El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-08-29
fBy Paul villiers.)

EFT AN quite sure you are not well.
| Leon" said Nine Berney. you
= have been so quiet and silent
| since you came back and you have even
| lost your appetite. too. You must tell
me, what is the matter with YOU" NJ.
Berney was silent and his wife went
on: Have you no confidence IN me
| any more?"
He was deeply moved and said in a
very low voice: 1T is an unexpected
unfortunate event which will only wor-
ry you If I tell you about It."
II promise you will not worry, but
will only help you as much as can
NJ Berney looked around the coy
sitting room and said quickly:
Perhaps it is better that you should
know, or you might think it something
much worse, and 1 should have to lie TO
you all along-a thing which is very
much against my nature. ] have never
lied to you Yvonne, and I would rather
die than bring discord into our lives.
You are good and sensible, SO you will
understand me. When went to the
office today 1 met somebody I had not
seen for many years"
He was silent for a moment.
And them" Mime. Berney asked.
/ 1T is really very difficult TO tell
I came to Paris. It was more than 20
years ago. She was a little pale midi
nette. Well, we met very often for
many months and then / lost sight of
her until today. She recollected me at
once and spoke to me. She is about 40
now and she told me she had always
had bad luck, is very poor and asked
me to help her get some work / could
see that she was so weak that she could
barely walk. did not know what to
say or do. She told me she did not
want money, but only a little advice,
and when I offered her 20 francs she
absolutely refused to take them and
left me standing there with the money.
She had given me her address before,
however. 1 have not been able to think
of anything else since then, and that is
why l have been rather silent and abb
sent minded.
II am so glad you have told me,
dear" said Nine. Berney.
Yes, now that it is over l feel that
1t was the best thing 1 could do"
There was pause and neither Of the
two touched the dinner The maid
came in. looked at them in surprise
and then cleared the things away. AS
soon as she had left the room, Nine.
Berney said:
ut is a matter you cannot very well
arrange yourself. but If you don't mind
I will look up that woman"
But don't you think 1t will be a
very unpleasant task to you, dear?
No, not at all. / want to see if this
woman really is as interesting as you
say, and If she deserves to be helped.
1t would be wrong IL we didn't help a
girl you once cared for, but you must
promise me you will keep out of this
altogether. / have my own money
and l will be glad to do a little for a
woman who has perhaps been some
thing to you before you knew me-"
Somehow her tone did not seem quite
natural when she said the last words.
but there was no sign of any emotion
in her face when her husband looked
up.
The next day Nine. Berney found the
address, very poor house in a narrow
street on the left bank of the Seine,
where she asked the concierge to give
her some information about the woman |
she was looking for.
yes, she lives here She is In bed
today. She came back very sick yester-
day and now she is waiting for the |
charity doctor. She is a good soul. but
am sure she will not last more than |
another week.
Nine Berney walked up the rickety |
stairs, and, as the key was in the door, !