The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-04-24

pengreave turned up the tiny flicker
OF gus. The increased flame revealed
dainty feminine form In a simple
tailored gown, rcngreavc was con-
scious only that the girl was well dress
ed. II was the face that held him fas-
cinnted The features were wei cut
and regular; the eyes were calm and
unafraid and OF a deep tender blue
that moved reugreavc strangely,
"Where do YOU llve?' he demanded.
The girl smiled,
II don't llvc here" she explained. u
am visitor from the Helping Hand
society"
Pengreave was puzzled.
"They need charity herc?" he de-
manded Il thought that was only
with the very poor"
"These are the very poor" she said
simply, Don't you knowW
Pengeave shook his head IN bewll-
derment Twenty years he had lived
there, and poverty Ind come to BIO bis
neighbor. but he did not know It,
"IIad known should have given
aid" he said quietly. III there Is need,
come to me! The doctor--i will pay
him. Send me bis bill. am sorry for
Mrs--Mrs"-~
Brady" supplied the girl. "You are
very good"
Then the physician hustled in, and
Pengrcaye went downstairs TO his
rooms. In little while there was a
tapping at the door. and no opened 1t
to discover the girl.
"Mrs. Brady asked me to thank you
for your klndness.' she said. ut
pleased her so much that she almost
forgot the hurt OF her burn"
Pengreave sniled He could not re.
call ever hg Ing been thanked before.
He had never done anything 10 call for
thanks becaGse he did not know how.
"You must come again when you
need help" be said warmly. Il am
here always In the evenings. You have
but to ask"
II shall hold you TO your promise"
she said. There Is much good that
you can do. We are 50 handicapped
by lack Of money, and there In 10
much that we want to do. You must
see for yourself the misery about you.
Good night"
She hurried down the hall. and Pen.
greave waited until the street door
closed behind her before he shut his
own.
He went back Into the room, his head
In whirl Dlmly he was conscious
that the street was not the same as II
had been In his boyhood. The girl
must be right. He was willing to see
with her eyes, those eyes Of the glori-
GUS blue.
Those eyes gave him much to think
about. He was not yet forty, and
more than half OF his years had been
given to the unwaverlng pursuit OF
business. True, there had been Lena.
but now Pengreave knew how little
Lena had really meant to him.
For the first time that he could re.
member he had met woman OF his
own kind, and he felt the need OF
knowing more OF the life he had miss
ed. He remembered that he was stIll
a comparatively young man, and those
blue eyes had loosened something
within his breast--his repressed boy
hood, his unrealized need Of the soci-
ETY. Of his fellows.
He was as one born again and, being
born, saw the world In new light
Meihodlcally he removed the picture
Of Lena from Its tawdry frame and
tossed it upon the Goals glowing In the
open fire. He was rather we'll pleased
with the reflection In the mirror above
the mantel as he stood there
II must get some new clothes to.
morrow" he said to the reflections;
"also | must find place where 1t Is
well to live, house such as she Will
like. |, too, need helping hand. :"
And the reflection In the mirror smiled
back at him. Now that Pengreave was
awakened he knew 1t was well. The
rest would follow in due course.