The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-06-24

} his hotel, EtIl4 oA CfutbiI-i' '''-''
"a charity. The voice WAS famlh,.
d. in n SHOCK of horror, the Fac
,ruck him. One gasping cry escape
aim:
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 dc2d?'
Il know you are coming in here 'Flth
me-" Will said, gently, substituting his
arm for one of the crutches, ard cNtcr~
ing the hotel where he hid - room.
Steady now" and he led Ia, fcclinl
how he trcmbled, until he "a hiia
seated in great armchair III his room.
and felt his heart stirred with dec
compassion at the havoc pain and por
erty had made.
He would not let his guest speak IL
til he had ordered a supper and ma,.t
him comfortable. Then, turning 10
him. he saw that he was weeping
"See what woman you make OF me
the poor fellow said. "You thought i
was dead?"
Eyes! All your friends think So"
at was Il narrow escape. and Wo'
wonder why was spared. Nine month
in a public hospital have left me crir-
pied and incurably i'll. They would n>!
keep me after l could get about on
crutches, but | have begged or starved.
and it will not be for long! would not
let anyone know for fear it would get
to--to-Hclcn!"
"You want to hide from herr"
"Yes-ycs. What would her life lee
tied to mine? You will not bctray M.
Spencer?
but you may recover"
"No! [ should be only wreck if
ould, but I cannot. | have inferno
iuries that the cold and hunger {
asst winter have increased, fatally"
VIII Spencer literally could not speal;
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 memor"
OF her old love might die away in tim
When he could speak again he led t
conversation to Helen. He was V
rank, telling George Nanhorn how t.:
ly he had been mourned, but G2Eia
nothing Of his own hopes, and it v;
easy to see how George had loved he
how utterly selfsacriticing his silen>
had been. To spare her pain, he he'd
kept from her all knowledge of his owl
suffering.
But his pride yielded to Wills entrcat
les to be allowed to befriend him. lie
was very weak, very i'll, and he allowed
VIII to get him a pleasant room in
quiet boarding house, to furnish him
with necessary clothing, to engage :.
doctor, and to take brothers place
beside him.
And then true, unselfish love tri
umphed.
"She will never marry me-" VIII
thought, ruefully, as he folded q long.
long letter, but. she shall not b
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
packing her trunk and accompanying.
Helen in the journey westward.
1t was Will Spencer who mot the tw,
at the depot, and accompanied them
he boarding house, where he kept NJ
aymond in the parlor after send
ellen upstairs, alone. 1t was V
ocnccr who smoothed away every Iii
Ilty, engaging rooms for mothcra
laughter, and quietly effacing hims
It were far too long q story 10 t..
ecord the three months that follow
George Nanhorn was resolute Gu
point. lie would not marry Helen. J
had no hope of recovery, but il the
expected should happen he would II
rish running Helen's life by binding
to his.
"Oh," she would cry, "what am I
deserve the love of two such men
NIother, it humbles me to think he
hey love mel"
And by this love her courage was 6.
aimed through the three months, who
she and her mother smoothed Gcor
Fanhorn's path to the grave. Such r
oiness as could be hers, she knew (;
he owed to VIII Spencer, who shc>
lis love only by his care of the I'M.
e never spoke OF love to her @:}
er up entirely, but upon lcF' !ovc
Wished every kindness wealth c.
-ocurc, on friendship dictate. lie,
m q brothers. dcvCtion C,9 i Ii
ting ca1.,c, and when BE was /;
g cemetery Will Spencer took T.
nd Mrs. Raymond back to their h.
and left them.
1t was three years later when he ca.
home from 4 European tour and cale,
on Mrs. Raymond.
"The old lady, sir, is dead" the scry-
ant told him, 'an' Miss Hclen's livin' in
- street. Maybe yces didn't heal
she's come into some money from he
uncle, sir, and Mrs. Grady, she's tool
this house, SIR"
Come into some money! Well, she did
not need him. He would wait awhile
But in q few days little note reached
him:
ct was unkind to let me hear of vow
return by accident. Will you no; cor.
to see me?"
Would he not? And when he went lc
could not keep the love out of his eye
or his voice, and she-at last. Her eye
dropped under his gaze, hcr cheel
hlushed for him, her voice faItercd, wit
tenderness. He had won his bride. AT
he had no sccre\ iddcn from her lovin
eyes, TO treachcry he would dread
have her discover. By the franllness I
had thought would ALLEVIATE her forevc-
he had won her true, faithful love, de
CntiOv, +c1a J., 1<r,r-