The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-01-05
BY M.aBEL CHASE ENGLAND.
Copyright, 1911. by Associated
Literary Press

Literary Press
Helen Winslow, secretary to John
Benton, lawyer. closed her desk for
the night, donned her outdoor wraps.
left the Office and started briskIy
along Broadway. The walk home in
the evening. after the close confine-
ment of the day. formed always a
definite and recurrent enjoyment, As
she went happily along, her cheeks
glowing with the exercise. she be-
came conscious of some one. a man.
just little behind and evidently
Keeping pace with her. She hurried
her steps nervously. but moment
later heard his voice at her side.
Good evening,
She turned swiftly looking up at
him, and a wave of angry disap-
pointment swept over her.
Aren't you making q mistake ?"
she asked coldly.
The young man returned her gaze
confusedly.
II thought was just a mistake.
Forgive me-" He lifted his hat and
was gone.
Helen walked on blindiy, her heart
In tumut OF bitter resentment.
Again and again. IN her walks to and
from her work, she had met the man
who had just aecosted her, and there
had somehow come to exist between
them an imperceptible and unac-
knowiedged, but none the less real,
recognition. Unconseiously she had
woven many dreams about him. had
imagined how they might sometime
meet--she was SO sure he would find
a. way. some day. to meet her and
come into her life, And ROW he had
actually spoken to her on the street.
Her cheeks burned How could he
excuse, too. To pretend to have mis-
taken her for some one else. Well
ii was over now, That ended It,
In the DAYS that followed she saw
him rarely. and when by chance they
met he looked past her with a set
gaze and an air Of absolute aln0fness.
she imagined. as time went on. that
things We're not going well with him.
lie seemed thinner. more careworn.
each time he crossed her path. In
her ready sympathy she began ia
forget her indignation at what he
had done and TO think of him even
more than before
One wet, bleak evening toward the
end OF November she boarded Il car
for home and dropped into a seat
near the door. Looking Idly down
the row OF faces on the ether side she
gave sudden start. lie was there,
down near the other end. He seemed
absorbed in thought and apparently
had not seen her. Her heart CON
tracted with pity az she noted this
psllor and WEAKNESS of his face and
the dark circles under the gray eyes
Surely he must he In trouble, There
was something 80 desolate and hope
less In his look. so bosishty appealing
In his whole attitude. When at the
next corner the man beside him got
of she RISE resoluseiy. and walking
seat beside him
Good evening she said. smiling
up at him.
He turned toward her. startled. and
first a look of amazement, then OF
gratitude. leaped into his eyes.
oh" he exclaimed. how good OF
Sou--how unbelievahly good OF YOU"
Il wanted To apologize for my
harshness that night you--you spoke
TO me-. she explained flushing
slightly. r don't know why. but /
imagined" she stopped. confused,
II knew what you thought" he said
eagerly: but / knew. too. that
could never explain. never make you
understand. You see. il was this
way"-he paused a moment. search
ing desperately for words that would
convince her Of his trufhfulrsss--
things were going rather badly with
me, and | had M one Ia talk to-. no
one to whom ] could GO for even the
comfort of Just a little human com
panionship. / used TO get desperate.
/ had met YOU so often IN my walks
and had come to watch for you. L;
was the only thing that kept me up.
somehow. Just those little, fieeting
seconds when I epuid look into your
eyes as1sI passed. Probably you
weren't even conscious OF IL, or OF me,
hnt liked to imagine you were. that
YOU recognized me when we met.
And then that night, such longing
cAne over me TO speak To Won. To tell
you that L. oh, was q fool. How
could you understand And when
you turned toward me with such hurt
and anger in your eyes | stumbled