The Washington times., 1911-02-12

of glass. Wont you sit
DOWN." she said, when this
was done, taking one of the richly
carved chairs herself.
Kate's eyes bIazed down upon Helen.
face; her breath came and went rapidly
with a wheeZing sound; her hands, or
the luminous tabletop, were clinched
Her whole body was so rigid that II
trembled.
The color began to leave Helen's face
I'm waiting-go on"
Kate's lips suddenly quivered bach
from her teeth. She had to strike, ever
If she struck unJustly.
People like you'-her voice was
harsh, tremulous with hate-'you al.
ways believe the worst Of a man. You
throw him aside-crush him down-walk
on him. You never thinks perhaps
right Oh, no,-you never think good OF
a man If you can think bad" She
leaned over the corner Of the table. 81
hate your kind of people! 1 hate you"
rs this the thing you wanted no 6ne
to hear?" Helen asked, quietly.
Kate slowly Strengthened up. After
two days and two nights-a long, fierce,
despairing battle between selfish and
come here; but now her rehearsed SEN
tences all left her. For a moment she
stood choking; then the bold words
dropped out:
Hes not thief-never was one"
David Aldrich."
Helen came slowly to her feet. Her
face was white, her eyes were wide.
For a moment she did not speak-just
stared.
What do you mean?"
He did not take the money from the
Mission"
Helen moved from tho corner of the
table. her wide eyes never leaving
hnva
clutched Kates arms and frightened
there.
"Ten me ALL"
"You hurt me-
Helen removed her hand.
Kate crept closer and stared up into
her face.
Does it make any difference to you?"
she breathed.
Tell me allr' -. ............... >,
Kate drew back a pace and leaned
upon her clinched hands. You knew
Mr.. Morton" she said, in a quick,
strained monotone. when he was
young he lived with woman. He
wrote her a lot Of heiress-love letters.
She turned up again a few months be-
fore he died, and threatened to show the
letters If he didn't pay her. He had no
money; he took money from the Mis-
sion and paid her. 1hen be died. His
guilt was about to be found cut, hut
David Aldrich said he took the money,
u
he thought II Mr.. Morton's guilt was
found out, the Mission would be de-
stroved and the people would 60 back
to the devil. You know. the rest. That's
ALL" NIX .
Helen stood motionless-:dlent.
ITS ali So" Kate went on. The
women herself told me, she knew the
truth. She'd been making David pay
her to keep from telling thai he was
innocent. She told NE before him. He
had to admit it."
Kate leaned farther across the corner
never to tell For a moment Of dead
quiet she ugazed up into Helen's fixed
face. And why do you think I've
broken my promise?' she asked In
low voice, between barely parted lips. .
Helen rested one hand on the back OF
q chair and the other on the table. She
trembled slightly, but did not reply.
"Because''-there was a little quayer
in Kate's voice-"I thought 1t might
some time make him happy"
There, was another dead silence, dur
ing which Kate gazed piercedly into
"Do you love him2" she asked sharp
Helen,s arms frightened. After mo-
ment her lips moved.
You love him yourself" r
''Me?-it's a lie. / don't"
Kate moved round the corner OF the
table and laid fierce hand on Helen's
"Do you love him?" she demanded.
Silence. Thank you-for telling me-"
Kate laughed a low, harsh laugh, and
flung Helen's arm from her @
"Youi-you think you're way above
him, don't you! Well-you're not! You're
not fit for himl" Her eyes leaped With
fame. Il hate your
Again moment OF silence. A tremQr'