The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-07-24

| country home without friends or ac-
| quaintances or-affection. And then a
man came into her life-a man of the
" orld-older in years than anyone she
had ever met and older in sin than she
had ever thought possible to anyone.
He was with a party of hunters at the
Marsh club house, not far from her
home. They met every day and all the
pent-up affection of sixteen years the
girl lavished on the man who praised
her, complimented her. protested af-
! lection for her, and-ruined her.
The woman's voice, low and clear at
first, had grown tense during the rapid
recital of the tale. The man looked
up. Go on" he said sympathizingly.
!. The woman arose and leaned against
| the mantel. Then in husky tones:
There was a child-a little boy. 1t
only lived two days. She never saw
the man again." She pushed back
struggling gray and brown lock.
Some time after quite a large for
| tune was left to her. The relative she
! lived with died and she decided to go
abroad. She spent several years in
convent studying and working hard.
She then travelled extensively and by
her gifts to the poor. by charity. by
l. u66R repentance SIZE SOuSll 10 -eXDidGc
her early sin. Often discoura gementS
came to her; satanic voices whispered
in her ears that she could never atone
for the past: satanic fingers pointed at
her mockingly and the deep heavy
mists settled about her. threatening to
overwhelm her. But on she struggled,
encouraged by the work she was able
! to do among the fallen women in one of
| the large cities, sometimes cursed,
sometimes laughed at sometimes rev.
erenced. And when many years had
come and gone. when youth had given
away to the springtime of middle age,
another man came into her life. He
was good and noble and well known,
but by the very love she bore him she
| hesitate1 TO link her life with his. I
have been thinking of her all day. What
would any man do after hearing her
| story? What would you do?"
She looked down at him eagerly. He
sat silent for time. That is a. diff
| ficult question" he finally said. THAT
| girl was to be pitied more than CEN
sured. And God knows we men have
no. right to pass judgment Our own
| lives are too deep in the mire for that"
But you" she said. vehemently,
| what would yo do?"
| We'll, since the little woman in
/ sists." he said banteringly. Il should
| certainly hesitate to ask such a one to
become the mother of my children"
I But reflect on her after life" she
| said. pleadingly.
II know" he said. "But never again
would she be a femme blanche At
| least 1t would take an exceptional per-
son to outliye it,"
all the light gone from her beautiful
| eyes. Nothing but despair shone in
[ their depths.
/ why. how that story has affected
you" he said, sympathizingly. ION
this day of all others why should you
! think Of it?'
| Because" she said in a hard dry
voice. out of which all life had gone.
because | am that woman"
Inc man arose with a SmOthered ex-
ciamation and laid his hand on her
arm. She drew away and crouched
| down by the CRATE in which the fire
was slowly turning to ashes. You need
never have Known she said mechanf-
cally. But 1 honored you so [ could
not deceive you. 1 sinned. but have
| suffered too. All that the past holds
is nothing to what I am suffereing
now"
Silence
! The darkness crept into the room
and settled In the corner. the rain still
beat on spitefully and the fire had
| burned itself quite out while a rose
| branch tapped mockingly at the win
| dow. Far out on the darkening waters
| a powerful white glow streamed from
the Bar lighthouse and the hoarse voice
of the sea echoed through the quiet
room.
The woman suddenly felt herself lift
ed by strong arms and drawn close to
| the tender throbbing heart. of a man.
My brave sweetheart" he whis-
pered.
| But you said she began. the love
light coming down TO i.rr eyes as she
placed one white nervous hand on his
arm.
Yes. I said" he answered, quickly
"But when you are the woman in the
case. why. you are you. AID it makes
all the difference in the world. You are
my femme blanche my womanly
woman" He drew her again TO him
| and, for the first time. kissed her.
Usual Way.
How long. is your vacation, ParlkerY'
Ten days"
|