The Washington times., 1906-11-11
Copyright. 1901. by Upton sinciair)
CHAPTER XII-(Continued).


IIelen's voice vas very low AS she
answered. Perhaps, at last" Then
she sat very sti!, and hnally raised
her deep. earnest eyes and leaned Ior-
ward ana Gazed straight into her COM
paniOn : MIR. howard, she SAID,
you must know that you are my
conscience and it 10 the memory OF
your words that causes NE ali nay SUI
icIing. And now tell me one Iuing.
suppose 1 were 20 say 70 you Ihat 4
could neg upon my knees IoT Il chance
10 earn such a lie as that; and sup
pose 1 should ever come really 10 ioVe
some enc. and should give up every
thing TO win such treasure. 90 you
think phat i could clear my soul Irom
what 1 have done, and win risnmess
Tor mire? Do you think that you
that you could ever forget mat / was
the woman who had wished TO sell her
love for money!"
AIR. Howard answered softly. Yes,
I think So
But are you sure Of it," Helen
asked; and when she had received the
same reply she drew a long breath,
and wonderful expression OF relief
came upon her lace: all her being
seemed 10 rise-as II all ia an instant
she had flung away the burden OF
shame and fear that had been crush
ing her soul She sat gazing at the
other with a strange look in ner eyes,
and then she sank down and buried
her head in her arms upon the table.
And fully minute passed thus
without a sound Helen was Just lift-
Ing her head again. and Mr. Howard
was ABOUT 10 speak, when an unex-
pected interruption caused him To
sop. The front door was opened. and
as Helen turned with a start the ser
want came and stood in the doorWay.
What is II, Elizabeth" Helen ASKED
IN faint voice.
4 have just been 10 the postoficc.
the woman answered: here IS a letter
for YOU"
Very we'll" Helen answ ,red: give
IL 10 me"
And she took IL and put Il on the
table IN front OF her Then she waited
until the servant was gone. and In the
meantime. half mechanically. turned
her eyes upon the envelope. Suddenly
the man saw her give a violent start
and turn very pale: she snatched IN
the letteI and spTang 10 her feet, and
stood supporting herself by the chair.
her hand shaklng and her breath com
ing in gasps.
What Is it?" Mr.. Howard cried.
Helen's voice was hOarse and Choir
ing as she answered him. 1t is from
Arthur" AS he started and half rose
from his chair the girl tore open the
letter and unfolded the contents, glanc-
ing at il once very swiftly, her yves
flying from line TO line: the next in
stant she let it fall 10 the floor with
cry and clutched with her hands At
her bosom. She tried 10 speak, but she
was choking with her emotion: only
her companion saw that her face was
transhgured with delight. ana tRsn
suddenly she sank down upon the sofa
beside her. her form shaken with hys-
terical laughter and sobbing.
Mr.. Howard had risen from his
chair in wonder but before ne could
take a step toward her he heard so.~e
one in the hall, and Mr. Davis rushed
into the room. Helen Helen," he
exclaimed, what is the natter" and
sank down upon his knees beside her;
the girl raised her hand and then
flung herself into his arms. excIaiming
incoherently: "Ch. daddy, / am free,
on, Oh-can you believe it am free,''
Long after her Wt ecstasy had
passed Helen stin lay with her head
buried I'm her fathers bosom, trenb-
ling and weeping and repeating half as
II in dream that last wonderful
word, Free Meanwhile Mr. Davis
had bent down and picked up the
paper to glance over it,
Most certainly Arthur would have
wondered had Ee seen the effect of
that letter upon Helen: for ne wrote
10 her with bitter scorn. and told her
that he had torn his love for her from
his heart and made himself master of
his own life again. He bid her go on
in the course she had chosen. for a day
or two had been enough for him to
md the end of her power over him.
and Of his care for her; and ne added
that he wrote 10 her only that she
might not please herself with the
thought of having wrecked him. and
that he was going far away TO begin
his life again.
The words brought many emotions so
Mr.. DAVIS, and suggested many
doubts; but 10 Helen they brought
but one thought She stul cIung TO
her father, sobtiHg like a child and
i4iAtA-Iiflb the one MOIQ tIeC. w nen
at last the ht had vented itself ami
she looked up again. she seemed 10
Mr. Howard more like a girl than she
ever had before; and she wiped away
her tears laughiaEly and smoothed
back her hair, and was wonderfully
beautiful i'm her emotion. She intro
duced Mr. Howard to her father and
begged him 10 excuse her for her
lack of SelI-cOUtrol. II could not
help it," she said. Tor. OH. / am So
happy-so happy And she leaned
her head upon her fathers shoulder
again and gazed up into his face.
paddy dear. she said. and YOU are
not happy. too?"
My dear" DIR. Davis protested, .'of
course I am glad 10 hear that Arthur
is himself again But that is not find
Ing him, and ] fear"
"Oh. oh. please don't" Helen cried,
the frightened look coming upon her
face in a flash, "Oh. please do not
tell me that-nO no, Do let me be
happy just a little while-think OF Il.
how wretched / have been. And now
10 know he Is safe! Oh. please. dad
dy!' And the tears had welIed up in
Helens eyes again. She turned quick
" 10 Mr. Howard. her voice trembling
''Tell me that ] may be happy" she