Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-06-03

her umbrella and they walked on to-
gether.
Il owe you an apology for intruding
my presence upon you Mr.. Carruth'
ers began, after a moment, but when
you have heard what l have to say
perhaps you will pardon me.
Z There is living in the same house
with you a lonely woman who. the
janitor tells me, Is very poor and
very, very proud. He spoke about her
to me because he feared she might be
slowly starving, she looked so white
and weak. She belongs, he tells me,
to an old, aristocratic family. Her
friends come to see her in carriages,
but no tradesmen bring supplies for
her and the parcels she carries home
herself are very tiny.
las you know, live in the house
next yours, and my apartment is op
posite that in which this maiden lady
lives. Now, | sympathize with her
pride quite as much as pity her pow
erty. / tried to think of some way to
help her without wounding that pride,
but with no success until one day the
sight of chocolate cake (made
doubtless, for those visitors in car
riages) she had set outside her win
dow gave me a happy inspiration. ]
purloined the cake and left some
money in its place. My plan worked
like a charm. For some months this
lady continued to supply me with
cakes, which | and my friends en-
joyed very much indeed
II was congratulating myself on be.
without any warning. my supply of
cakes ceased. This was several weeks
ago. Since that time the windows oppo-
site mine have remained closed and
curtained, and | have been tormented
by the fear that the poor spinster
may be i'll.
When ! saw you to-day the thought
came to me that perhaps you may
know her. At any rate, being a WON
an, you could help her more easily
than l. She's little body-middle-
aged, with snow-white hair"
Il don't know her." Jean replied,
family, but | have passed her in the
hall She lives in the apartment be-
low mine"
will you see her for me?" queried
Mr.. Carruthers, land If she is in
want, let me know. | realize it is a
delicate task / am urging upon you,
but you will know how TO manage IT,
You need have no fear that | will
make this matter an excuse for
forcing my presence upon you unnec-
essarily. You have chosen to decree
that friendship on which | put q
high value should end; | have nc
choice but to respect your wish. But
if you will be my proxy in this matter
of helping Miss Daintry | shall be
deeply grateful"
II will do what you ask" Jeans
voice was very low.
Mr.. Carruthers took a roll of bills
from his pocket. IF you find the
lady needs financial assistance, as
am sure she must, will you use this p
Jean did not take the money. Il
will see her as soon as | reach home, "
she said. IF you will call upon me
this evening | will report to you. 1;
money is needed, you can give it to
me then"
Howard looked surprised. Il think
| would rather not come" he spoke
coldly, yet gently. IF you will take
the money now, you can report to me
by letter"
Please come this evening. I have
something to tell you, an explanation
to make that concerns you and me
| can't say it now" treacherous
break in jeans voice told her that
she was very near to tears.
An indescribable change came over
Towards face and manner "Tll
come" he said as they reached the
house in which she lived, where he
left her.
In spite of her efforts to appear de
mure, Jeans eyes would dance as she
opened the door of her apartment tc
admit Howard that evening.
There must be some mistake, >
that gentleman said in a perplexed
tone. Surely this is where Miss
Daintry lives"
Jean babe him be seated and took
chair herself.
Then Jean told him the whole
story. And oh, how | hated you wher
Mr.. Blake said you had laughed and
called the person who baked the
cakes your sweetheart" she cried
but when | found out the truth that
all the time your heart had been full
of kindness towards that poor lady
and all the acts / had misjudged had
been plans to help her, then L"
Then you what, Jean, dear?"
A moment Jean hesitated before heI
eyes gazed into his almost unwaver
ingly.
God bless Miss Daintry," she said
softly.
And God bless the janitor. too,
added Mr.. Howard Carruthers.
Ones Life in Ones Own Hands.
A sound body is the fruit of sun
shine. fresh air. curbed appetite, and
plenty of exercise. 1t is but the re