Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-06

bands that bound you to your wretched
companion-I know must have acted like
a demented woman, while you-your face
was that of a corpse, and your voice was
thin and Wiry. All, II 1t We're but dream!
All these things came back to me
yesterday, Tom, when I met the other wo-
men of our church at the monthly session
OF our little Helping Hand Club. You
Tighten the burdens of those less fortunate
than I-"fortunate! Sounds almost funny.
doesn't it? God, if they only knew! We'll,
Mrs. Lambersan, who had been visiting
the colony over on the North Side, had a
report to make. There was a poor woman,
the widow of carpenter, with four chill
dren to feed. Illness had handicapped her
until. with the food and fuel absorbing ali
she had in the world. she was reduced to
absolute beggary-not crust in the house,
not stick of wood for her fire. Her hus-
bands tool chest she had kept all the years
since he had gone-just I suppose, as I
keep your chair and your slippers and
smoking jacket ready and waiting for YOU
poor woman! Maybe she liked to think he
would come home some day and again stow
away the things In the old chest. Although
1t must have been a holy thing to her, the
pinching cold drove her to desperation and
she broke it up for fuel. can fancy the
hot tears binding her as she struck each
blow. and then as she fumbled over the
splintered pieces there was shrek from
the Oldest girl. Money. mamma! Money!
X,
she stood dazed and swaying while the child
dove among the broken sides of the chest
and held up three crisp new bank notes. The
poor mother tainted. and when she came
eyes Of her children and remembered it
all she was wild with JOY. Money! That
meant food and warmth! Mary and Grace
were to run to the coal yard to get two
self for visit to the store. In twenty
minutes the children were back again, but
in panic and accompanied by an officer.
The ten-dollar note was counterfeit. So
were the other two-and as the truth forced
itself home to the poor woman her tired
brain gave way. Mrs. Lamberson wanted
us to do something for those children and
we did.
Tom, that thing haunted me and in the
paper this morning I saw the story Of the
tragedy and. Tom. the notes were your
notes.-the tens on the First National Bank,
you know the ones! Oh Tom, Tom! Think
Of that poor devil and the suffering that
came to him through you and your friends
PRISE" And that woman with starving
eyes and matted hair muttering as she
sits idly in the corner of her bare room!
You couldn't have known what it all meant
when you went in with them. You were so
tender and your hands were such kind
hands. You would not knowingly hurt a
dumb brute, for know you had the heart
of woman; and yet, see what the wretch
der If can live through the remaining
years that are to pass before you are free.
I wish I could have good cry-perhaps
1t would help me. guess 1 have the hor-
rors only know am almost beside my
self with shame. and pity and remorse.
And through 1t all must keep my secret
hidden and let none suspect-not even Dor
othy, who so often asks for papa
Pray for the time to pass quickly dear
heart and when the day does come let
us go away from here, and try to atone
for some Of the suffering we have caused.
Your heart-broken NELL.
His hand dropped alistlessly to his knee
and he closed his eyes, tears trickling down
his cheeks THANK God!' he cried fer
vently. Thank God 1t Is all past, and that
by His grace we have regained something
Of what we lost" His wife's face was
pressed close to his and she petted him as
she might have soothed child. So they
sat while the clock marked the speeding
minutes.
Never mind. dear heart" she whispered
cit is all over now. Let us look only at the
future. The letters are but a part of the
past Let us put them away forever"
She gently drew the sheet from his unre-
sisting fingers and tossed it with the others
upon the blazing logs. Together thew
watched the flames burst into new life.
and when nothing remained but the glowing
and crumbling ash, they still sat hand in
hand, dreaming Of the happier, peaceful
days that were to come.