The Arvada enterprise. (Arvada, Colo.) 1908-1970, 1917-06-21

Oy the 1f1en0 ana woman. ana Iney
were decidedly indicative of growing
mental condition on the part Of Shurt-
LII from which much might be hoped
and expected.
But Shurtliff could not bring him
self to come out boldly and confess,
and his failure to do that made him
more and more miserable. At first bis
conscience had been entirely clear. He
had viewed his conduct in the light Of
q noble sacrifice for tho great man.
Now he began to question: Was 1t
right to blast the future Of the living
for the sake Of the fame Of the dead?
Probably he would have questioned
that eventually without regard to
Helen Illingworth, but when he began
to grow fond of the woman and when
he realized. as she Enthusiastically dis
closed 1t to him, that her own happi-
ness was engaged and that he was not
only running the career Of man but
wreckIng the life and crushing the
heart Of an entirely innocent woman,
he had a constant battle royal with
himself to pursue his course and to
keep silent.
Yet such is the character Of tenn
permanent like that of Shurtliff, mar
rowed and contracted BY a single pas
sion Of life and lacking the breadth
which comes from intercourse with
men and women. that his compunctions
Of conscience only made him the more
resolved. The lonely, heart-broken old
man swore that he would never tell.
The young man could 60 his own gait
and work out his own salvation, or be
damned. II he must. The woman's
heart might break. pitiful a. that
would be. but he would never tell. He
was as unhappy in that determination
as any other man fighting against his
conscience must inevitably be.
Sometimes looking at the misery In
the old mans face (for on bis counte-
nance his heart wrote his secret),
Helen nllngworth experienced COM
Functions Of conscience Of her own.
which she told to Rodney In default
of other confessor. That dne young
man appreciated fully the woman's
feelings and understood her keen SEN
sibilltIes, and his comprehension was a
great comfort to her. He encouraged
her to persevere. Since II was only
through Shurtliff that the truth could
be established, she must not falter
nor reject any fair and reasonable
means to gain his whole confidence
and make him speak. 1t was. after
all, simply a question Of whether the
gume was worth the candle. How best
could they expose or fight q deceltl
And that the deception was for noble
purpose and to serve a laudable end In
the minds Of the deceivers did not
alter that fact.
"You are doing nothing In the least
degree dishonorable. Miss rlingworth."
snld Rodney. rcassuringly. "Woman's
wiles have been her weapons since
the Stone Age"
"But do feel computations Of con-
science occasionally"
PERSONALLY think you are abunt-
antly justified" urged Rodney.
"Yes. to establish the truth, to give
the man love his good name would
Justify more than this" she replied,
'nnd yct''-she smiled faintly-"my
conscience does hurt mo little. The
old man Is beginning to love me-"
That's the reason It hurts you" said
Rodney. "When he loves you enough
he will do anything you want. as I
would"
The young man stopped, looked long
ut her. and then turned away with lit
tie gesture of-was 1t appeal or re-
nunciation? He was too loyal to his
friend to speak. but he could not con-
troll everything. The tone OF his voice.
the look In his eyes. his quick avoid
ance Of her. told the woman little
story. They Ind been very closely as
ISOLATED. these two. Rodney also had
not had much advantage Of woman's
society. certainly not OF a woman like
Helen rlingworth. She Ind given him
her full confidence In the Intimacy.
lie was a man. He loved like others.
She WINS too fond Of him. too grent.
too true woman to pretend.
mfr. Rodney" said the girl. laying
her hnnd on his arm ~ though to re-
| htTUIu tltI. thut why uuuucSS tieHs
"Ailss 1llingworth." said Rodney.
turning and facing her, his lips Arm
iy compressed. his eyes shining. "Tm
devoted TO Bert Meade and to you
he lifted her hand from his arm and
kissed it-"nnd I'm going TO do every.
thing for your happiness"
Brave words and he said them more
brnvely.
II understand" said the woman.
.nnd I honor you for your loyalty to
your friend and your devotion to me.
Loyalty Is not always the easiest
thing on earth. know"
"You mike II easy for me because
you understand"
30 the fall and winter were filled
with interest to Helen Illlngworth and
there was In her days no lack Of hope.
Every Saturday the flowers that Meade
had arranged for spoke words Of love
10 her and babe her not FORGET, al.