The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-09-23


OF emulation came over her. Here
on the threshold of her new life she
would kneel down and thank God for
her Joy.
you may 20 out for q moment.
Ninette, she said softly. 'T will call
you when L need you. I want to be
alone"
The maid smiled and went out She
was French and knew how the young
lady felt. All, how wonderful 1t was to
be married to the man you loved.
And then had come the time for wait
ing for Bess to come down. Hugh re-
membered shaking hands with Franklin
and telling him to watch over Bess.
Upstairs Bess knelt for a moment on
the hearth rug and clasped her hands
while she murmured a few words OF
prayer. Her long net veil blew out soft
in the draft from the open window. and
the next minute the fiimsy material had
caught and before the girl knew Il she
was wrapped In flames.
Downstairs the rooms were filled with
gossiping people, upstairs young girl
was struggling for her life. She scream
ed once, and Hugh never forgot his
mad rush up the stairs and his effort TO
get into Bess's room. The door seemed
to stick, but he pushed II In finally. On
the floor lay o blackened figure, omi-
nously still and quiet. Hugh picked her
up I'm his arms and carried her to the
bed. One side of her face had been
ribly.
Then she opened her eyes and they
were Allied with agony.
II was PRAYING" she Easped. for
and" there was a pause and her
head dropped back. She was dead.
Hugh on his knees. his face buried
everything He stood up finally and
looked down at the twisted. black
ened thing on the bed. Then as he
looked around him ferceIy he encoun-
tered the calm gaze OF the minister
God knows best" as he placed his
hf HSxS ST Sm OF On y HSsh; arm
God" he shrieked out: "God-there
up over his eyes he flung himself
Afterward had come DAYS when he
had no care for anything except to
leave far behind him the scenes that
were SO hateful TO him, The horrible
given up his home and his family and
had wandered over the world seeking
relief. Finally he had settled in the
midst OF the Cumberland hills.
ed peace to him. Their lack OF aus
terity Gained him. for the loss OF be-
lief and the black. bitter thoughts
hardest things he had to encounter
sided. His advent into the small
country town had met with little in
the way OF human comradeshlp. He
was looked upon as an intruder. an
outsider He scoffed at religion; peo-
pie Thought him possessed with a
Because But Se hs s.m ned m rs%sn sonen ni
than he had been anywhere else.
Gradually the years had softened him
until his life was bearable, but as for
IT had been long story and the tears
had welled up In Ruth's eyes more
than once and rolled down her cheeks
as ne told her. u was a terrible story.
mans faith. but which made no more
impression on this simple child than II
she hadn't heard II.
y understand better now" she said
Are you sure you dor the man
| questioned, eagerly.
Yes" she nodded. ct see now why
you are bitter"
But you still believer"
Still belieyed7 Ruth looked at him
strangely. Why. Of course. she stili be-
"Of course" she said softly.
| Yes, but Il didn't happen to you.
You're only, a child; cant expect you
bitterly. and / don't know whether l
want you to-
would feel II It had happened to me-
have been a reasonS'
| Lee shook his head unbeiievingly. II
| there had been q reason, but the fact
remained 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 miserable"
.. %whs sns. did you get that idea" he
"But i might easily be true" he girl
said softly.
Hugh Lee was thinking rapidly. Yes
II might be true. He had shut himself
that he,bhid not know what was hap,
pening out there. And this child, that
no believed so young, had given him the
first piece OF comfort that he had re.
ceived since he had left home. But her
idea was the. yeriest suggestion there
was no proof that II might be true
and he did not wish TO ascertain wheth.
err II was or not. his life had been lived
he had no wish TO go back, II would
mean but the opening of old wounds
| His story that he had told the girl had
taken him back and he was almost al
bitter as he had been the day he came
to the valley. Life was over for him
SO far as belief went. He didn't be.
lieve and he had no desire to believe.
."I want to thank you for telling me. y
she said finally. land please don't
think don't understand. I do, and
want to be able to help you. It's moi
my fault that / can't, because I wan,
to, You make II hard for me to talk tc
you"
Lee forced smile to his white lips.
That's all right, It was something TO
tell II to you. wanted you to know
and don't expect you to do anything
for me-"
"will you let me say one thing more
before / GOT" she said softly.
Lee smiled at her question.
| "Of course, won't eat You up"
"If you don't believe in God, then YOU
don't believe in life to come. do your
ST guess 1 don't believe in Heaven. II
that Is what you mean"
Then you don't believe that you will
ever see your sister againf"
Hugh looked at the girl and the words
struck deep into his heart. DID he be-
.iieve that he would ever see his sister
again7 or course not.
mo. don't believe In a hereafter
III h. aalA ~,