The Washington times., 1911-02-12
CHAPTER XXXV.

A T $50 o'clock that evening David
- walked up the broad steps of
the Chambers house and rang the
bell The footman left him in the
great hall, rich with carved oak
| and old tapestries, and went off with his
caro-. AS David waited. he continued
| 10 wonder at the telegram he had re-
ceiyed half an hour before from Helen,
| which had merely said, Can YOU moi
call this evening"" Why could she SO
suddenly desire to see him? He had
| not the faintest guess.
| In few minutes the footman re-
turned, led him up the stairway and d.
| rected him into the library A wood
| nre was burning in the broad fireplace.
and on divan before 1T she was sitting,
all in white.
She rose. "Wiu Won draw tho doors
pleaSe?"
He did 50, and went toward her eager
| ly, but his steps slowed. Two or three
PAGES from her he came to a stop. She
| Stood one hand on the divan's arm,
marVeltng eyes, The look put a spell
upon him; he returned II silently, with
| growing bewilderment
For several moments her whole being
was brought to focus in the awed won
| der of her face. Then her breast began
to rise and fall, her face to twitch her
eyes to flood with tears. The tears
glinted down her cheeks and fell upon
her swelling breast. She gave them no
heed: but continued to hold her quiver-
ing face full upon him.
What Is it?'' he whispered.
She stretched out her hands and slow
ly moved. toward him, her eyes never
leaving his face. He automatically took
her, hands, and through them ne felt
her whole body trembling.
As she gazed upon him his last five
years ran through her mind-his trial.
his prison life, his struggle for a foot
hold, his dtshonored name. A sob
broke from her, and upon it came her
low. vibrant voice-quavering, awed:
You never took the money-the Mis-
sion money"
For. a space he was utterly dazed. The
room swan; he held her hands for
norance passed into the greater bewil-
derment Of knowledge. She knew tine
TRUTH
n He realized this, but no more. It did
not occur to him even to wonder how
Morgan told me- lodged an explains
tion in his mind that would waken after
at while, but did not now stir a single
thought regarding Kate The fact that
she knew. had burst upon him so sud-
within fim-to overwhelm, outcrowd ali
else. He dropped to the couch, and she
sank to place beside him, their hands
and eyes still clasped.
DI! YOU never LOOK Her voice
dripped with tears, vibrated with ris-
ing note Of triumph. ITO think what
you've gone throughT' she marveled on
auaveringly. Your struggles-such
struggles! Everybody believing you dis
honored-and all the time you being
this splendid thing. great sob surged
up.
He was still whirling and still saw
her face hazily. But his faculties were-
coming back.
What I did was not active-it was
merely passive he said.
ITO achieve by suffering, and be re-
paid. by -dishonor-what can be higher
She gazed at him. and gazed at him.
And TO think that believed you
you.-guiity!"
The words, the voice, had reached
the ears of his heart; 1t was going
madly.- He gazed into her face, CULVER
ing, .tcar-splashed, into her glorious,
swimming eyes. Even in his most dar-
ing fancy he had never pictured his in
nocerce affecting her so! He felt him
self suddenly wild. exultant flame.
The insuperables were swept out of the
world. He was the lover he had tried
seven years ago to stifie.
He had thought the words would
never be spoken But they came out
boldly-with q rush:
I love yoni''
She paied slightly For moment
she looked wonderingly into his eyes.
Her head slowly shook.