The Washington times., 1911-02-17
Continued from Tenth PaEe.)

They walked in silence for block;
''Pard," Tom began in a low voice, 81
don't know why you've been so good
to me. I don't know nuttin.' an, I'm
you tin'k l don't appreciate all that
you've done for me. But | do. When
I tInk about when I tried to steal your
coat year ago, an den when | tink
about now-I certainly do appreciate
I'm goin' to work hard-an' I'm goin
to study hard-an' I'm going to do
what you tell me. If do, d'you t'ink
I'll ever make somebody"
David pressed the arm closer MY
boy, you're going to make a splendid
man.
Tom looked up; tears were in his
eyes.
"Pard-Td die tryin'-for you" he
said
When they reached the apartment
house that held their new home, David
sent Tom upstairs and set out for st.
Christophers Mission. His sense of
loneliness made his mind dwell upon
Mr. Chambers offer of millions; for
earlier in the evening messenger had
brought a note from Helen which gave
the substance of her talk with her
father He would not have returned
an answer different from hers; yet In
this moment he ached for those things
which had been refused in his name.
and the aching drew him to look upon
that for which he had given them up.
He paused across the street from ST.
ChriStopher's and gaZed at the brilliant
windows of the clubhouse and at the
great window in the chapel that gIowed
in memory Of Merton. Then he crossed
the street and entered the clubhouse. A
few young men and women were COM
ing down the stairway, and few strug-
Cling late-comers were mounting to the
floors above. He stood irresolute, then
noticing that farther down the hall the
Ill,
cautiously joined little knot of people
who stood about it.
The room was crowded with men and
women, all in their best clothes. David
quickly gathered from the talk of the
officers on the platform-al women
Club. held for the double purpose of in
stalling new officers and entertaining
the members husbands. He had been
gazing in but a few minutes when the
new president, a shapelesS little woman,
was sworn into office. The audience de-
manded a speech, and. her homely face
glowing with happiness and embarrass-
ment, she responded in a few halting,
SrammerleSs phrases.
Il hope l can do my duty" she ended
so good that DIR. Morton, who got us
TO make this club, won't never be
ASHAMED when he looks down on it,"
Her other sentences had been applaud
ed, but this last was received in that
deep sileLCe which is applause at its
highest: and ii came to David afreSh
that Morton was still the soul Of st.
ChristOpher's. All the while that other
officers were being installed this closing
sentence and its significance persisted
in his mind, and so engrossed him that
he was startled VIXEN the folding chairs
began to be ratified shut and stacked in
one corner of the room. A little later a
piano and violin started up. and part
of the fathers and mothers began STUN
bling about in q two-step and part
crowded against the wall and made
merry over the awkwardness and disas-
ters of the dancers.
David slipped out of the building
Clearer thar ever before had come TO
him a realization of the responsibility
of saCri1iCe; when one gives, the gift no
longer belongs to one-it belongs to
those who have builded their lives upon
Il.
Across the street he looked back. Only
once before had the Morton memorial
window seemed to him more significant.
more warm and powerful in its inspira-
charge from prison, when 1t had first
flashed upon his vision. Above the glow
ing window the Chapels short spire,
sOftened by the poetry of night. seemed
to his ina gination TO be the uplifted,
supplicatory hands of the neighborhood.
Well their Morton was safe!
When David reached home he found
that Tom was in bed and fast asleep.
He walked through the sCantily fur
nished rooms They were still strange
to him, for this was his first night in
them-aud their strangeness, and the
fresh loss of two Of his best friends.
and the sense, which grew heavier and
darker, that he and Helen must remain
apart. sharpened his loneliness to a
racking pain
He tried to dissipate 1t by thinking OF
the ground he had gained-progress
him a chance; he would have thought
impossible; and by thinking of the
greater achievements the future held.
Fut he could not beget even an arti-
fetal glow Of spirits: his success seemed
but ashes So he ceased to struggle, and
gave himself over to detection.
He turned down the gas in his little
and, raising the shade of
a window, he sat down and gazed into
the street. 1t was always a quiet street
and now at half-past ten. only an oc-
casional figure moved darkly along its
Far above the Tine of oppo-
site housetops, in a moonless sky,
CLEANED thousands of white stars.
Leaning babk in his easy-chair and
gazing up at the remote points Of light.
he went over anew the problem of his
relations with Helen, and he asked him
self again if he had decided rightly
Yes, he had done right to save her
And yet, how he longed for the thing
she was willing to give! How empty his
life seemed without it! What far, far
stretch of loneliness!
His gloom was pressing heavier and
heavier upon him, when suddenly there
came ring of his bell. Wondering who
could be calling on him ut that hour,
he crossed the room and opened the
door A tall figure, heavily yelled and
wearing long coat, stepped in. De-
spite the veil and the dusk of the room,
he knew her instantly.
Helen" he exclaimed. in an awed
whisper.
She did not speak. He closed the door
and turned up the gas, and he saw she
carried a small travelling bag in one
hand.
"Helen!" he said.
She set the bag on chair, and drew
her veil up over the front of her hat.
Her face was pale, determined.
I've come to stay" she said, slowly
He could only stare at her.
I've come to say" she repeated.
"HelenI' he breathed.
I've left home-for good. I belong
with you. l shall not go away"
Helen"
I'VE shall be married tonight"
He gazed wordless at her white face,
and he vaguely realized what her mind
had passed through since he had left her
ablaZe within him; yet he had held fast
to his old decision. But, Helen-'
I've thought 1t all over" she broke
in. Everything. Heretofore you've been
the rock. Now I'm the rock-I can't be
I understand that you've re-
fused me because you want TO save me,
and love you for it. But 1 have