The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-05-12

eyes feyered Then he caught OF her
hands, helplessly.
"Oh!" he cried Il believe I'm 60
ing crazy ! cant think Help me-
girl-whoeyer you are. Don't let me
be alone. Come with me, away from
here-from this"
He arose, unsteadily, and the gir'
with him. 81 win 80 with you to
restaurant she said. Something to
eat will help you. Come on"
He followed, fearing to lose her,
while she got her hat and cloak Me-
ohanically he held the cloak for her,
with courtesy, a Difference, she
noted and hugged to her heart
To a quiet little coffee house she
led him, and here they seated them.
selves in a curtained enclosure called
a private room" A waiter came and
set glasses Of water before them. The
girl ordered something, perfunctorily
She looked up from her bill of fare to
find Butler regarding her intently.
"You are a good woman" he said,
with conviction. How did you come
to that placer"
The girl laughed-a grim, heart
broken laugh it was, full of a world !
old tragedy. That is a long story,
she answered. "and you are mis-
taken. l am not good ! am bad.
belong there. Don't fool yourself
about that"
You have been good to me-" he
said, doggedly And you are not bad.
/ know | can tell by your eyes
somehow. You are much better than
!; l respect you-as much as any
one"
Tears came to the girls eyes-the
first in many a day. Impetuously she
caught one of Buffers hands and
kissed it,"
OH" she cried brokenly you
mustn't talk like that You don't
know. You don't know"
lie turned on her, sharply. yes, l
do he said. 81 know a lot of things
didn't dream Of few hours ago.
They sort Of came to me-out of all
this. | don't know how you got into
Lhat-that life. l don't care to. It's
done and it can't be recalled But l
know you are good Don't deny~it."
Butler pulled the beer-stained letter
from his pocket. 1t was wet and
3rumpled and almost illegible, but he
viewed it impassively. do you want
o know why | got drunk tonight"
He threw the letter across the table
She picked it up, hesitatingly, almost
'everentially, but, as she read, her
Eyes hardened.
Yes, that's why" said Butler, in
answer to her look "The world calls !
Ter a good woman Maybe she is.
Yet she wouldn't life a finger to save
he man who loved her But you'll
anne to that place stranger, a
runken fool You might have 1eeced {
ne, or let the others do it, l have a
.ood deal of money in my pockets
nd a gold watchand things"
The girl made gesture of protest
That's all right" Butler went on.
/ just want to show you that / under
tand-what you might have done, q
nd what you did Why, you're ten t
ines better woman than the girl
tho wrote that ten times. This aft
rnoon thought my heart was
roken. Now / know it was all for the
est. We could never have made it
ogether But wouldn't have under
tood-until it was too late"
The waiter interrupted them, bring
lg sandwiches and coffee They fell
} eating, for they were both hungry,
nd it was not until Butler finished
is meal that he spoke again.
II want you to do me favor-once
lore" he said. Il want you to take
alf Of this money I've got, I'd have
st all of it, only for you It will
ake me very happy if you'll take it,
o what you please with it. Leave
lis life or stay in it, / can't tell
hich is best" He took from his in
er pocket roll of bills and counted
lem. Half Of them he put back
he other half he held out to her.
Please" he said
The girl took the money reluctant,
1t eager.