Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-17

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"lt has come 20 you. too. this changer"
change the dawning light upon her
face to dismay and grief again.
TIT is true" she faltered. 1T has
come to you. too, this change, this new
life that has como to me? 1t is true.
can see It In your face"
Eyes; 1t is true" he answered softly.
"Thank God" she whispered and
hid her face In her hands. and pres
emily he heard her sob again.
Helena" he said. steadying his
voice with an effort, "you spoke Of
atonement a little while ago, but there
10 no atonement that I can make to
you-nothing that can do to change
what would give my soul to change.
I know what It meant to you to send
Thornton away tonight, for love you
now as you love him. know why you
did It and
She was staring at him little wild
~, her hands pressed against her
cheeks.
"Love-Thornton?" she repeated in
q sort Of wondering way. long pause
between the words.
YES" he said gently; 81 know. Have
you forgotten what you told me this
aftsrnoon-that you had learned last
night what love vast"
She shook her head.
II do not love Thornton" she said
in . monotone. ''And yet it is true
that through him I learned what love
was, what 1t could be-don't you un-
derstandi"
Understand? Yes, yes; he could I'M
derstand; 1t was true-true-she did
not love Thornton.
sHelenar' he cried and stretched out
his arms to her. II thought thought
that had lost you, Helena"
But she did not move.
"What does It matter to you whether
love Thornton or noty" she said duly.
docs it change anything where you
and I are concernedy'
His voice rang dominant, vibrant
triumphant now. Helena. don't you
understand? We are to begin life
again-in a new way, the true way. the
only way. Don't you see-I love you?"
Still she did not move. but there was
a great wilderness in her face and In
the wilderness great light.
"You mean Her lips scarcely
seemed to form the words.
"Yes! he cried. Yves; to make a
homo for you-to marry you. If only
you love me still-to live in Gods own
sight and hold you as sacred gift!
Helena! Helenal' His arms went out
to her again. and the yearning in his
soul was in his voice. Helena. speak
to mel Tell mo that 1t Is not too late!
Tsu me that you ::1175 ne tool"
And then her eyes were raised to his.
and they were wet, but there were love
light and wondrous happiness shin
ing through the tears.
Helena he murmured brokenly
and swept her into his arms and kissed
the eyelids, lowered. now; the hair. the
white brow. the lips-kissed her and
held her there. her cIing,ng arms about
bis neck, her face half hidden Oh his
shoulder.
And 50 for space they stood, and
there were no words TO say, only the
song in their hearts In deathless melo-
dy. But after little time he,held her
from him and lifted up her face that
he might look his I'll upon it.
Helena" he said, II cannot under
stand it all yet. 1t is as though it
were born out Of the sin and the dark
ness and the blackness Of what is gone,
as though here at this shrine that We
created in mockery and crime 1t was
meant that you and should save each
other for each other. And yet this
shrine as we have made 1t is q thing
OF guilt, and 1t has brought us all-you
apd l and Harry and the Flopper-toa
new life"
She lay still for q moment in his
arms; then her hand crept up and
smoothed back his hair.
Il 90 not quite Know now 70 put II,
she said little tiIpidly. when you
went away this afternoon the Patri-
arch took me back into his room and
and kneit ut his knees-1n after
little while my mind seemed very
calm and quiet-do you know what I
mean? And tried to think things
out-and understand. And It seemed
to come to me that there was a shrine
everywhere IL we would only look for
it-that God has put shrine In every
heart, only we are 30 blind-that every
one can make hia own surroundings
beautiful and good and true. no mat
ter where he 10 or how poor or how
rich. Aud II people live like that they
must be good and true themselves"
Il Yes" be said slowly. Then, after
. moment, And faith. too. IL very
much like that"
Only some nesd . sign she Re-
minded him.
There was silencs again, while her