The Washington times., 1906-11-25

We can carry her-poOr creature?"
we may Try IT," the other replied,
and Helen Ven: and knelt by the pros
trate figure The woman was mutter-
ing To herself, but she seemed to be
quite dazed and not 10 know what was
going on about her. Helen did not
hesitate any longer, but bent over and
strove 10 Hit her. The woman was.
fortunately. OF a slight build and
seemed TO be very Thin, so that, with
David 3 help. il was easy 10 raise her
10 her feet. II was fear al task.
none the less, for the poor wretch was
foul with the mud ia which she had
been lying and her wet hair vas
streaming over her shoulders. As
Helen strove TO lift her mp the head
sank over upon her. but tie girl DIT
her lips together grimly. she put her
arms about the wOmans waist. and
David did the same on the other side.
and 50 the three Started, stumbling
slowly along in the darkness.
Are you sure that il is not TOO
much for yOu?" David asked I'VE
can stop whenever YOU Ike, Helen.
No. let Us go on, the girh said;
she has almost no weight. and We
must rot leave her out here IN the
now
They soon made their way on down
10 where the lights Of the little cot
tage lhcne through the trees. David
could not but shrink back as lie
thought OF taking their wretched bur
den into their little home. but he
heard the woman groan feebly, and ne
vas ashamed OF his thought. Nothing
more vas said until they had climbed
the steps. not without difficulty. and
had deposited their burden upon the
floor Of the sitting room. after which
David rose and sank back into a
chair for the strain had been a heavy
one for him.
Helen also sprang ZIP az she gazed
at the figure the woman was foul
with every misery that disease and
sin can bring upon a human creature.
her clothing torn TO shreds and her
face swollen and stained. She was
half delirious and clawing about her
with her shrunken, quivering hands,
so that Helen exclaimed ln horror.
oh. God, that is the most dreadful
sight 7 have ever seen ia my lfei"
Come away" said the other. raising
himself from the chair; iii Is not right
that YOU should look al such things"
But with Helen II was only a mo-
ment before her pity had overcome
every other emotion: she knelt down
by the stranger and took one Of the
cold hands and began chanHg IL.
Poor. poor woman" she exclaimed.
"Oh. what misery you must have suf-
fered, David, what can a woman do
10 be punished like this? II is fear
fur
II was strange picture which the
two made at that moment. the woman
in her cruel misery and the girl I'm her
pure and noble beauty. But Helen
had no more thought or shrinking. for
all her soul had gone out 10 the unfor-
tunate stranger. and she kept on try
ing 10 bring her back to consciousness.
"Oh. David" she said, what can we
do 10 help herr Il is too much that
any human being should be Ike this
she would have died II we had not
found her And then. as the other
opened her eyes and struggled 10 lift
herself. Helen caught an incOherent
word and said: 81 think she Is thirsty.
David; get some water and perhaps
that will help her. We must mo some
way 10 comfort her. for this IS too
horrible 10 be. And perhaps II is not
her fault, you know. Who knows out
perhaps some man may have been the
cause OF 1t all Is il not dreadful 10
think OF. Davld?"
So the girl went on; her back was
turned 10 her husband, and she was
engrossed in her task of mercy and
did not see what he was doing She
did not see that he had started for
ward In his chair and was staring at
h. ara. a-l-.a "A.
ing upon mis- face. But there was
something she did see at last as the
woman lifted herself again and stared
first at Helen's own plying face. and
then vaguely about the room, and last
of all gazing at David. Suddenly she
stretched out her arms 10 him and
strove TO rise. with a Wild cry that
made Helen leap back in consterna-
ton: David It's Dav-d-'
And az the same instant David
sprang up with what was almost a
scream Of horror he reeled and stag
gered backward against the wall.
clutching with his hands at his fore
head. his face a CHASTITY, ashen gray;
and as Helen sprang up and ran to-
ward him ne sank down upon his
knees with a moan. gazing up into
III GO ''-N+- - ASbaN va aHbtlE upon MS
face. MY God! Ny Cod he gasp
ed, 1T is my Mary"
And Helen sank down beside him.
clutching him on the arm and staring
at him in terror. David, David!' she
whispered. in a hOarse voice But the
man seemed not 10 hear her, SO over
whelmed was he by his own emotion
1T IS Nary" he cried out again; cit
is my Mary! Oh. God. have mercy
upon my sOult' And then a shudder
passed over him. and he buried his
face IN his arms and fell down upon
the floor. with Helen. almost paraIyzed
with fright. still clinging to him.
In the meantime the woman had still
been stretching out her trembling arms
10 him. crying his name again and
again. As she sank back, exhausted
the man started UP and rushed to-
ward her, clutching her by the hand
and eXclaiming franticaIly: Mary,
Mary. II Is speak to me-" But the
others delirium seemed to have re-
turned. and she only stared at him
blankly. At last David staggered 10
his feet and began pacing wildly up
and down. hiding his face in his hands
and crying, helplessly: ooh, God, that