The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-10-25

! have been "a little charitable, but that
was only because it pleased me to help
rhe helpless better than to disregard their
cries. Listen, Frank, have sat by more
than twenty desth-bcds Of the poor and
watched the spirits Of the sufferers de-
part Would YOU not think at solemn
times like that some little sign would
come? Wei. ] have watched and watched.
filled sometimes with hope and q wish
To- be convinced But no; all have died in
the same dreary fashion. simply ceasing
to live because disease had disiointed or
destroyed the parts of their bodies whose
conference constituted life Even from
their last words. no meaning could be
drawn. Some died w8iling TO their friends
around them for help impossible to give.
some I'm silence seiishiy resigned; others
praying to their God and asking mercy
for their sins"
"Francine. il hurts me- dear. hearing
such things from YOU. II sounds some
how like blasphemy. coming from your
lips
1T is blasphemy. Frank. but it is what
! believe and think I have told you
/ these things to show you how utterly
hopeless I am both in life and DEATH
Ny poor girl, how 7 pity you,'
Can YOU not help me. Frank
Il help you2 u"
Teach me TO believe as YOU do; give
me some of your faith I should SO love
to think that after death ] might meet
father and you again"
All, dear, I am helpless ! know so
little Of God or Christ 7 believe in them
because I was Taught To believe when "a
child. ! have never questioned that teach
ing, never cared 60. for what is all so
beautiful must be true"
My poor Frank. YOU are only half a
Christian. Good heavens that there are
so many millions like you, ] used to de-
Spise such faith at one time. preferring
my own whole-hearted paganism- But
now somehow it is different I long so
to be comforted a little"
"Francine, soon it VIII be daylight"
Frank. my heart is breaking; in a few
hours YOU viii die"
Dear. you love me then? All. say you
love me, FTancinet" He bent toward her
his arms OutStretched and the girl went
to him slowly, with parted lips and bril-
liant eyes that shone with unshed tears.
Kiss me. Francinei" Their lips met in
a long, feverish caress, and slowly the
color mounted to the girls wan cheeks.
The man gathered her in close embrace
anu ltlu HeI bBuDE 10 MIN. not salts
fed until she rested on his knees and her
head reciined upon his shoulder And
she, a little cOmforted. looked up at him
and whispered Il have so longed to be
your wife. Frank. have always loved
you, dear! Ever since have known
your
Darling he muttered. and kissed her
paSsionately again
She smiled I never intended to let
that woman have YOU, Frank: l wanted
you too much.
Il never really loved herr" he muttered
An, I am glad Of that-but even if
you had, ] must have loved you all the
same ] don't think I'm a very good
girl. Frank. Even when I thought she
was your mistress / still wanted you
DO you hate me for saying these things?
But ] may speak now without restraint,
mayn't /, since we are so soon to lose
each other?"
Sweetheart. let MS hope d little stili
Il cannot. Frank; but hold me to you
kiss me often. when YOU kiss me, for
second I forget to think, and am almost
happy.
For long while they reclined in 81