Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-19

him the Story-eVerything.
l drew back. 1t was the last thing
on earth 1 felt that l could do.
"It is your best course. 1 know 1t.
Men are kind when they are trusted
unexpectedly kind, even the sternest of
them. You are so young-your eyes are
wistful-you can't think how strong
will be the appeal you will make.
Come, dear child! Remember, 1 have
your promise"
Her hand clasped closer, compelling
me, and gave my promise over again.
Then the train slackened and we ran
into the station.
I'VE are here" she said.
"Will there be some one to meet
you?"
Her eyes opened widely upon mine,
almost l remember, as If in a mo-
ment's doubt of me. "N-no," she said,
q hope not"
We stood up and I reached for the
handbag. "I will keep charge of this.
Get me a cab. will you?" she said.
l sprang out.
stay here till call a four-wheeler,"
I said, and closed the door upon her.
Astonishing how light my heart was
in that moment! l was repreved. I
had not. after all, to go into the mel
ancholy waiting room and shoot my
self l was going back, instead, to
warmth and life, home and my moth
er The morning, the office, the in
terview with my chief, of whom-per-
haps, because of the confidence in me
he had shown-a confidence l felt l
had betrayed-I stood in astounding
dread, were far off. The secret which
had seemed unreliable and, shut up
in the darkness of my own mind, hal
gathered terrors which in the light of
day would never have mustered round
ii had been dragged forth, shared with
another. Another who had understood,
not altogether condemned, most wise
ly counseled; who had said l was to
begin again.
AS l felt the platform firm beneath
my feet / knew that in saying that
she had spoken truly. Difficulty, ter
ror. trouble would assail me again,
would have to be met and overcome,
but | was to live, not die; l was to
begin again Thanks to the woman
who had given me back my life, l
knew that I could do 1t, and, for
space, in my newborn strength, felt
happy and confident as a king.
1t was the train before the theater
one, holding very few people; but for
the usual complement of porters the
platform was almost empty. Directly
opposite our carriage 1--WE had been sit
ting at the further end of it a man
was standing beneath a lamp. / saw
in his tall hat, long coat, sedate and
trim appearance, he recalled the chief
I was to interview tomorrow morning
He was otherwise noticeable only that
he was the sole person-not an official
in our range of view.
I passed him, hailed a cab. turned
back.
She had pushed open the door again,
preparing to descend. The light of
the lamp, opposite to which We had
pulled up, was full upon her l can
see her always as she appeared in that
moment: a gracious vision of beauty
and well being; a creature of another
world from that humdrum one in which
I and my mother lived. From her head
with hat of rich sable set with such
exquisite effect upon her red-brown,
beautifully arranged hair, to the toe of
a polished brown shoe pointed to the
step, faultlessly appointed; a revela-
tion to my green, impressionable mind
of lovesomeness we'll being, grace.
She paused a moment so, pavs'ng
forever so in my memory-the smile
upon her face. In one hand she he'd
her Jewel case, the other lay lightly
along the door she was holding open
The city man, recalling my dreaded
chief, had moved from beneath the arc
lamp, and was standing stiff and erect
ing door concealed him. AS she de-
laid a quiet hand upon her arm. She
looked at him and fell back. dragging
momentarily upon his hold. He bent
to her, whispered a half-dozen words,
then blew upon a whistle concealed in
his other hand