Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-23

| q picture of his which was nearing conn
| pletion. picture which to show to
| the world that the old promise of great
| things was not dead. that the man they
bad given over 10 oblivion and failure had
something of the quality of more abiding
things still in him. She had spurred him on
10 the work, had gloried in the thought
that but for her it would never have been
done She sighed happily as she turned
away from it and faced the painter
1t Is very good" she said. softly Il
knew that you could take up the old thread
again.
The old thread would never have been
taken up but for you." he replied. And
yet, sometimes 1 ask myself-even now
what II is all for. All, no-forgiye
me; don't ask that-because it's all for
YOU Every stroke of the brush is for YOU;
each moment that 1 set myself to some
, IN e. worthier is for you. - II want
10 ask You something. little friend"
he was looking at her gravely: she
glanced up at him. out of her clear eyes
and read the something there-read. in a
heartsick. helpless
You have seen SO much of me; you came
10 me when all the world passed me by:
you stretched out your dear hands and
All my world. all my life, is with You. and
IN you: without you ! am nothing II
thought at first II might be your sweet
comradeshfp; 1 was SO worthless 1 was
tNcu lOT lndI. But now Il know
that woman may only reach a man
through love-love of the highest: had I
not heard that voice you might have called
IN vain. Little Dora, love you; there Is
You. Dear, L"
She got firm hold of herself at last.
saw tnat here was a question to be faced:
terrible business on which she had not
counted She had gone into this matter
with the blindness OF pity; with the high
and lofty purpose OF the crusader: passion
ana human nature were not to be reckoned
with IN the fight. But they must be reck-
oned with now.
Stop! she cried. "You-you don't un-
derstand. II never meant-I-Mr Fol
gate, 1t is impossible"
There was dead silence for n moment.
me man stood perfectly still, with his
hands gripping each other behind his hack
see he said at last. in a low voice.
that" ~ ihi as
Obi mono: 1 do believe in you, indeed
We'll, what is it? . There is some
one else, suppose?"
She nodded slowly: she did not care 10
trust her voice at that moment. He came
suddenly toward her and gripped her Inv
the shoulders. and looked down at her: She
.hought she had never seen his eyes SO
hopeiessly weary as they were then.
10 you Know what you have done?" he
cried. almost harshly. ibid you think Won
could come irto a mans life as vou bs,,a
come into mine, and then smilingly wave
your rama one day. and pass out of it ALL
ana oe forgotten. with only your good deeds
left behind? Did You think that?"
did not knew: IL wanted to helm
you. have been engaged to this
man since L was mere child. We knew
each other as children. He is in India"
Does he know you as / know you-this
man who is to claim you? Have Won done
Tor him what you have done for me. Won
sweet little blunderer?"
1T was not necessary" She was shak-
face with her hands.
see. he said again. He wasn't on the
downward path-he'd something to hone
lor. He dropped his hands from her
shoulders end turned away.
Bct-but you won't" she began, look
ing up at him.
"What?"
Go back to that old life?"
WIN you hold me?" he asked. stretching
out his hands to her. with a smile
But-for your own sake" she pleaded.
"A worthless anchorage" was the reply.
Come-dry your tears. You're tried YOUR
e experiment; II isn't your fault IL you've
falied at the supreme moment. Good-bye,'
Sne saw the bitter hopelessness of IL: saw
his head down on his hands, in the old at
titude. as she left the place
Two years went by, and they net again.
IN quite the strareest fashion. She lad
peen li-an illness which might be attrib-
uted to actual WEAKNESS of the poor COM
edy OF me- rather than to any specific dis
ease-and had been ruralizng In Deyon-
shire. with a poor and worshiping elderly
female relative in attendance. She got up
very early one morning, after a restless
night-iong before any one about the place
was Stirring-and went out and ramhled
into the cool stiffness of little wood And
there suddenly she came face to face with
Richard Felgate.
They stood still for long moment look
ing at each other, and then clasped hands
You have been H., he said at last
Yes. But 1 am better" she
added. Il am down here to recruit
And Ito idle" he said laughing
Oh, don't decry yourself" she replied
SOFTLY Il have heard of your success"
Are you here alone?' he asked presently.
STRIVING hard TO dig stone out Of the path
your"
Il am not married. Mr. FeIgate."
He looked up at her quickly. But the
man from India?'
Has gone back again." she replied
He dropped the stick and came at ner
and caught her by the shoulders. What
do you mean?" he asked. almost in a whis-
per. You were to marry him-had been
engaged TO him for years."
Yes: but he has gone back again.
HE would have nothing to do with me.
He had heard of-of you; think he knew
something about you. He cast me off-ut-
terly'
THE prig! Well, what else?"
Then quite a number of other people
cast me off. You see, he came of a
very good family"
Il see," said Richard Felgate. slowly.
You can't touch pitch, you know, eh?'
.! suppose so. And then 1 came-to Dey-
oHshire.'
There was a CLEAN in her eyes that lit a
reflection in his own; he looked at her
steadily; laughed grimly.
Dora, what is this game you are play
ing? don't understand. Is it's 1t the old
game of-of reScue?'
She nodded. IF you like" she said,
gravely.
All! the life is more to you than the
man; the work than the worker Dora" he
said, sadly, turning away.
1t was-once. she said. Then quite
she stretched out her hands to
him. Richard, 1 came to Devonshire to
find you.'
Yes, out of pity" he replied, bitterly, as
he took her hands. You were afraid that
after 1 had loosed these hands / should
drift again. But the touch OF them was
with me still, dear; could not go back"
They were coming out of the wood to-
sether: all the joyous life of the new day
was waking about them
You the pluEac-cr now" she whis-
pered.
Tell me why?"
do you know why I came to Devon
,hire?'
Tell me-" he pleaded. humbly.
BECAUSE
"Well3"