The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-22

away. Why did l keep mysel 10 eservedp
And on and on she went in osassless
~vOlubiity. punctutatOd and oddly enough
emphasized by gRsps and reaches iOr
breath. telling Of how she had quite worn
out herself for Helen and what a relief IL
was to feel that at last the tear child was
safe and happy: while /. looking az the girls
dOwncast face and t~witching hands. realized
that I did truly feel al interest in her n
that was why l felt 30 sad. m IL gazing on
the face OF the dead.
An unusual twist in he verbose current
caught my rowing thoughts.
Il don't soc why DIR. Champion doesn't
come" Mrs. ROmaine was saying. "A
clergyman OF all persons should set an
example Of ~punctuality.' Doesn't the Bible
itself say that the last shall be first? Splyn.
here. with his horrid Old World ideas.
claimed that II wasn't necessary. but Of
course l insisted, as any true woman
would"
What on earth was she trying to say?
The wedding ceremony, set, as Nondoscript
had old me. for this very hour. in this very
ROOM. not necessary? And again l looked
on Helen's dOwncast face and again I Jaw
there the numbness OF despair.
There was as little time a. there was
use of asking.
Hero he is now" CRIED the Widow Ro-
maine, and sudden silence prevailed.
The young clergyman looked his office
"a he stood pale and erect, having made
the most formal Of salutations. In the
intent face pressing close l could see the
reflection of my W conviction that some
thing startling was about to happen.
Il decline TO celebrate this ceremony.
Mrs. Romano. at length he s1tl. Il would
that l might inhibit it's celebration
The ideal cried the widow, for once
astonished out Of words.
I looked instinctively oward Helen, as
one naturally looks toward the one most
affected by an event dramatically unex-
pected. The girl sat motionless, unmoved.
without a tinge OF hope in her ashen face.
But Splyn showed the bluffing mettle
that had made him what he was.
Run along, little man." he said. Il
have only 10 show this fee to rave a dozen
OF your cloth swapping for IL. There is
no danger Of n clerical market ever being
cornered, v and he laughed loud and long as
he held up a white envelope.
DIR. Champion never hooded him.
1T is my duty, madam he said, "to
warn you that this man was married five
years ago, at the point Of a revolver, to a
resrectable young woman whom mo had
a"Tfs a Iiel" cried Splyn. "A damnabIe
lie that l would ram down your throat IL
it wasn't Tor your sanctimoniOus, sissified
Office"
Ran il down mine, then, for / re, eat
it," declared a young mar stepping for
ward defiantly. All, you villain, you
don't dare face me-! 1t ia tr-e. Here il a
cory of the marriage certificate. Here are
the afidavits Of the father and brothers Of
this poor creature whom you deceived,
abused, deserted."
Go one steD furder." sneered Splyn.
Ado divorced to il, and you'l be getting
down TO facts. Such "A pretty fellow. and
a lawyer. too. hey? Well, since you are
showing parers, look at this, and be damned
10 you"
"As il ] hadn't known all along about
hat huzzy," sputtered the widow Romaine.
1T ia a burning shame for a minister Of the
Gospel to ALLOW himself 20 be imposed upon
by such a rascal. Call the servants, l say,
and put him out"
But the young man, whom | now recoG-
nized as the manly young fellow who IN
watched and waited by tho corner. turned
eagerly to Helen Ruthven. the clench Of
his fist and the flash Of his eye according
him respectful distance.
1T is a divorce. Nellie, surely enough" no
said. God help the land where so base "a
document must he deemed legal. | had
hoped to save you by proving this former