The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-18

4 4 l. III
white Indian ncediework, embroidered
.,eiili dark green leaves.
Her face was pale and tired.
despite tho general warmth OF tho
time, a fire burnt steadily on the liearGi.
Gortrc sat down at her invitation,
and they fell into 81 desnltory convcrsa-
tion. Ho waited for her to open on tho
real subjects that had brought him
there.
Hc watched the tired, handsome face
I Coarse 1t certainly was IT, expression
rather than feature, but that very coarse
ness gave II power. This woman. who
lived the life Of doll, had character.
One saw that. Perhaps, he thought. as
& he looked at her. that the very ca gerness
and greed for pleasure marked in her
face. the passionate determination to
tear the heart and core out OF life.
might still be directed to purcr and
nobler ends. ls
Then she began to talk to him quite
frankly, and with no disguise or slurrlng
over the facts OF her life.
..1'rn sick and tired OF 1t all. Mr..
Gortrc.p she said bitterly. you can't
know what 1t means u bit-llicky for
y.ou. Tmagine spending all your life
In room painted bright yellow, eating
nothing but chocolate creams, with Il
band playing comic songs forever and
ever. And even then you won't get it"
4 Basil shuddercd. There was something
SO poignant and forceful In her words
that they hurt, stung like a whip-lnsli.
lie was being Brought into terrible coll
tact not Iony with sin and the safety
/ of sin, but with its results. The hidcons
sstalencss and torture OF 1t all appalled,
him rs he looked ut this human persona
flcation of 1t In the crimson gown.
That's how 1t was at first sllo con-
stinued. 81 knew there was something
more than this in life. though. I could.
read 1t in peoples faces. So I came to
the service at your church one Sunday
evening. I'd never made fun OF religion
aud all that at any time. L simply could
MT believe 1t, TINT was all. Then I heard
you preach on the Resurrection. heard
all the proofs for tho first time. or
course, could see there was MT any
doubt about the matter at all. Then.
cniiously, directly began to believe In
IT. began to hate the way was going
on. SO went to Father Ripon, WHO
was Very nice. and he said you'd CALL"
7 II quite understand yotI, Miss Hunt"
said Gortre. That's the beauty of faith.
When once YOU believe. then you've got
to change. It's n great pity. "a very great
pity. that clergymen don't attempt to;
explain things more than they do. II
one isn't built in a certain way. can
quite understand and synlpathizc with
stIiS Ous VIII ISL dple 10 ttke d puTSOIl
mere statement on trust. so TO speak.
But that's beside the way. Yo,, believe
a any rate. And now what are you
going to do? I'm hero to help YOU in
every possibl cway J want to hear your
views, just as you have thought them
OUT
II like that. she said That's prac-
teal and sensible. I've never cared very
much for sentimental ways of looking at
things. You know can't live very long.
I've got enough to live quietly on for
some years, put away In a bank. money
I've made acting. L haven't spent n
pennyzo of my salary for years-Ivc made
the men pay for everything. shall go
quietly to the country and be alone with
my thoughts. close to little quiet
church, Youth find a place for me, won't
YOU? That's what want TO do. But
there's something In the way, and n big
something, too.''
Tn here TO help that said Basil.
It's Bob, she answered. ..'rhe man
that keeps me. I'm afraid OF him. He's
been away for months. out of England,
but he's coming back at once. Tomorrow:
as likely as not, he couldn't say to a day
I u had letter from .1.indisi last week.
He's been to Palestine, via Alexandria,
, young man.
Who is he?' lie asked.
SHE took a photograph from the man
tel-shelf and gave it to him. 1t was
one OF the Stereoscopic Company's
series OF Celebrities Under the por-
trait was printed-"Sir Robert I.lwellyn.''s
Gortre started violently.
"I know him., he said quickly. II felt
when 4 met him What does it NIL
mean?"
He dropped his head into his hands.
filled with the old nameess. unrcas-
oning fear.