Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1916-06-23

care Of the children was a heart.
some JOY for Helena.
One day in looking over an album
photograph fell to the floor. Helena
noted a slight shadow move across
the face of Edith as she apparently
recognized the portrait.
who is it," inquired Helena, and
she steadfastly regarded the picture.
THAT is Bruce Arlington, my hus-
bands old partner"
Helena sighed. She replaced the
photograph, but when alone the next
day took it again from the album.
Like the one lost to me-" she MUIR
INJURED; 'the same ingenious charac.
teristics, man of good impulses but
weak as water in resisting tempta-
ton"
Somehow she could not get the cir.
cumstancs out of her mind. The orig
inal Of the photograph resembled her
dead fiance only in general facial
characteristics, yet the presentment
involved poignant memories with
Helena. One evening some callers re-
ferred to this Arlington. They told of
his being re-established in business in
another city. The rumor was that he
was building up fortune. A wild,
hayward thought came into the mind
of Helena.
The following week Helena told her
friends that she must return to the
city for a few weeks at least. They
deplored her decision and mourned
her absence. At the end Of month
Edith received a startling letter from
her cherished friend.
In few plain words Helena wrote
that her purpose in coming to the city
was to seek out Bruce Arlington, to
win his love, to sacrifice herself by
marrying him, in order that she might
lead him to restore to Arnold Perez
val the money he had taken from
him.
AS If purely incidentally, Helena
had flashed across the path of Airing.
ton. There was not womanly arti.
fee Of fascination that she did not
employ to advantage in Turing the
man to her side. They became en-.
gagged.
More than once Helena felt that
she was playing a dangerous game.
Much as she deprecated the dishonest
trait in Bruce Arlington's character.
at times something ingenious, intangi
BILE in his better nature stirred her
soul to the depths. Was she falling
in love with him. She strove vainly
to Danish the thought.
Then, too, Arlington had changed
since coming under her influence
Walworth Travers had died contrite
Was it her mission to attempt the
Coming back" Of this new brand
from the burning?
There was a week that Bruce Ar.
lington acted strangely. He was de-
pressed, detected. One evening, when
she was expecting his customary CALL
she received note instead.
"You will find enclosed" it read, "a
certified check for the amount
caused Mr.. Percival to lose. You may
not believe me, but voluntarily from
the day l saw you my conscience
quickened and l began putting aside
a sum for restitution. Last week ]
found letter you lost, written to Mrs
Percival detailing the success of your
scheme l have sold out my bust
ness to make up the full amount
which I wish you to return to Mr.
Percival.
81 have my punishment and I de
serve it. l fancied at one time you
loved me. In view of your scheme
/ see you only had contempt for me-
I shall always love you. At least, ]
am a better man for knowing you
Goodby."
Her heart went out towards this
misguided but repentant man, It was
strange, but, either reckless or heed
less, Arlington was run down by an
automobile that evening.
It was Helena who nursed him back
to health. She could not resent his
pleadings when convalescence came,
And out Of her intended great sacri
flee for dear friends, there came the
deferred happiness of her lifetime.