The Elbert County tribune., 1914-12-11

make beginning with Enoch and NJ.
Oswald ana you"
Merry rose and paced for . few
minutes about the room. then turned
to the window and gazed out At the
deserted city. The sleet of midnight
had changed to q raging storm. The
wind drove tho snow In sudden nur.
ries, piling It In drifts across the
square.
"Miss Dorcas. : he said. come here. :"
The girl crossed the room. why
she cried. 1T Is fearful night"
Yes. It's a fearful night for the
homeless. Do you know where 1
might have found shelter tonight II u
there's a hallway somewhere that
could have slipped into. and for an
hour or two the police would have left
me undisturbed. / might have found
an empty bench on n ferryboat. or
the Bowery missions are open; only
before one can make up his mind to
seek lodging there. they are filled to
sunccation."
Dorcas shivered.
"If I had known during these weekn
that anybody csred-or believed In
me-perhaps 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 Gaze %
much that I cannot tell you. Some
queer strain In my nature makes me
happiest when have eome ono TO care
for. Girls at the convent used to
come to me in all sorts of dificulties:
the ones loved best we're the ones
who needed me most They called me
Little Mother"
Little Mother" repeated Merry !;
then he laughed huskily. II 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.
II take back what said few min.
utes ago. Miss Dcrcas. about the stage
being no place for you. Women like
you are needed there"
THANK you." she said with a happy
smile. Won't you come back? Such
an opportunity is waiting for you.
Besides. 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 ny
their eyes met-his pleaded with hef
during one speechless moment for all
his shortcomings, for shirked respon
sibilities and failures.
Miss Dorcas," he said, when man
has lost hope, ambition. his faith in
human nature and everything that
makes life worth while. II he has gone
down into the depths and still has the
desire come to take up life again. IL
there any quality left that will helI
him7"
Yes" Dorcas moved as II by a sud
den impulse and laid her fingers upon
the mans arm: he has honor. Sc
long aB one is man OF honor. there
is no end of chance"
"A man OF honor!" As he repeated
the words his face paled suddenly. II
was the same attribute which Enocf
had accorded to him.
Dorcas watched him intently. heI
eyes full of eager anticipation. She
could see him undergo some strange
mental struggle. When he looked a
her his face had changed. Instead o.
apathy there were lines of grim de<er
mination about his mouth.
Miss Dorcas." he said slowly
make 'Cordeiia' the woman you art
yourself. am weak and broken now
as John Esterbrook' was; still I
chance came to him at the end.
will do the best l can-if you stant
by me-"
Dorcas stopped for a second. witt
a caressing touch she swept the loci
from his forehead 'T promise t
stand by you." she whispered. "Goot
night"