Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-10-01

to him. Their lack of austerty calmed him.
for the loss Of belief and the black, bitter
thoughts yelling up in his heart were the
hardest things he had to encounter after his
first wild grief had subsidized His adven.
into the small country town had met with
little in the way Of human comradeship He
was looked upon s an intruder. an outsider
He scoffed at religion; people thought him
possessed with a devil. But he had re.
NAMED there because he seemed more con.
tented than he had been anywhere else
Gradually the years had softened him until
his life was bearable, but as for God and re-
ligon he was done with 1t.
1t had been long story and the tears
had welled up In Ruths eyes more than
once and rolled slowly down her cheeks as
he told her. 1t was terrible story, story
that might shake strong mans faith, but
which made more impression on this
simple child than il she hadn't heard it,
II understand better now" she said soft
Are you sure you do?" the man question
ed. eagerly.
Eyes," she nodded IL see now whv you
are bitter"
But you still believer"
Still believe Ruth looked at him strange.
ly. Why. Of course. she still believed
"Of course" she said softly
Yes. but it didn't happen to you. You're
only child l can't expect you to see and
Know The man spoke bitterly, "and I
don't know whether want you to-"
II have been trying to think how I would
feel II 1T had happened to me-" Ruth said
slowly. "Oh there must have been ron.
son."
Lee shook his head unbeievingly. If
there had been a reason, but the fact re.
manned that there wasn't.
Did you ever happen to think" Ruth
said softly. that her lover might not have
made her happy"
Lee looked back at her The thought had
never occurred to him.
"You see," she persisted. God might have
taken her then because she was so happy
and He didn't want her to live and be mis-.
erable"
Where did you get that idea." he asked
roughly.
But II might easily be true" the girl
said softly
Hugh Lee was thinking rapidly. Yes, it
might be true. He had shut himself off
from the world for so long time that he
did not know what was happening out there
And this child, that he believed SO young
had given him the first piece Of comfort
mat ne had received since he had left home.
But her idea was the veriest suggestion.
there was no proof that it might be true,
and he old not wish to ascertain whether 1,
was or not, his life had been lived, he had
nc wish to go back. it would mean but the
opening Of old wounds His story that he
had told the girl had taken him back and
ne was almost as bitter as he had been the
day he come 10 the valley. Life was over
ior him SO far as belief went. He didn't be.
heve and he had no desire to believe.
i want to thank you for telling me-" she
seid finally, land please don't think | don't
understand. do. and want to be able to
help you. It's not my fault that can't. be-
cause want to- You make it hard for mo
to talk to YOU"
Lee forced a smile to his white Inns
That's all right 1t was something to tell
it to You. l wanted you to know. and
, don't expect you to do anything for me-"
!, viii you let me say one thing more be.
fore go?" she said softly
Lee smiled at her question
"Of course, won't eat you up."
III you don't believe In God then Won
don't believe In life to come, do your" She
questioned
81 guess don't believe in Heaven, If that
Is what YOU mean"
Then YOU don't believe that Won will eye-
, see your siste" again"
Hugh looked at the girl and the words
! struck deep into his heart Did he believe
that be would ever see his sister again? or
course not
NO I don't believe in a hereafter" ba
said. stubbornIy
Then you haven't any faith in ANYTHING
how hard 1t must be for you to live" the
girl said
at is hard" he burst out. but Won cant
do anything for me. You'd better so homo
now, home to your father and brother
lheres nothing YOU can do here don't
waste your time. when you might be CON
verting some one worth while"
He turned away from her bitterly and
lifted his axe. With strong, clean blows ba
went to work again on the tree. He worked
furlously as though anxious to wine out the
fact that he had made a confdante OF this
girl. and Ruth. conscious that there was
nothing more that she could do, sighed and
moved slowly away
She wondered little at herself at her
own feelings. at her sympathy for this man.
she realized that she wasn't as happy as
she had been, the sadness of another life
had cast It's shadow over her own. Ruth
wanted to help. and her inability to bring
the slightest ray OF comfort into this mans
life troubled her more than his unbeliet iust
at present
Suddenly there was great swishing OF
branches. Lee had chopped the trunk
through and the tree was falling Ruth
turned to see what had happened and at tha
same time, Hugh realized that the tree was
falling toward her. What fool he had been
not to have realized this
He called to her desperately, and sudden.
~ the girl. aware OF her danger, uttered a
little cry and tried to spring aside. 1t was
too late. With mighty groan and a splin.
tering fall OF broken branches the giant trea
} lay on the ground. And somewhere under.
meath 1t, was Ruth, quiet and inert