The Washington times., 1906-11-25

YOU not tell me, David? Tell me all,
50 that ] may help you" SO she went
on pleading with him gently Until at
last the man spoke again N falterinE
words
Helen" he said. Il was only a boy:
God knows that Is one excuse. If IL is
the only one. / was only seventeen,
and she was no more.
who was she. David?" the girl
asked.
she lived IN "A village across he
mountains from here, near where our
home used 10 be She was farmers
daughter, and she Was beauUS oh. TO
think that that woman was once
farmers beautiful girl, and innocent
ana puret, Bat we Werc young. we
loved each other, and We had no one 70
warn US: il was 50 long ago that IL
seems Ike dream 10 me now. but We
sinned. and / took her for mine. then
! went home 70 tell nay father, 10 tell
him that she was my wife, and that !
must marry her And. oh. God. she
was a farmers daughter, and / Was
rich mans son. and the cursed world
knows nothing Of human souls and
/ must not marry her-I found all The
world in arms against 1t 80
And you let yourself be persuadedE'
asked the girl, IN "A faint whisper.
-'Persuaded?" echoed DAVID. his voice
shaking, who would have thought "
peTsuading a mad boy ! let myself
be- commanded and frightened INFO sub
mission. and carried away And then
i've or six miserable months passed
away and ! got a letter from her, and
she was with child. and she was ruined
forevcT-she prayed 10 me in words
that have haunted me night and dag
all my life. 10 come TO her and keep
my promise"
And David stopped and gave groan.
the other whispered. You could not
go?"
4 went" he answered. 4 borrowed
money. begged il from one of my
fathers servants. and ran away and
went up there; and oh. was two days
too late"
TOO late?" exclaimed Helen. Won
derinly.
Yes. yes" was the hoarse reply.
for she was a weak and helpless girl.
and scOrned Of all the world. and her
parents had turned her away. and she
was gone. no one knew where Helen.
from that day 10 this I have never
seen her. nor ever heard of her. and
now she comes 10 curse me-tO curse
my soul forever. And 4 Is more than
! can bear. more than I can bear
David sank down again. crying OUT.
1t is too much. II IS too much But
then suddenly he caught his wife
hand in his and stared up al her. ex-
claiming. And she said there was a
child. Helen, Somewhere IN the world
there is another soul suffering for this
sin OF mine, Oh. somehow We must
find out about that-something must
be done. I could not have two such
fearful things 10 knew OF. We must
find out. We must find OUT"
As the man stopped and stared wild
~ about him he heard the womau's
voice again and sprang up; but Helen.
terrified at his suffering. caught him
by the arm. whispering. NO. no.
David. let me go in. I can take care OF
her" And she forced her husband
down on the sofa once more. and then
ran into the next room She found the
woman again Struggling TO raise her
self upon her trembling arms. staring
about her and calling out inCOherently.
Helen rushed 10 her and took her hand
In hers. trying to sOOthe her again.
But the woman staggered 10 her feet.
y
Where is he? Where IS he?" she
gasped hoarsely: he viii come back
She began calling David's name. and
moment later. as Helen tried TO keep
her quiet. she tore her hands loose
and rushed blindly across the room.
shTieking louder yet, David, where
are you? Don't you know me, David2"
As Helen turned she saw that her
Inns hud ~
TO the doorway again; but Il was all
In vain. for the woman. though she
looked at him. knew him no more; Il
was 10 a phantom OF her own brain
that she was calling. in the meantime
pacing up and down. her voice rising
higher and higher She was reeling
this way and that. and Helen, fright
ened at her violence. strove to restrain
her, only 10 be flung of as as II she
had been a child; the woman rushed
on. cropping about her blindly and cry
ing still. David Tell me where Is
Davidr'
Then as David and Helen stood
watching her in helpless misery her
delirious mood changed, and she
clutched her hands over her bosom.
and shuddered, and mOaned to her
self. 1t is cold. oh. It is cold Az
terward she burst into frantic sobbing
that choked her and shook all her
frame; and again into wild peals OF
laughter; and then last OF all she
stopped and sprang back, staring IN
front OF her with her whole face a
picture Of agonizing fright: she gave
one awful scream after another and
staggered and saaA dam az last upon
the fioNC "Oh. IL is he. 81 is he" she
cried, her voice sinking into a shud-
der; 'oh, spare newly should you
beat me? Oh God. have mercy-haye
mercy! Her cries rose again into
Shrek that made Helen's blood run
cold: she looked IN terror az her hus-
band. and saw that his face was
white; in the meantime the wretched
woman had flung herself down pros
tTate upon the floor, where she lay
grovellng and writing,
That again. however. was only for
minute or two: she staggered up
once more and rushed blindiy across
the room, crying. Il cannot bear IL,
cannot bear il. On. what have /
done?' Then suddenly as she flung
up her arms imPi0Tingly and stag
gered blindly on, she lurched forward
and fell striking her head against the
corner Of the table.
Helen started forward with a cry
OF alarm. but before she had taken