lie
had no hope of recovery, but If the un-
expected should happen he would not
IRISH running Helens life ~ binding II
TO his.
"Oh," she would cry. what am | to
deserve the love of two such men?
Mother. il humbles me to think how
they love mel"
And by this love her courage was sus-
tanned through the three months. when
she and her mother smoothed George
Nanhoru's Path to the grave. Such hap
piness as could be hers. she knew that
she owed to Will Spencer. who showed
his love only by his care of the Invalid.
He never spoke of love to her. giving
her up entirely, but upon her lover he
lavished every kindness wealth could
procure, or friendship dictate. He gave
him brothers devotion until the last
parting came, and when he was laid in
the cemetery VIII Spencer took Helen
and Mrs. Raymond back to their home
and left them.
1t was three years later when he came
home from a European tour and called
on Mrs. Raymond.
1.-THE old lady. sir. is dead" the serv-
ant told him, AN Miss Helen's Twin in
- street. Maybe yees didn't hear
she's come into some money from her |
uncle. sir. and Mrs. Grady, she's took
this house. sir"
Come into some money! Well, she did |
not need him. He would wait awhile. |
But in a few days little note reached
him:
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