The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1914-12-05


Oswald ana you"
Merry rose and paced for a few
minutes about the room. then turned
to the window and gazed out at the
deserted city. The sleet OF midnight
had changed to raging storm. The
wind drove the snow in sudden fur
ries, piling It in drifts across the
square.
Miss Dorcas." he said. come here"
The girl crossed the room. Why"
she cried. lit is a fearful night"
Yes. It's a fearful night for the
homeless. Do you know where
might have found shelter tonight II 1t
had not been for you? Perhaps
there's a hallway somewhere that
could have slipped into, and for an
hour or two the police would have left
me undisturbed. l might have found
an empty bench on a ferryboat, Or
the Bowery missions are open; only
before one can make up his mind to
seek lodging there. they are filled to
suffocation.'
Dorcas shivered
''lf had known during these weeks
that anybody cared-or believed in
me-perhaps l should not have gone
so far down the hill. l did not dare
even to hope that you thought of me
again"
Andrew" said the girl, Il care so
much that l cannot tell you. Some
queer strain in my nature makes me
happiest when have some one to care
for. Girls at the convent used to
| come to me in all sorts of difficulties;
the ones | loved best were the ones
who needed me most. They called me
. Little Mother"
Little Mother" repeated Merry:
then he laughed huskiiy. If the girl
had known men she would have seen
| absolute famine for love, for sympathy
| and human understanding in the eyes
that were bent upon her.
! Il take back what l said a few min
utes ago, Miss Dorcas, about the stage
| being no place for you. Women like
you are needed there"
Thank you" she said with happy
smile. Wont you come back? Such
an opportunity is waiting for you.
| Besides, I could never play 'Cordelia'
with anyone but you. and you must be
my teacher"
| Merry did not answer Immediately.
Dorcas had grown accustomed to the
| long pauses in their conversation and
waited quietly. When he looked up
| their eyes met-his pleaded with her
during one speechless moment for all
his shortcomings, for shrked respon-
sibilities and failures.
! Miss Dorcas," he said, when a man
has lost hope. ambition, his faith in
human nature and everything that
makes life worth while. il he has gone
| down into the depths and still has the
desire come to take up life again, is
there any quality left that will help
him?"
Yes" Dorcas moved as if by sud
den impulse and laid her fingers upon
the mans arm: "he has honor. So
long as one is a man of honor. there
Is no end of a chance"
"A man OF honor" AS he repeated
the words his face paled suddenly. II
was the same attribute which Enoch
had accorded to him.
Dorcas watched him intently, her
eyes full OF eager anticipation. She
could see him undergo some strange
mental struggle. When he looked at
her his face had changed. Instead OF
apathy there were lines of grim de9er-
| mination about his mouth.
Miss Dorcas." he said slowly
make Cordelia' the woman you are
! yourself ! am weak and broken now,
as John Esterbrook' was; still a
chance came to him at the end.
will do the best I can-if you stand
by me-"
Dorcas stopped for a second. With
a caressing touch she swept the lock
from his forehead. II promise to
stand by you she whispered. Good
night"