The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1914-09-17

to you," she cried appealingly. 1--WE
can't talk driving through the streets
on such night as this"
Merry stared at her for a minute
with logged obstinacy in his gaze.
Wont you Gomez" urged the girl
impetuously. Her color deepened and
an eager light shone in her eyes.
There is so much / want to say. We
shall be quite alone. You can trust
Jason. Afterwards you may go away
If you wish-and l will promise
never to attempt to find you. l will
try to forget you"
Merry stretched out his hand and
touched her arm, leaning forward un-
til his face was close to hers. Miss
Dorcas, don't say that. Since ! left
you that night on Juniper Point have
lived a lifetime of happiness and hor-
ror and remorse. One thing alone has
saved me from going over the brink
of the precipice, simply one thing"
He lifted his eyes to hers. 'The one
thing" he repeated, that could not
fling away was the memory that you
trusted me, that you believed in me.
and were waiting for me to make
good"
Il trust you now" cried the girl, her
voice breaking into sob. II am still
waiting for you to make good. Won't
you come home with me?"
The cab stopped in front Of the
Waverly Place home. Merry followed
her reluctantly up the steps. She
paused for moment while she adj
justed the key in the lock.
Would you mind seeing Jason?'
she asked hesitatingly. HE can help
you with dry clothes. He will be as
glad to see you as I am"
Ring for him." answered Merry
quietly. Jason and are old pals"
Half and hour later Merry walked
into the library where Dorcas was
waiting for him. 1t seemed as If the
mere resumption of clean, comfortable
clothing, even though hunger still
marked him, had given the man fresh
valor, new dignity.
He laughed nervously. 1T Is a re-
juvenation, isn't it," he asked as he
glanced at himself in the mirror. ga
con unearthed some buds / once left
here"
Jason was an excellent valet, and
hot bath, a shave, and fresh raiment
had made a man of Merry. The lock
of fair hair which habitually fell over
his forehead made him look almost
boyish, although his face was pallid
and careworn.
ct have eaten nothing since morn
ing" Dorcas said. Il told Jason to
serve supper here, on a little table be-
side the fire, where 1t is coy and
cheerful"
Merry dropped into chair. He
wondered If the intense enjoyment Of
the good things Of life was pure sensu-
BUSINESS. The odor of hot coffee. the
sight of a daintily set table, the IA
dance of a coal fire, the glow Of red
shaded lights, and the storm shut out
doors brought a tingli1g pleasure
which seemed like mere animal graft
fication He shivered for a moment as
he listened to the storm. He won
dered what had made it possible for
him to brave homelessness and hum
ger and squalor. Looking back on 1t
he realized he had borne it as a man
lives through pain under the power Of
an anesthetic. The misery of his mind
had dulled the sordid wretchedness Of
mere existence.
To Merry that supper was a festival,
not wholly because it was the salts
flying Of ravenous appetite, but because
it was the crisis If his life. Dorcas
sensed that IL her own hunger was
real, Merry would not feel that she
was feeding famished outcast. Jason
beamed upon them in sheer enjoyment
when he brought In full dishes and
carried away empty ones. Dorcas was
light-hearted and gay, as happy as
they had been during their first ac-
quaintance at the shore. For mo-
ment. while Merry drank his coffee,
the memory of few horrible weeks
intruded on the present.
Miss Dorcas," he began abruptly.
why did you"
She stretched out her hand appeal
ingly.