Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-07-22
When he had gone she laid a hand,

a little while she let Butler sob. un-
restrained. Then she spoke to him,
softly. soothingly, as to child.
Come" she said. Come. You are
better now. It's all right. But you
mustn't stay here any longer. You
must go home, now"
He raised his head and glared at
her wildly. who are your" he asked.
"Just a woman" she answered,
gravely. Just woman-who is sorry
for YOU"
He continued to look at her. his
eyes fevered. Then he caught at her
hands, helplessly.
"Oh!" he cried. II believe I'm go
ing crazy. can't think. Help me,
girl-whoever you are. Don't let me
be alone. Come with me, away from
here-from this"
He arose, unsteadily, and the girl
with him. II will go with you to q
restaurant" she said. Something to
eat will help you. Come on
He followed, fearing to lose her,
while she got her hat and cloak. Me.
chanically, he held the cloak for her,
with a courtesy, Difference, she
noted and Rugged to her heart.
To quiet little coffee house she
led him, and here they seated them.
selves in a curtained enclosure called
private room" A waiter came and
set glasses of water before them. The
girl ordered something, perfunctorily.
She looked up from her bill of fare to
find Butler regarding her intently.
you are a good woman" he said,
with conviction. How did you come
to that placer"
The girl laughed-a grim, heart.
broken laugh it was, full of a world.
old tragedy. That is a long story"
she answered; land you are mis-
taken. / am not good. / am bad.
belong there. Don't fool yourself
about that"
You have been good to me-" he
said, doggedly. And you are not bad.
l know. l can tell by your eyes
somehow. You are much better than
1; | respect you-as much as any
one"
Tears came to the girls eyes-the
first in many a day. Impetuously she
caught one of Buffers hands and
kissed it,"
OH" she cried, brokenly. "You
mustn't talk like that. You don't
know. You don't know"
He turned on her, sharply. "Yes,
do" he said. Il know lot of things
| didn't dream of few hours ago.
They sort of came to me-out of all
that-that life. l don't care to. It's
done and it can't be recalled. But
know you are good. Don't deny it."
Butler pulled the beer-stained letter
from his pocket. 1t was wet and
crumpled and almost illegible, but he
viewed it impassively. do you want
to know why got drunk tonight"
He threw the letter across the table.
She picked it up, hesitatingly, almost
reverentially, but, as she read, her
eyes hardened.
Yes, that's why" said Butler, in
answer to her look. The world calls
her a good woman. Maybe she Is
Yet she wouldn't life finger to save
the man who loved her. But you'll
came to that place a stranger, a
drunken fool You might have fieeced
me, or let the others do it. / have
good deal of money in my pockets
and gold watch-and things"
The girl made gesture of protest.
That's all right. Butler went on
81 just want to show you that under.
stand-what you might have done
and what you did. Why, you're ten
times a better woman than the girl
who wrote that-ten times. This aft.
ernoon l thought my heart was
broken. Now know it was all for the
together. But / wouldn't have under.
stood-until ii was too late"
The waiter interrupted them, bring.
ing sandwiches and coffee. They fell
to eating, for they were both hungry
and it was not until Butler finished
his meal that he spoke again.
81 want you to do me favor-once
MORE" he said. II want you to take
half of this money I've got. I'd have
lost all of it, only for you. 1t will
make me very happy if you'll take it,
Do what you please with it. Leave
this life or stay in it. / can't tell
which is best" He took from his in.
ner pocket a roll of bills and counted
them. Half of them he put back
The other half he held out to her
please" he said.
The girl took the money, reluctant,
yet eager.
81 won't lie to you" she said. Il
want it-and / need it. And / won't
promise anything, but I'll try" She
slipped the bills into the bosom of her
dress. I'VE must go, now" she said
"You have been very good, and. per-
haps, you have changed my life Per
haps you have saved me; l don't
know"
She arose, and he accompanied her
out into the night. Dawn was begin.
ming to break. The streets we're de-
serted and the lights extinguished,
except here and there, where one
cleaned, cold and faint, in the grey
n