El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-02-15

~ the first glow OF her love for War
rem, Helen used to long for some
- great test some opportunity Of
great seIf-sacrifice by which she could
lrcve her DEVOTION
Like most romantic, emotional vo-
men. she had yearned for the deepest
expressions of love. While Warren
selfishness and indifference were grad
ually killing much OF this ardor and
romance, she was still in love with him
And, at times, she still tried TO cfothe
Warren with all the attributes of her
ideals.
And. when he had broken down with
the confession 7 have lost just $500.
and have only $1,000 to pay it with" all
of her smoldering love and tenderness
all her old longing to prove her love by
some great seIf-sacriflce, was reawek-
ened.
Here was her opportunity Here was
the supreme test But what could she
do? How could. she help him now? All
that night she had lain awake-many
impractical Impossible plans whirling
through her mind.
Her eager desire to help him. in this
crisis. had so possessed her that she
had not stopped to blame him for his
reckless speculation. She had spoken
no word of reproach, but had given him
instead a great aching sympathy.
ReleR's Bold Resolve.
If there was only some one to whom
she might gO-sOme one from wnom
she could borrow this $500. She would
pay it back afterward, with months Of
the strictest economy and denial.
But there was nO one to whom She
dared turn.
At last. toward dawn, came the most
feasible plan of all Her jewelry. Other
women had sacrificed their Jewels for
the man they lOved-why not she? But
would they bring enough? She had
nothing OF very great value except her
two diamond rings and a small pearl
locket.
And how would she go about getting
the money for them? A ''pawnshop"
was to her hardly more than a vague
term. She had seen the three gilded
balls. over dingy shops. and knew in q
general way for what they stood. But
she had thought Of such places as only
the refuge Of the most destitute and
desperate. And now that she herself
should enter one of them, and for such
a purpose.
And Yet that was now her determine
ton \ determination formed in the
gray hours OF the dawn-just before
she fell into a heavy dream-troubled
sleep.
When she awoke she was startled to
find 1t was after g. Warren had left
for the office without awakening her.
And she knew that he had been glad TO
go. 1t was an escape from dwelling
any further on the confession of the
night before To have talked or 1t
again would have meant only increased
pain for them both. And to have tried
to ignore 1t would have caused a most
strained self-consciousness
Off to Garry 1t Through.
And now the day lay free before her
The day in which the plan she had
evolved in the night must be carried
through.
She dressed at once in her street
suit; told Della she would try to be
back by luncheon and that she must
look after the baby, even though she
had to neglect her work. When shS
started off, it was with the rings and
locket securely wrapped in her purse.
Where should she go? And what shou1d
she say or do? She had a vague idea
that the process Of ''pawning" was a
difficult and mysterious one. And what
If any one should see her enter such a
place? What would they think2
She had taken a car 10 a neighbOr-
hood Of cheap shops. where she had re-
membered seeing the gilded balls. 1t