Barbour County index., 1904-08-10

ly when he realized that it was there,
swearing softly under his breath.
Thank heaven, / don't have to stay
here another day, at any rate. I'll
wire Meredith tonight that I've re-
considered his offer and will be with
him-let me see, l think l can make
it Thursday if l get off tomorrow ear
ly. I'll do it, it's a good opening. /
would have accepted it in the first
place if it had not been for-you," de-
family to the photograph.
1t was in the bottom of his trunk,
along with the tiny ring, when he
started on his long journey west the
next day, to accept a partnership in
a law Office in a young town in that
section.
only known you one summer? Yes,
that is true, but I've known Meredith
years, and he has always been telling
me about Helen. Honestly, 1 feel as if
/ had known you ages and ages, any
way" He looked into the soft brown
eyes of Meredith's sister for an an
swering enthusiasm over the long ac-
quaintance
They had been engaged five min
utes
1T has been lovely summer" she
murmured, and he saw the connection.
The happiest of my life he agreed,
even while he remembered how
| wretchedly it had begun for him in the
| east
A messenger boy came up the steps
with a telegram. 1t was for Alan.
"Alice perhaps fatally injured in
runaway. Calls for you when con-
scious Will you come? Doctor says
only possible hope"
He was standing at window where
the light streamed out brightly, to
read it. Helen heard him smother an
| exclamation of dismay, and went to
him at once.
''Is it bad news?" she asked softly,
and he was face to face with the crisis
of his life. But it was Helen-there
| in her hand.
"The worst possible news that could
come to me now,'' he said.
Come" she said, when she had read
it through, and led him back to the
shadow. She had seen the white
misery in his face. She did not want
him to see her own.
Now, tell me-" she said very softly
and gently. But he felt the demand,
the command, under the gentleness.
She had the right to know, he was
on trial in her heart. Yet something
in her soft voice had told him that she
was ready to hold him innocent until
he was proved otherwise.
He told her the truth, not sparing
| himself or this other girl-this un-
known, Alice-in the recital
''She deliberately threw me off. when
/ loved her. or thought did, then. She
has no possible claim upon me now
when / am quite sure don't love her -
he said, savagely, stung with the pain
Of the old scene and humiliation, and
this new strain.
"You loved her once. and taught her
to love you" The voice was still very
gentle, but there was a new firmness
III it.
Il thought loved her. don't know
she is one of those little clinging
creatures that makes fellow feel very
big and strong and-and like posing
as shield and protector, and all that
sort of thing, you know" She smiled
a little at the analysis, but he did
not see.
$50 1 posed, like a fool, for two
weeks. Then she got tired of me, and
turned me down. I'm glad she did
Helen. you UNDERSTANDING, of course
you can't ever understandable you'll
believe me, won't you, that you are the
only girl I've ever really loved in this
way?"
"Perhaps-some time-you might
''Helen!"
But you must think what you are
going to do" She knew perfectly well
what he would do, but she waited to
see if he knew.
81 can't think-I can't do anything, .
he said. Then she told him.
you will go on the next train. The
life of the girl is at stake" Her hands
were behind her, and he could not
see that they were tightly clenched
How can L? Oh, 1 can't-it would
NC dCIluS 11c, " 81 W
you." he insisted.
Il release you. I refuse you. You
must 60 and do your part in saving
her life. And you must do it we'll.
She tried to make the tone cool and
even and failed.
Before she could protest she was in
his arms. Then she began to cry soft
ly, and he kissed her hair again and
again. Her face was hidden on his
shoulder.
IF you didn't go and she died.
would be her murderer, don't you see?'
she sobbed. IF you love me. you viii
forget all about me, and go and save
her. 1t was new sort of logic to the
young lawyer, and he almost gaspeG
over it.