St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-07-10

L
overwhelming! He was in a larg,
wcster city, when. after night, returning
to his hotel, a man on crutches asket
for charity. The voice was familiar
and, in a shock of horror, the face
struck him. One gasping cry escaped
him:
George Vanhorn!"
The man would have hurried away
but he. followed easily.
LET me 60, Spencer!" the crippled
man pleaded. Il did not recognize
you! Don't you know I am dead?"
81 know you are coming in here with
me-" Will said. gently, substituting his
arm for one of the crutches, and enter.
ing the hotel where he had q 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.
He would not let his guest speak un-
til he had ordered supper and made
him comfortable. Then, turning to
him. he saw that he was weeping.
''Sce what woman you make of me-"
the poor fellow said. "You thought
was dead?"
"Yes! 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
pied and incurably i'll. They would not
keep me after I could get about on
crutches, but have begged or starved,
and it will not be for long! Iwould not
let anyone know for fear it would get
to-to-Heleni"
"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"
no! should be only a wreck If
could, but I cannot. 1 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 81
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 to Helen. He was very
frank, telling George Vanhorn how tru-
ly he had been mourned. but saying
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 to befriend him. He
was very weak, very i'll. and he allowed
Will to get him pleasant room in a
quiet boarding house, to furnish him
with necessary clothing. to engage a
doctor, and to take q brothers place
beside him.
And then true, unselfish love tri-
umphed.
''She will never marry me-" Will
thought, ruefully, as he folded long.
long letter, 'bqt she shall not be
cheated out Of what little happiness life
may still hold for her"
He wrote, too, to Mrs. Raymond. a let
ter that caused that respectable lady to
grind her teeth, but 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 accompanied them to
the boarding house. where he kept Mrs.
Raymond in the parlor after sending
Helen upstairs, clone. Il was Will
Spencer who smoothed away every diff
Guilty, engaging rooms for mother and
and quietly effacing himself.
It were far too long story to try to
George Vanhorn. was resolute on one |
point. He would not marry Helen. He
had no hope of recovery. but if the un-
expected should happen he would not |
rish running Helen's life by binding it !
to his.
'Oh." she would cry. "what am to |
deserve the love of two such men? |
it humbles me to think how
they love mel"
And by this love her courage was sus- /
tained through the three months, when /
she and her mother smoothed George |
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
avished every kindness wealth could
procure, or friendship dictate. He gave
him a brothers devotion until the last
parting came, and when he was laid in
he cemetery Win Spencer took Helen
md Mrs. Raymond back to their home
md left them.
It was three years later when he came
,ome from . European tour and called
IN Mrs. Raymond.
"The old lady. sir, is dead" the serv-
int told him, "an' Miss Helen's ivin' in
- street. Maybe yees didn't hear
hes come into some money from her
,nclc, sir, and Nrs. Grady, she's took
his house, sir. !.
Come into some money! Well. she did
lot need him. He would wait awhile.
BUT in q few days little note reached
i'm: i.
1T was unlind to let me hear Of your
eturn by accident. viii you not come
q see me?"
Would he not? And when he went he
'ould not keep the love out Of his eyes
" his voice, and sheet last! Her eyes
lrooped under his gaze. her cheeks
,lushed for him, her voice faltered. with
enderness.. He had won his bride! And
lc had no secret hidden from her loving
yes, no treachery he would dread 70
lave her discover. By the frankness he
lad thought would ALLEVIATE her forever