The Washington times., 1911-01-23

| belnS Waged IN the basement
room that was the Aldrich
home, when knock made David lower
his defensive fists.
! 'Ah. don't stop. pard," Tom begged
of his cornered enemy. Let 'em pound.
It's just somebody else kickin' about de
heat"
"WH only stop a second. Ask EN-
what they want, and say I'll attend 10
! il at once
Tom, grumbling fiercely. opened the
door. whats de matter he demand
ed. Amt you got no heat?''
But 1t was not an angry tenant who
| stepped in from the darkness of the
hall. 1t was Helen Chambers. She
was flushed, and excitement quivered
beneath her manner. She looked from
one pillow-fisted belligerant to the
other and said, with a tremulous smile:
Il had thought there was no heat but
after looking at you I've decided there's
plenty. Is this the way you always re-
darted behind Rer and through the
door. David gazed at her. Suddenly he
remembered his shirt sleeves. II beg
your pardon" he said, and In his be-
wilderment he tried to thrust his huge
fists into his coat.
Perhaps you can do that''-again the
tremulous smile-"but | really don't
think you can"
II should take the gloves Off he
stammered. He frantically unlaced
them, slipped into his coat, and then
looked at her. throbbing with wonder
as to why she had come. as to how
she was going to rect him.
She did not leave him in an in
stant's doubt. She steT Jed toward
him with outstretched hand. the smile
gone. and tears shinging in her eyes.
I hnN 20, .I.N
said, in her low. vibrant voice.
Apologize" gasped David, weakly
taking her hand.
"A thousand times. I believed you
were directing the boy in his thefts-
that you were both profiting by them.
l judged you upon mere appearances.
i despise myself for it. This after
noon the boy came to me al st. Chris
could hardly wait till 1 was free, so
could hurry to you and ask You to
forgive me-"
Forgive you" David said slowly
ment," she went on. with a quaver, Iii
her voice that thrilled David. For
give my hardness to one who was ,
bravely making what is perhaps the
of encouraging you, thrust you down.
l am ashamed. Forgive me-
Her coming, when he had never eX-
pected to face her again: her kindness, !
when he had expected scorn; her beg
ging forgiveness. when he was the |
guilt-branded one-all this was so
sudden that he was speechless before |
the marvel.
You do not forgive me?"
Again David thrilled at the tremu- !
lous note in her voice. Il am not !
worthy to forgive you." he said |
frankly.
You are innocent-therefore wor-
thy Her eyes. looking straight into
his face, continued the appeal.
Il forgive you," he said. in low
voice.
THANK you" She said this with VI
brant cimplicity, pressing his hand:
came TO tell you how glad I am to learn
you are making the brave. bitter up
ward struggle. And 1 came to say that
it there is any way my friendship can
help you, that help is yours"
You want to help me!' was all he
could say.
yes Won't YOU let me-please?
Why should I not be of service, If |
can, to one I've known for years. one
Proved my worthiness?"
by your kindness to the boy, and
by your honesty
He throbbed with exultation. Then
you believe I am now honest?'
"Yeu have proved that-proved it by
the way you have stood the test of the
last four months, by the way you have
resisted temptation"
His eyes suddenly sank from hers to
the floor. Her words had brought back
New Year night. She had come to
him with friendship. because she was
certain of his unfallen honesty. If she
knew of New Year night, would she
he giving him this praise. these offers?
Likely not. The temptation to say moth
ing rose. but he could not requite frank
ness and sincerity such as hers with
the lie of silence; he could not accept
her friendship under raise pretenses. Il
When he looked up her face became
tense and white to match his own. He
gazed at her steadily.
II am innocent where you thought me
guilty, but he paused; the truth was
nard-"but I am guilty where you think I
ne innocent
She gave little shiver, and took
stem toward him.
what do you mean?' she asked, in g
,oice that betrayed disduietude
Il have not resisted temptation as /
,ou thought | had been starved. re- 4
,uffed, for over three months. Tempta- /
fon came, I entered a houSe-eQtered Ii I