The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1899-01-18

may know you arc fafe."
Her lips met his IN n tender pressure,
such ma loving sister might bcstow,
but with far more affection than she
had ever before given him. Was he
winning her? The hope made this un-
expected absence endurable, ana for
two weeks life held more pleasure thnn
It had done in all the days OF his court.
ship.
Then came q blow, sudden, sharp,
overwhelming He was In large
wester city, when, after night, returning
20 his hotel, man on crutches asked
for charity. The voice was familiar,
and, in shock Of horror, the foce
struck him. One gasping cry escaped
him:
George Nanhorni"
The man would have hurried away,
hut he followed ensily.
LET me go, Spcncerl" the crippled
man pleaded. II did not recognize
you! Don't you know am dcad?"
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 room.
STEADY now!" and he led him. feeling
how he trembled, until he had him
seated in 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 UNI
til he had ordered n supper and made
him comfortable. Then, turning 20
him, he saw that he was weeping.
"See what n woman you make Of me-"
the poor fellow said. "You thought
was dead?"
"Yesl All your friends think So"
at was n 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
crutchcs, but have begged or starved,
and II will not be for longl Iwould not
let anyone know for fear II would get
to--to-Helen"
"You want 10 hide from her?"
"Ycs-ycs! What would her life he
tied To mine? You will not betray me,
Spencerp" 49,"
But you may recover"
mol ! should be only wreck II /
could. hut | cannot. have internal
injuries that the cold and hunger of
last winter have increased, fatally"
VIII Spencer literally could not speak.
This man asked OF him only the ST.
leuce 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-
~ 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-sacrifcing 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 entrcnt
les TO be allowed TO bcfriend him. lie
was very weak. very III, and he allowed
VIII to get him pleasant room in d
quiet boarding house, 10 furnish hin
with necessary clothing, TO engage q
doctor, and TO take brothers place
beside him.
And then true, unselflsh love tri
umphed.
"She will never marry me-" VIII
thought, ruefully, as he folded long
long letter but she shall not b
cheated out OF what little happiness lif
may still hold for her"
He wrote, too. to Mrs. Raymond, n let
ter that caused that respectable lady t
grind her teeth, but which she obeyct
packing her trunk and accompanyin
Helen in the journey westward.
II was viii Spencer who met the tw
at the depot, and accompanied them I
the boarding house, where he kept Mr.
Raymond in the parlor after sendin
Helen upstairs, alone. 1t was Wi
Spencer who smoothed away every diii
Guilty, engaging rooms for mother an
daughter, and quietly eifacing himsel
1t were far too long a story TO try
record the three months that followet
George Vanhorn was resolutc on on
point. lie would not marry Helen. ii
had no hope of recovery, but if the III
expected should happen he would ne
IRISH running Helen's life by binding
To his.
"Oh," she would cry, "what am ! (
deserve the love OF two such men
Mother, II humbles me TO think no
they love mel"
And by this love her courage was SUI
tanned through the three months, whe
she and her mother smoothed Georp
Vanhorn's path 20 the grave. Such hal
piness as could be hers, she knew thu
she owed 10 Win Spencer, who Shove
his love only by his care of the invali'
He never spoke of love 10 her, givin
her up entirely, but upon her lover i
laylshed every Kindness wealth coul
procure, or friendship dictate. He gay
him brothers devotion until the la
parting came, and when he was laid
the cemetery win Spencer took Helc
, and Mrs. Raymond back to their hon
and left them,
, II was three years later when he can
home from European tour and callC
on Mrs. Raymond.
"The old lady, sir, is dead" the ser
ant told him, IAN Miss Helen's Twin
--- street. Maybe yees didn't he'
she's come into some money from HI
uncle, sir, and Mrs, Grady, she's toe
, this house, sir"
Come into some money! Well, she d
not need him. He would wait awhil
But in few days little note reach'
him;
at was unkind TO let me hear OF yol
return by accident. WIN you not con
to see me2"