Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1909-08-16

her maternal influence and eloquence
until Helen had consented to be his
wife. telling him very frankly that her
heart was in the grave of her lover.
George Nanhorn. who had been killed
in a railway collision nearly one year
before
VIII Spencer WINGED, for he was rich
very rich--but then he put to the
wound that soothing salve. Il will win
her love when she is my wife" that
has wrecked so many lives.
Yet he cherished the delusion that
love in the end would win return
and he knew his own love to be strong
and enduring.
"If she never loves me- he thought
bitterly. "if all my love fails to win
hers. what will my life be-"
While matters stood in this unsatis-
factory state Mrs. Raymond made
suggestion. II want you to 60 away
for Il month";" she said to him. land let
Helen miss the constant devotion that
she has had since your betrothal. Let
her feel that void has come into her
life and how dull and cherries It
would be If she lost you. The we'd
ding day is set for June 10. and this is
April. Stay away until June"
1t gave him the first really happy
moment of his engagement when
Helen said gently. yet with a shudder:
Il cannot bear to think Of you on
railway trains. Will. Write often.
that may know you are safe"
Her lips met his in Il tender pressure
such as Il loving sister might bestow.
but with far more affection than she
had ever before given him.
Then came blow-sudden. sharp.
overwhelming. He was in large
western city when. after night. return
asked for charity. The voice was IA
miliar. and in shock Of horror the
face struck him.
George Vanhorn!"
Let me go. Spencer" the crippled
man pleaded. II did not recognize
you. Don't you know l am dead"
Il know you are coming in here with
me-" Will said gently. substituting his
arm for ono of the crutches and enter
ing the hotel. where he had Il room.
He would not let his guest speak until
he had ordered n supper and made
him comfortable Then. turning to
him. he saw that he was weeping.
See what Il woman you make of
me" the poor fellow said. You
thought was dead"
Yes. All your friends think So"
1T was a narrow escape. and | Won
der why was spared. Nine months
in n public hospital have left me Grip
pied and incurably i'll. They would
not keep me after could get about
on crutchcs. but have begged or
starved. and it will not be for long!
| would not let any one know for fear
it would get to-to-Helen!
You want to hide from herr"
"Yes-yes. What would her life be
tied to mine? You will not betray me,
Spencer?'
But you may recover?"
NO. | should be only a wreck If
could. but cannot"
Will Spencer literally could not
speak. This man asked of him only
the silence that would give him his
wife. Ana then true. unselfsh love
triumphed
She will never marry me.' Will
thought ruefuly. as he folded a long.
long letter but she shall not be cheat
cd out of what little happiness life
may still hold for her"
He wrote. too. to Mrs. Raymond a
letter that caused that respectable
lady to grind her teeth. but which she
obeycd. packing her trunk and accom-
panying Helen in the journey west
ward.
1t was VIII Spencer who met the
TWO at the depot and accompanied
them to the boarding house. where he
kept Mrs. Raymond in the parlor after
sending Helen upstairs alone. 1t was
Niil Spencer who smoothed away ev-
cry difficulty. engaging rooms for
mother and daughter and quietly eff
facing himself.
George Nanhorn was resolutc on one
point-hc would not marry Helen. He
had no hope of recovery. but if the UNI
expected should happen he would not
risk running IIelen's life by binding it
to his.
oh" she would cry, "why am to
deserve he love of two such men?
Mother, it himblcs me to think how
they love me-
And by this love her courage was
sustained through the three months
when she and her mother smoothed
George Nanhorn's path to the grave
Will Spencer never spoke of love to
her. giving her up entirely. but upon
her lover he lavished every Kindness
wealth could procure or friendship
dictate.
1t was three years later when he
came home from Il European tour and
called on Mrs. Raymond.
Mrs. Raymond, sir. is dead" the
servant told him. land Miss Helen's
Twin in street. She's come into
some money from her uncle, sir. and
Mrs. Grady took this house. sir"
Come into some money. Well. she
did not need him. lie would wait
awhile. But in Il few days little
~. tr ,,,nsh.,1 HIM.