The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1916-06-15

care OF the children was z heart
some Joy for Helena.
One day in looking over an album 2
photograph fell to the floor. Helena
noted q 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
saThat is Bruce Arlington, my hus-
bands old partner
Helena sighed. She replaced the
photograph, but when alone the next
day took 1t 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-
tiOn."
Somehow she could not get the cir
cumstance out Of her mind. The orig
inal OF the photograph resembled her
dead flance 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 a 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 a month
Edith received 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 Perci-
val the money he had taken from
him.
AS If purely incidentally, Helena
had flashed across the path OF Airing
ton. There was not a 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 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" 1t read, "a
certified check. for the amount !
caused Mr.. Percival to lose. You may
not believe me. but voluntarily from
the day I saw you my conscience
quickened and began putting aside
a sum for restitution. Last week !
found letter you lost, written to Mrs.
Percival detailing the success Of your
scheme / have sold out my busi-
ness to make up the full amount,
which l wish you to return to Mr..
Percival.
IT have my punishment and ] de-
serve it. l fancied at one time you
loved me. In view of your scheme
see you only had contempt for me.
shall always love you. At least,
am 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.
1t was Helena who nursed him back
to health. She could not resent his
pleadings when convalescence came.
And out of her intended great sacri-
fee for dear friends, there came the
deferred happiness of her lifetime.
ArtfuI Old Man.