The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1910-09-03

II suppose that It does make some
difference" she unused.
Much" replied Sarah warmly. Il
am getting hold. have worked at
all manner of employment and this
seems to be the only thing in which
neither age, color, sex nor social
standing makes q difference"
Irene was listening with her grace
full head bent in thought. Presently
she unfolded the plan to Sarah John
son.
II dare not offer you money, Sarah"
she said. amy more than I dared Of
fer to bribe you in the old days. But
you see the trend Of things and 1t
means lot to me. ask you to do 1t
as a favor-merely between friends
as when In the old days. you helped
about the birds"
"And both were severely spanked
for it." interrupted Sarah reminis-
Gently.
"That is true" assented Irene.
Perhaps I ought not to lead you into
this"
"T'll take my chances now as I did
them" replied Sarah, and after thank
ing her, Irene departed.
Things went on for several weeks,
until Irene knew that the time for the
mating of her husbands soul had
come, and she dismissed him with q
smile, feeling rather Judas-like.
1T is too bad. too. poor boy" she
said. But he will come home COM
pletely cured, and would thank me, II
he knew-which he never SHALL"
The last article from Sarah John
sons pen had won letter from Will
son. The article in question had been
on the "Allness of the One" It was
full of gold, 80 he told her, and she
had replied in like coin. Now, after a
months correspondence, fervid in its
intensity, he, with heart beating under
his well-fitting coat, went to see the
author of these epistles. He felt
many qualms on going to this ap-
pointment. but he tried to smother
them by holding the thought" Of
Oneness
Should the friendship be purely
platonic. or should he divorce Irene
Irene, whom he still loved, despite the
glamor of the other-and marry Sarah
Johnson?
1T shall be just as Sarah says" he
breathed. "Soul mates should do soul
work together and nothing. however
dear, should interfere"
Clearly from her letters, Sarah
Johnson understood him as he had
never been understood before, as he
had longed to be understood when a
child. Yes. It should be just as she
said.
The hour for which the appointment
was set was late, for Sarah Johnson
was busy woman. That night she
was billed to speak at the Negro Won
ans league-"How dear and kind of
her." he apostrophized. Irene, with
| all her winsome ways would never
have consented to mix so. Indeed, he
himself, he had to confess, was fas-
tidious to a degree. All, we'll, Sarah
must teach him her broad ways.
He was at her door now, modest
home in Hoyne avenue. He rang the
bell and smart negro girl admitted
him and went to summon her mis-
tress. After waiting a moment, he
heard deep. melodious voice, such
a voice-sweet toned and clear, as he
had not dared to hope for.
Mr.. Edgerton Wilson, believe
said the voice.
He turned at the sound Of the
mellow tones and encountered a WON
an of magnificent proportions. IT an
Sarah Johnson" said the woman.
Wilson stared, gasped, and stared
again. He shuddered and choked;
and despising himself for a coward
tried to pull himself together. Fol
though the voice was melodious, the
form magnificent, the woman fault
lessly attired, she was black-unde
niably black.
you thought I was white" said
Sarah Johnson, her full lip curling
slightly. ~
"Yes." said Wilson, recovering him
eslf, land thought I was white my
self, but 7 now see my mistake.
beg your pardon and bid you good
evening"
4 For an hour he paced the streets
trying to regain his composure and
readjust his thoughts, but to no avail
Despise himself. he certainly did, fol
after all. he was a man, and not cur
The scales dropped completely from
his eyes; he allowed himself but one
solace to his wounded. bleeding, dying
self-esteem - Irene should never
know!
Remaining away until the house
should be quiet, he crept home at last;
for the nrst time in his life he wat
without a latch key, wondering duly
how 1t happened, not knowing thai
Irene, who had distracted It from. hi
pocket while he was guilty kissing
her in parting. had sat lingering It fol
an hour, before rising to admit some
one who tapped softly at the basemen,
entrance.
| It was late before Wilson stood
baffied. before his house. He found
by investigation that he could Greer
indoors by way Of the pantry window
which was some eight feet from the
ground.