Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-06-27
By
Helen F.
Huntington.

at this hour 1t would hurt me as long
as live"
would 1t, Elenor?" Norris asked
tonelessly. "Ah. the pity of It! You
still care, even knowing him to be I'M
worthy, knowing that lie never cared
enough to keep himself from unclean-
ness for your sake"
Don't, Norrisv' she implored, in
voice that brought a rush of tears to
the wounded mans eyes.
For few seconds there was no
sound to be heard, then the silence was
broken by woman's sob and q mans
contrlte plea for forgiveness.
ut hurts me to know that you still
care" said the low, panied voice Of
Norris.
mo, no, Norris, you mistake" she
protested piteously. II don't care in
that way. But now that he is dying
I cannot forget all that he has been to
me-"
II understand. You want him to
knOw-tO comfort his last hour Elenor,
If We're dying, one word of love from
you would save nc. 1t would bring me
back froYthe deadv'
To JACK, listening hungrily, her love
Shad never seemed so sweet. 1t seemed
now that nothing in the world could
recOmpense him for the loss Of that
love which he had so recklessly squan.
dered with the blind prodigality Of in
consequent youth. Yet honor was not
dead within him. All the heroism
prisoner under the dress Of worldliness
and self-indulgence rose up to
strengthen his silent VOW Of atonement,
the resolve to yield to that other man
the love which was his by right of
worth.
Presently Elenor heard a slight move
ment in the sickroom, and went quickly
to the door. Norris followed her quiet
~ and took his place beside her while
she leaned over the bed to look Mt the
pallid face which revived the memory
OF love that needed but an awaken
ing touch to set 1t free. Suddenly
Elenor stopped and taking his face be.
tween her hands kissed his lips.
A great sweetness came into Jacks
face, peace and radiance unspeakable,
which reflected itself in Elenor's tear
less eyes. Norris squared his shoulders
against the wall and looked down at
them silently, unseelngly, for it seemed
to him that tangible things had sud-
denly slipped away from him, leaving
him at the brink of nothingness, with
those two looking down at him from
the brink Of some far.off haven of
bliss. At last Jacks voice brought
him back to life with start Of ago.
nized recollection.
II wanted SO much to see you," he
was saying, very slowly and earnestly.
1--WE were such good friends in the old
days, weren't we, ElenOr? I want to
ask service Of you, something that
1 would not trust to any one else. VIII
you write letter for me before I die
to the woman 1 love-"
Elenors head lifted. and her face
grew whittier than before, but the look
Of tenderness did not fade from her
eyes. "Yes, Jack" she answered brave
ly, with an ungovernorable tremor of
her low voice.
"If I die, want her to know what
she has been to me. 1 was never quite
sure about her until-lately. Tell her
how it Is with me. They say there Is
always hope to the very last, and If
live
"If you live" Elenor repeated in
strange voice. "Jack, shall ask her
to come'to you"
mo. She is not free to come"
"MarriedY" Elenor whispered.
Jack nodded. "But I know that she
once loved me. Tell her that IL live
the memory of her love will help me
to become the man she once believed
me to be and that it will keep me
strong and pure as long as live"
There was long silence, then Elenor
rose from the seat she had taken beside
him, and at the same time the surgeon
returned. He put his hand on Jacks
wrist and smiled.
"Goodw he approved. You're doing
well. Picked up tremendously during
the last half hour. Nothing much to
worry about now but the loss Of blood.
I think, by the way, that these young
people had better leave you for the
present, because 1 want you to put in
the next twenty-four hours in
straight Sleep"
Elenor paused outside the door and
turned to look at Norris. "He didn't
give me her address," she murmured.
"Never mind about that" said he
buoyantly. Jack will live to write his
own letter."
Norris" she began in a voice that
trembled slightly. Everything has
turned out so much better than we
could have arranged it. am glad for
his sake that the other woman exists"
"And for mine," Norris put in i'm
pulsively.
Suddenly she smiled, this time with.
out bitterness or pain, and put her
hands on his shoulders. Norris" she
said, "you are the dearest fellow in the
world."-New York Times.
Beginning and End.