The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1904-08-05

aIademolsellel" he cried anerily.
zee. ~ and open the door, or ] viii
burst II in" lie reflected for mo-
mont. and then added. "Think-the
whole house viii know"
lie heard a movement as Of some
one slowly rising. and groans. My
head' my head" Then a heavy fail
10 the floor
Al that, eXerting all his strength. he
struck the lock with his foot. the door
few open and thick. white smoke, as
from wood fire. curled out toward
him. sitting him
From the clearness Of some part Of
the room he believed the fire had not
been long burning.
Quickly lifting the girl from beside
the bed. he bore her into his own
room, where, placing her on a couch
near the open window. he douched her
head and throat with cold water lie
was on the point Of running for help,
when her bosom futtered the lips
twtched, and the eyelids slowly
opened.
She eazed into his tender eyes for
a moment as If she did not recognize
him: then. turning, she burst into pas
sonate tears. AS her hands leaped to
cover her face he noticed a wedding
ring upon her finger. II had never
been there before.
When he had helped her into her
room, which was now cleared Of smoke,
he said, little brusquely: "Mademoi-
selle, you will promise TO do nothing
rash AGAIN."
Il will promise you. yes" she said.
almost humbly. her eyes dropping be-
fore his.
Whatever may be troubling YOU"
he went on. you can always depend
on me to help YOU"
AS they sat at tea, he tried by cheer
full talk 10 bring her mind away from
brooding. and after the meal she was
betrayed into some brightness on see
ing him wash up the tea-things, and
wished. against his laughing protesta-
tons. TO do it for him.
Suddenly, in the midst of their al
most gay talk. she became silent. the
face clouded and shining drops started
from her eyes.
Il never dreamed You were so kind"
she said, looking at him. the tears
falling down her face. 81 always
thought you were so stern and cold.
called you in my mind the man with
the hard eyes
20. but you mustn't trust to APP
pearances." he replied. cheerfully.
i've often thought you were in trouble
-and-and hadn't many friends. per-
haps."
Il have no friends since my poor
father died. year ago" she said,
sadly, when she had wiped her eyes
and could speak quietly. He had a
concession which he thought some
rich men here would pay him for.
but they took II and gave him worth
less papers. When he died. disap-
pointed. | tried to keep myself. All
our friends seemed 70 have hidden
themselves. / have suffered many
things. but I cannot starve. II is so
base. Oh. monsieur, Know you de-
spise me for being a coward today.
but"
Don't say that" replied stephen.
"None IL MS Know how veal. we may
be Wien tho time comes. But row.
listen, You must begin again. You
must Jet me lend you some money to
so on with. and we must look about
and see what work you can get. VIII
You DO that?"
She shook her head putting his offer
from her with a quick forward ges-
tme Of her hands, which seemed to him
both pretty and pitiable.
o. she said with trembling voice.
Il almost wish you had not--not found
me today" Then, with sudden
quickness in look and tone. she said.
How, monsieur. did you come to sus-
pect so soon what was doing? I
thought you had gone out"
Never mind that now" he said
brusquely. you must take my Offer.
IL will only be a loan which you can
repay when you have work"
Thank you, monsieur" she replied.
in cold tones. Il will take the money
as a loan"
He passed some sold ~ '~r across
the table and her face went proud and
pallid as she murmured thsahs. Then,
hot al the thought OF wh-t might be
in her mind. he tore ? leaf from his
note book. made out an Il. O. L." and
handed It 10 her. with his pen.
She signed the paper in silence. To
him the ilimsy page seemed 4 wall of
ice between them that. for his part.
he swore 10 himself he would never
break down.
Next evening she came to tell him
of the efforts she had made that day
20 obtain work. Her manner was some
what distant. with. at the end OF
their talk. a checked flash of warmth.
He noticed there was now no ring
upon her finger. and wondered what
was her story.
n rec weeks passed. lie could not
but confess the quiet perseverance
with which she tramped London
through and through in her efforts
to get work. She had procured one or
two pupils, but her ambition was to