Evening star., 1914-02-08

rows in after days that she had prevented
him from starting back at sight of that
manned face, and enabled him to stand
with nothing but pity in his big, gray eyes.
The marks of the flames were on it, blister
ing, scorching, torturing flames, which had
eaten their way through the smooth cheek,
gnawed at the arched eyebrow, shriveled the
delicate ear, and stretched malevolent
fingers to the corner of the sensitive, tender
mouth.
Yet they, insensate, seemed to have
paused before desecrating the soft, synpa-
thetic eyes from whose upturned depths
shone and glowed and burned the spirit of
innocence and purity that brought Mona
han, the policeman, mentally to his knees
there in the cold, deserted street, like
vearning pilgrim before a wayslde shrine.
He fathomed that terrible moment of in
quiry, that trying pause, while she sought
pity from him, waiting as one condemned
for what he might bestow,-horror, shock,
or that mirth to which she was accustomed
from the heartless and from which she
shrank,-bu the soul of the man was in his
face in his attitude, in his strained hands
suddenly flung forward as if to shield her,
and take her to his breast, and bury that
SCARED cheek from sight lest others, un-
knowing, stare at her from the darkness
beyond.
Once an Inspector, praising him for
notable action, had said to the Police Com
missioner, "That fellow will go far. He has
the heart of a lion, and the sympathy of
woman; but his face lies, for it wouldn't
change if he was put on rack"
1t did not change now, nor betray his
start. Only his eyes glowed and carried
message of comfort and courage.
II don't think it's SO bad" he bravely
lied. at looks all right so far as I can see.
Of course it amt like it was, l s'pose; but
YOU see YOU we're lucky about the lamp-1
mean it was good you didn't lose the eye.
You don't want to mind the rest. But,
Holy Mothe ! amt it fine that you didn't
lose the eye?'
To cover her embarrassment and put her
at ease, and make her think that all the
other injury was trivial compared with the
blessing of sight preserved intact, he ex-
patiated on that good fortune, spoke rapid
" and with an attempt at jocularity of his
"But. you see,' she said, as they resumed
their progress along the street, "you don't
understand. They
She was interrupted; for now he reached
over and pulled her hand through his arm,
and Rugged it close to his big, muscular
side, as if forever to protect her from the
jibes and blows of an unknowing, unfeeling
world.
at is SO hard to get a place now," she
went on as, side by side, they walked down
a quiet, untenanted street. @My savings
and the money Mrs. Ranscombe gave me
are nearly gone
She did not know that in the darkness of
the middle of the block he bit his lips and
restrained curse for the woman who
wanted nothing but beauty around her
child, and had callously given the least
thing in the world, money, in payment of a
splendid debt. All that he did was to voice
words of encouragement.
T SUPPOSE she said with little sorrow
full laugh, that you wonder why l come
down there to look in the Window
Monahan forgot the injury and encour-
aged her to talk.
@That's something l forgot to tell you
about she said confdentially, as if glad
to confess her troubles to a sympathetic
mind.
1T doesn't hurt so much now; but for
quite awhile it did. That was about Jim.
We grew up together, Jim and l did. He
was boy round the corner, over there on
the East Side. He's fine man, Jim is. We
were to be married. don't quite know why
now. don't think exactly wanted to; but
he begged me so much, and wanted home.
4