The Washington times., 1905-10-15

oVlt ylSioel. A second 3rSer Strobe Nas
in the yard
lie carne forward with rush: thcn
he halted. struck by ..er frsgility, her
pallor. her ethereal look The light In
the yard. misty white with starlight.
yellow from the gas. had haIo-like
effect. With something of fear. some
thing of hesitation, he held OUT his
hands
She raised her head and looked at
him. then she ran forward and caught
the hands in her own.
You care, Maurice You care
Dear. I worship you.-'
That was all Question and answer, IL
compassed and covered all When hearts
are overfuil. they seldom run to
speech When sorrow has broken in on
love. love. left alone again. is hesitant
and shy, more prone to look and kiss
and hold than TO mend his wounds with
words There was all the length Of life
in which 10 explain; for the moment
they were together, and no explanation,
20 satisfaction. could balance that
Anna rested against his shoulder with
closed eyes. Now. for the first time. she
knew how bitterly rest was needed. But
the thought Of rest brought the thought
of fatigue-fatigue the thought of duty
duty the remembrance of many things
She started up again, opening her eyes
Maurice she said, my father is
dead; ne died nearly two hours ago.
had forgotten-since you came" She
stopped suddenly In the conflicting
lights her red hair looked dark, her gray
eyes almost black.
Strobe started --Deadl'' he said. Your
father?"
i -r 7
very, very ILL., She caught his hand to
reassure him. I'VE expected it. Maurice:
we knew he was going TO de-
| He gathered his ideas And you were
alone with him?' he said slowly You
mean TO say that you were alone-ao-
soluteIy alone with him?" He looked
4 down horrifed and incredulous-
| She nressed closer. Il wasn't afraid,
Maurice. l couldn't nave been afraid.
he was so terribly gentle He just went
] ont as you blow candle. wasn't a
| hi1 afraid-tiII afterwards Afterwards.
when / realized-and 1t grew dark
| She shivered laying her face against
H. caught her 70 him sharply and
quickly Il don't know what 10 say.
Anna / don't dare ask you 10 forgive
Her eyes widened- Forgiven" she
said. Forgive what?'
Everything; but that's for another
iTnresistingiy she let him lead her
through the kitchen door, In The kitch-
en- the Stacked fire gave faint glow
+, He disensaged himself. struck match
They stood in silence looking at each
other then Strobe spoke again gently
I've never seen your father. Anna
NJ, Her eyes S suddenly filed with tears.
Take me with you.- she said He
must know. he must understano-no%,
and there are thinss-things l want TO
He pressed her fingers comprehending-
| ly, then picked Up the lamp Together
| they moved to the door, but at the door
a new idea struck Anna -
| Maurice she said, pausing. rs this
the first time that you've been here
since / came back?
down at her. the full Hood Of lanplight
ITS the tenth time, or the eleventh
I'm not sure which
She gasped and drew back. The
JOHANN She waited. 'Johann-?-'
He laid his hand on her shoulder
! Johann Is human, Anna-very much
the same as you or me-
There was silence for a space. He held
| the lamp above his head steadily.
was titti1s things together with dread
and doubt At last, with a rush OF ap-
prehension. she looked up afresh-
Johann went for you tonisht? 1t wes
for you he WENT?
Strobe nodded
He is alone now? You left Kim
somewhere alone and wretched?'' There
was self-accusation and fear In her
tone.
| Strobe touched her shoulder again.
1--WE all have times when We are best
JaIone-fghts that We must fight alone"
| Johann, Maurice--Johann-
He moved back into the Kitchen. and
set down the lamp
| Come here, he SAID; nave sone-
She moved slowly toward him He
held out his hand Nervously she laid
hers in it He drew her close, quietly
Now listen. Once long ago Mrs. Max
tead tried 20 scare You about Johann
you see 1 know all your secrets. Once
liong ago she told you that Johann was
the type OF man who takes his own
Ilife-under certain circumstances. Now
there she was Was @ wnony wrong; can
Anna looked up He touched her hair
when you left this house eigh. years
One"-he lowered his voice-''one OF the
two gave the greatest proof OF heart
break a man can give. You know what
| she bowed her head
| But the other'-he Strengthened him.
self. speaking alertly and quick-''the
other. Anna. what dfd ne do? Remesn-
! ber the loss was almost as great to him
What did he do? Did he kill himself?
Did he think OF killing himself? No; he
took his place behind the counter and
| Just went on with life.
Anna moved close to him '@You ara
very comforting, Maurice"
| He smiled. I'm just practical. that's
all. They say It's the weak men who
kin themselves. I've always doubted
that Johann is standing in chaos now
but things will settle down-things have
a marvellous. unbelievable way Of set
Ting down He has come into this
world warped. What ne wants is a new
standpoint. He's like plant in moor
soil: he wants digging out-he wants
transplanting. 1 propose that we do the
gardening. What do you say7'
Anna was silent
Dearest. you could do a lot, If Won
only would. A little kindness, a Iittla
friendship. is all he really wants. IN
his soul he never contemplated asking
any more| believe that He used t0
say you We're the sun Well most peo-
pie want a ray or two OF the sun now
and then-to help them 10 keen war;, .,