Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-02-08

held out to him a helping hand.
"Let me illustrate, if you WILL .
he continued. II know you will
understand. There was a time
when | thought of love, of mar
riage, Of the woman. I have a
wandering fancy. | have often
thought that she was near. At the
theater sometimes [ have been
convinced that in the soft notes of
a violin there was the echo of her
voice. | fancied that the swaying
flowers in the park were intended
specially to give me some idea of
the exquisite sweetness Of her
presence. l believe that all the
love songs of all the poets had
been written merely as predic-
tions Of the unfailing sympathy
and wonderful understanding |
was to find in her soul"
He paused and looked at her,
his eyes burning with the fierce
ness Of the conflict within him.
"You thought that-once?" she
said, her voice, too, little more
than a whisper.
eyes, once" he answered,
struggling for all his self control ;
but not now. | do not permit
myself. And | know, / feel, that I
need say no more. 1t is, believe
me, impossible for my past to in
terest you"
His eyes sought to compel her
assent. She turned toward the
fire and stared at the flames, her
lips forming a half smile.
"There is something I have
wanted for a long time to tell you
something about yourself" she
said at last.
about myself"
About you-and it was some
time ago, a long time ago-fve
years ago"
His two hands grasped the back
Of the chair convulsively. His arms
trembled like heavy wires.
eff there is anything you
know, he begged, the rigidity
of his features breaking up,
whether it be to my credit or my
discredit, | implore you to tell
me-"
"You actually look frightened
Almost she said.
No, not that he managed to
answer with difficulty.
He hung over the back Of the
chair, his arms set out from his
sides and trembling noticeably
while she told him:
A little more than five years
ago there was in Cincinnati a
house Of refuge for poor men
men who were down and out. The
only rule governing the house
was that no man could stay there
for more than four days, the
theory being that a limit of stay
had to be set in order to avoid
having the place occupied always
by worthless people. Four days
was usually long enough for them
to find something to do. It was my
money, rather my fathers money,
which supported that house Of
refuge. It was called the Mallon
Mission for Men, and / gave it my
personal supervision.
His whole body shot forward, SO
that he seemed to be hanging over
the chair in danger of falling. His
eyes famed anew, and his lower
lip quivered.
And I was there! he inter
rupted her. is that what you re
going to =sayf"
Just a moment, please she
begged gently. His agitation had
communicated itself to her. The
qnickness- Of her breathing made
Of her breast a little tumult. The
night before ] came to Washing
ton when my father entered the
Senate was in . great hurry
I went to the misunderstanding
about finances. AS / went in, /
saw . man in the little front room,
the Office of the house. He was
delirious at the time, but I never
heard in all my life such an elo-
quent description Of anguish and
woe as he voiced while he raved.' 4
John Smith slowly got himself
erect.
WhoSwas that mans he asked,
his voice metallic. Every yestige
lot color had gone from his face. 4
don't know, she said, the
words heavy h pathos. |
never saw him again.
Neveri
Never until met you that
evening on the club house yer.
anda.
He waited Tor Tho end 81 what
~ EEzf $3.50 HT-s 80 sElsat