The Washington times., 1906-11-25

sobbing his name in terror. the man
went on. half beside himself with his
grief "Oh. think OF it-oh. now can /
bear to know il and live? Twenty
three years ago-and II comes back 20
curse me now And all these years /
have been living and forgetting it
and been happy. and talking OF my
gOOdness-Oh, God. and this fearful
madness upon the earth. And / made
n-I-and she has had 10 pay for a.
oh, look at her, Helen. look at her
think that that fouIness IS mine. She
was beautiful-she was pure-and she
might have been Happy. she would
have been good. but for me, Oh. God
in heaven, where can ! hide myself.
what can I do2"
Helen was stiu clutching at his arm.
crying 10 him. David. spare met
lie hung heT OF IN a mad frenzy.
holding her ar aims length ana star
ing al her with fearful light In his
eyes. Girl girl" no cried. do YOU
hho" vho ! aHi-do you know what
nave done. This girl was Ike you
once. and ] made her love me-mad,-
hei love me with the sacred fire that
God had given me. made her love ne
as ] made YOU love me, And she was
beautiful Ike you-she was younger
IMAM you. and as happy as you! And
she trusted me as YOU trusted me.
Size gave herself 10 me as you did. and
took her. and promised her my love
and now look a her, Can you wish
10 De near me. can you wish 10 see
me2 on. Helen, ! cannot bear myself
Oh leave me, / must de-
he sank down once more. weeping.
an hls form shaking with his grief;
t'eieA hLng her arms bout his neck
again. but The man seemed 10 forget
"eI presence "Oh. think where that
""man has been" he moaned; think
"Hat she has seen. and done, and suf-
iered-and what she IS. Was there
ever such wreck Of womsnhood
ever such curse upon earthr And.
on Iof Inc years that she has lived N
Her fearful sin, and / have been
happy-great God. what can ! do for
those years-how can I live and gaze
upon this crime Of mine? I. who
s0ugh; for beauty. 10 have made This
madness; and II comes nov 10 curse
me, now, when II Is too late: when the
life is wrccked-when IL is gone Tor
ever
David's voice had sunk into a moan.
and then suddenly he heard The NO
MS feet She was sitting up again.
her arms stretched out: David caught
her In mis- own. gazing into her face
and er> ing Mary. Mary: Look al
ne. Here ami am David. the
DaviI YOU loved. 90
lie stopped, gasping for breath. and
the woman cried In a faint voice
Nater water, David turned and
called 10 Helen. and the poor girl.
'AoeEh scarcely able TO stand. ran 10
get "a glass Of f.. another Thought
came 10 the man in the meantime. and
he turned 70 TIE other with a sudden
cry II there we're chiIdT' he gasp
co. "A cflld OF mine somewhere In the
world alone and helpless" He stared
INTO the Woman's eyes impIoringI,-
she was gazing al him, choking and
trying Ia speak, she seemed to he
making an effort 70 understand hin,
ana as David repeated his agonizlnp
question she gave a sign of assem-
causing a still wilder look 20 cross the
mans face. He called to her again
to tell him where; but the woman
seemed ID be sinking back into her
FaNing, and she only gasped family
again for water.
When Helen brought IL they poured
IL down her throat. and then David
repeated his question once more. but
he gave groan as he saw that n was
all In VAN: the wild raving had begun
again, and the woman only stared ar
him blankly. until al last the wretched
man, quite overcome. sank down az
her side and buried his head upon her
shrunken bosom and cried like a child.
po9r Helen in the meantime clinging
10 him stiI.
II was only when David had quite
worn himself out that he seemed TO
hear her pleading voice; then he
looked at her. and for the first time
through his own grief caught sight OF
hers. There was such a look Of helm
less woe upon Helens face that ne put
out his hand TO her and whispered
family, "Oh, poor little girl. what
have You done that you should suffer
so?' As Helen drew closer TO him.
clinging TO his hand IN fright, he went
on, Can you ever forgive me for this
horror-forgive me that l dared to for
get It. th.-t l dared 10 marry you?"
The girl answer was a faint moan.
David. David. have mercy on met"
He gazed at her for a moment, read
ing stu more OF her suffering
Helen he asked, you see what
has come upon me-can you ask me
not TO be wretched. can you ask me
stu TO live? What can / do for such
a Crime-when I look at this wreck or
a soul. what comfort can 1 hope 10
find? And the girl. her heart burst
Ing with grief, could only clasp his
hands in hers and gaze into his eyes:
there was no word she could think OF
TO say TO him. and so for a long time
the two remained IN silence, David
again fixing his eyes upon the woman.
who seemed TO be sinking into kind
OF stupor.
When he looked upon her once more
II was because Helen was whispering
In his ear, a new thought having come
TO her, David. perhaps l might be
able TO help you yet"
The man replied in a faint, gasping
voice. Help me? HOWE" And the
girl answered. Come with me-" and
rose weakly to her feet, half lifting
him also. He gazed at the woman and
saw that she was lying stin, and then
he did as Helen asked. She led him
gently into the other room. away from
the fearful sight and the two sat