The Huttig news., 1917-08-11
course I'll come up.n


 course, you know I may disappoint you. These questions, that come from within, must be answered in the same way. But I'm coming at once.'
 Elinor's battle was only half fought but she had great sense of relief. Let him meet Walter on the way. So much the better Let Huff know that Ward was out, and the offering pre- sumably unguarded. He might hate the man, but no hope of running fight with him would deter him from his main object, the money.
 To save Ward, she was willing, even anxious, to let Walter succeed.
 Women sometimes meet large crises with small yanities. But Elinor had no vanity. Without so much as glance at the mirror she went out in- to the garden to listen for Wards step on the road. She knew his walk al ready; the forceful, certain step of an energetic and purposeful man.
 The illuminated dial on the steeple of the Baptist church showed some thing after ten when Ward finally came up the hill. The relief of seeing him unharmed sent Elinor down the terrace steps with both hands out. Before he could take them. Ward was obliged to stoop and deposit on the ground at her feet a small box that he carried.
 "The morning collection" he said smiling, and took her hands in his.
 Her quick alarm showed in her face.
 "But you are reckless! To go about with so much money"
 Ward was following her up the steps.
 "I dare say 1t is safer with me than any place else in the world. Did any one ever hear of an assistant rector going about with a fortune in his hand?"
 He followed her into the library and placed the box on the great table where old Hilary had been wont to divide the annual earnings of the band. Ward pointed to it. with his humorous smile.
 "Would anyone suspect" he said "that in that box there Is a stone par ish house. new church organ, and a children's playground?"
 Then, glancing at her with keen eyes, he was struck by her pallor.
 You to ask me if I am tired !" he cried. "Why, you poor child, it is you who are worn out. Wouldn't 1t be bet ter to have me come tomorrow and go over the things you--spoke about"
 'I think we had better talk about them now," said Elinor, desperately calm.
 At a quarter before eleven that Sun- day night. old Henriette, bent on her evening task of sending ElinOr to bed, wandered into the library. She fouad Ward, his earnest face glowing, ex- pounding the tenets of his faith from the edge of his chair; and Elinor ly- ing back with her face drawn, watch ing the clock on the mantel.
 Old Henriette. astounded, withdrew, not to sleep, but with the wakeful alertness of old age, to wander up and down the garden paths until such time as Elinor's visitor might leave.
 Ward suddenly realized that he was making small headway. When at last he caught Elinor's eyes on the clock he flushed and rose.
 i've done 1t all very badly" he said. "I seem to wander all about and not get anywhere. You see it's all so real tome"
 
 eyes.
 "It Is all very terrible to me-" she replied. "This God of vengeance"
 This God of tenderness and mercy" Ward supplemented. Don't you see what 1t all means? How terrible this life would be if this were all Our little lives, full of jealousies and hatreds and crimes: l bringing that box, over there on the table, up here with me tonight, because 1 dare not trust 1t to my fellow men; who could not sleep last night for thinking of you, who are all that Is good and sweet and tender, up here alone In this great house. with God knows what danger lurking about"
 Elinor had reached her limit. The band of her self-control snapped. She could not hold him much longer, and before he went he must know.
 "When I sent for you," she said, Il had two reasons. I wanted to see you. Please" AS he took step toward her. And wanted to save you from something that I know of"
 Something in her thinly drawn voice was familiar.
 "I see," Ward said slowly. "It was you who telephoned me and then rang off,"
 "When you say that am good and tender" Elinor went on, you shame me. I am all that Is bad and wicked Everything. You were to have been robbed tonight. I brought you here under false pretense."
 Ward was as white as she. His fig ure strengthened.
 "Then all the time that l have been telling you"
 "I did not hear. was watching the time."
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