Evening star., 1908-01-18
THE AWAKENING OF
HELENA RICHIE.
By MARGARET DELAND,
Authos Of s Lavendars People," 'Od Chester Tales" Et
r.p,nsA. n H.,- :
help il because that poor boy fell in love,

mental Your gentleness and goodness
we're like something he had never seen
mentality. Of course; that was just yor--
duty. And know how wisely you did II
and kindly. But the boy Was always
self-ahsorbed dreamer: the mental bal
wrong way; his mind went. To feel IL
was your fault 10 absolute nonsense. Now
there! I've never been so out OF patiencs
with you before" he ended. smiling. but
"I don't deserve it." she said: Il wish
did,
when spoke about goodness. the
doctor amended. II didn't mean to reflect
is one of the best women In the world.
l only meant William sat down and
looked into the fire. We'll. just plain
goodness isn't necsesarily-attraetive
man--at least a boy like 6am-admires
goodness. of course: but he does sort OF
banker after prettiness;" Williams eyes
dwelt on her bent head on the sheer mus
lin under Davids cheek. on the soft, in
capable hands. that always made him
| think Of white apple blossoms, ciasped
around the childs yielding body. Yes,
something pretty and pleasant and sweet:
that's what mani mean boy. Sam
mother. good as she In. Is not-well. l
don't know how to express it,
| Helena looked over at him with faint
smile. II thought goodness was the finest
1
told so." she ended. DULY.
''Of course you would feel that" the
doctor protested. and II Is. OF course 1t
is! Only. can understand how boy
might feel. Down at the Wrights' there
was just nothing but plain goodness. oh.
very plain. Mrs. Richie. 1t was all bread
and butter. Necessary: I'm the last per
son to say that bread and butter isn't
necessary. But you do want cake oncs
In while: mean when you are young.
Sam couldn't help liking cake" he ended.
smiling
Cakes and aie." Helena said.
William. AT home there was just plain.
ugly goodness; then he met you. And he
saw goodness and other things!
Helena's fingers opened and closed
good" she said: I'm not. Truly I'm
1 not"
William laughed. looking at hef with
delighted eyes. ''Oh. no; you are ter
1 rible sinner!''
At which she said. with sudden. half
sobbing violence. "Oh, don't: can't bear
1t. am not good"
The doctor sobered. This really was
must bring her out OF II. He must mako
her realize not only that she was not to
blame about Sam Wright. but that the
only shadow on her goodness was this
| same morbid feeling that she WAS not
good. He got up again and stood with his
back to the fire, looking down at her with
good-natured determination.
| Now look here!" he said. conscience
is a good thing: but conscience. unre-
strained by common sense. does hns
work for the devil. That isn't original.
Dr. Layepdar said 1t, but It's true. I
wish DR.. Layendar knew Of this morbid
shake it out Of you! Won't you let me
tell him?"
"oh. no! no! Please don'tr'
We'll, won't: but he would tell you
this matter: it's unfair to your-to Provi-
dence." William said. He did not use
religious phrases easily. and he stumbled
over unfair to your Heavenly Father" "
in some such connection as this: "Recog-
nixe your privileges and be grateful for
the help they have been In making YOU
as good as you are. To deny what good
6sng yan anaa avs to Is you1 at
that; so he blundered on about. Provi-
dence, while Helena sat. trembling. her
cheek on David's hair.
You are as good as any mortal Of Us
can be-" william declared. land better
than ninety-nine mortals In a hundred.
So there. Why. Mrs. Richie"-he hesi-
his face: your loveliness OF character 10
an inspiration to a plain man like me-
1t was intoierable. With breathless
word she rose. swaying a little under the
ing swiftly across the room. she laid him
on a sofa. David murmured something
as she put him down. but she did not stop
to hear it. She came back and stood In
hands together in a passion OF denial.
stop. l can't bear 1t. / can't. sit
there with David In my arms and hear
you say am good. 1t isn't true! ! can't
bear it" She stopped short and turned
| away from him. trembling very much.
The doctor. alarmed at this outbreak Of
hysteria. and frowning with concern. put
out his kind. protesting hands to take
hers. But she cringed away from him.
Don't" she said, hoarseIy. and then in
william. his hand still outstretched.
stared at her. his mouth falling slowly
II told YOU" she said. that wasn't
"My God" said William King. He step
ped back sharply. then suddenly sat
down, leaning his head on his clenched
hand.
Helena. turning slightly. saw him. II
always told you I wasn't" she cried out.
angrily; why would you insist on say
He did not seem to notice her. though.
perhaps. he shrank a little. That move
ment. even il she only imagined 1t. was
IKE the touch Of flame. She felt an in
anger. far more than terror; 1t seemed to
envelop her whole body with wave OF
scarlet. 1t was new. unbearable, burn
ing anguish. It was shame.
She had an impulse to tear Ii from her.
as IL 1t were some tangible horror. some
blazing film. that was covering her flesh.
With cry. she broke out:
You don't understand! / am not
wicked. Do you hear me? am not
wicked. You must iisten!"
He made no answer.
Il am not wicked-the way you think.
My husband killed my baby. told you
that long ago. And / could not live
with him. / couldn't, Don't you see?
Oh, listen. please! Please listen! And
Lloyd loved me. and he said / would be
happy. And I went away. And We
thought Frederick would divorce me, 50
we could be married. But he didn't. Oh,
waiting for him to die. And he didn't
die-he wouldn't die!' she said. with q
wall. But now he is dead, and"
And what? Alas. what? She waited .
second. and then went on, with passion
ate conviction. And now I am to be
married. Yes. you see, / am not as
wicked as you think. / am to be married;
you won't think me wicked then, will
you? Not when am married? couldn't
have you say those things while sat ana
held David. But now / am to be mar
ried." In her excitement she came and
stood beside him. but he would not look
Over on the sofa David stirred and
opened his eyes.
THE child. william King said; "be
careful He went and lifted David to his
feet. Go upstairs, my boy" He did not
look at Mrs. Richie. who bent down and
kissed David, mechanically.
| II dreamed" the little boy mumbled,