The San Francisco call., 1904-12-18

bores me. Come. DEAR she added.
coaxingly.
The other woman returned to kneel
on the rug and mediate. She was
wondering how much or how little she
would tell her friend. Finally she re-
solved to be confidential. Gertrude was
a kindhearted little woman, if a trifie
frivolous. She would be sympathetic
and silent And after all these weary
years of lonely thought it was relief
10 tell the sad story On the impulse of
the moment Ellen leant her arms on
Mrs. Trails knees and burst into tears.
1T all comes back to me-" she sobbed
hiding her face. In the great hall Sir
Harry had a Christmas tree for the viii
lage children. 1t was then that he az
cused WILL
is that the mans name?''
Yes. He is the only man 1 ever
loved. We were to have been married
that Christmas eve-ohi"
Dear mel" said Mrs. Trail. opening
her eyes wide. And the other woman?'
There was no other woman!" cried
Ellen, starting Indignantly TO her feet
He loved me and / loved him. But
could 1 marry a thief-a forger-a-"
'Oh, gracious me, how dreadful Do
tell me ALL
Ellen, pacing the room in the fire.
light, dashed into the story. and told
il hurriedly, as though she feared her
strength would give way before she
reached the bitter end. Mrs. Trail lis
tened with all her ears, and did not in
terrupt.
You know we were poor after my
father died" said Miss Manners. I'VE
lived in little Bloomsbury house, and
though my brother Frank was the heir
TO the estate Sir Harry would do little
for him. At last he procured him a sit
VIII and they became great friends.
My brother brought Will home with
him"
And you fell in love-" interposed
Mrs. Trail
Yes cried Ellen. passionately. Il
loved him with all my heart and soul
with every fiber of my being did love
him. VIII was clever and kind and
had future He and Frank were al
ways together. Sir Harry chose to dis
ike VIII. and said he led Frank wrong.
But it was not true. 1 am sure it was
not My mother loved Will also but
when she heard Sir Harry talk she be-
came distant. You know how my moth
er adored Frank"
He was the apple Of her eye" said
Mrs. Trail
The idol of her heart" went on Miss
Manners, pacing the room hurriedly.
She would have died had anything
happened to him, and therefore she
was afraid lest Will should lead him
astray. l was engaged to Will then,
and mother wanted me to give him up;
but L refused. / believed in Will-al-
ways-till that night"
The Christmas eve?''
And even then / should have trusted
him" continued Ellen, without heed
ing. Il should have come to him and
married him. If he was innocent he
was treated vileIy; if guilty he needed
me more then than at any time Oh,
Gertrude! If Christ left US when we sin
most. what would become of us?''
My dear, don't talk like that" said
Mrs. Trail, uneasily. But Ellen talked
on rapidly.
Il should have forgiven Will, but
did not. On that night-it was in the
great hall on Christmas eve. 1 and
Frank and mother were here. VIII had
been asked also. The village children
danced around the tree and every one
was bright. Sir Harry was just giving
the presents from the tree when he
was called out A special messenger
had arrived from his bank. He re-
his name to a check for large amount.
I put my arms around Wills neck, but
my mother drew me away. And there,
with all the people round, under the
glory of the Christmas tree, stood VIII,
being accused by my cousin, Sir
Harry"
What a shame to accuse him in pub
lie"
Il think that was done so as to make
ii impossible for me to marry him.
said Ellen, slowly. "Only Frank stood
up for VIII. and insisted that he was
innocent But the check had been pre-
sented by Will, SO there could be no