The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1918-02-02

= tjr,r When her %""i '"'.r'',' an
,.nppln!onship. They Lao h''"','' ..ar>,
,,,.,..a For over II month ms ''c
T,,,,, distant city had cr"s'a- al.
49,, a.,th nt her father $h" h''u VIZ
,.,,.. Powers. telling him tiia' ~,
,a, ~. only friend To whom Sfle c""'N
nj f,r >yupathy and counsel.
Woldron Merritt could not GET AN,
p,rdnn ont Of his mind all liidl ""'
u. could not rontine his thouEll''
,u.;n.ss He did not return 10 HIS "
eca hut stroled about the Strcets' 80
,,t;+,tions were OF the helpless peih-
,,.,,, 60 onnaoled to his sympathles anu
his emotions. ,., ot
.r will do it, he spoke aloud az
,angfh and his lips set CLOSE az 'il"u-t
he hnd formed mighty resolution,
,.o. mid-afternoon when he turned his
sa, +ou.ords the bcreft home OF Anita
Bcrdon.
.you will forgive my intrudtnG ul-
an ,nu ,qoin" he said, "but l coulo
not get you out of my thoushiS' MIS-
Rardon. | am II plain spoken hohes'
thinking mnn. You are homeless 'i
IN. midst of trouble I tremhle to real
iya how bitter ard hard must be your
hottle with the world. Let me 9i''i0
vour burdens. have competency.
Become my wife,
She stared at him with unoeheVlHs
eyes.
"Say that again.
At ask YOU to marry me-" repeater
Merritt. "We will not talk OF love
that comes after respect and esteem
I cannot see you go out alone into inc
world. and my name will shield you
and nv means afford you comfort
Poor child" and his manly tones quiV-
cred. "Wed me and go to your aunt
Rest, adjust your life to new condi-
tions. At the end Of six months, OF o
year. will come to you. Then. IL you
are willing to become my real help-
meet. I will be glad-very glad
He saw the tears come into her eyes.
his own were humid with infinite COM
passion. She put out both HANDS TO-
wards him. His own trembled as they
received them.
"You are good man." she said
simply. II will try-try hard to learn
to appreciate the nobleness, the sacri-
flee Of one who would honor poor,
soul-wearied girl, whom he takes on
trust"
He obtained the address OF her aunt
and ordered the things on the porch
sent there. There was simple cere-
mony at the home of a clergyman. At
once he took her to the train.
"As my wife," he said, you Will
send for what money you require. You
will not have to send for me twice to
have me hasten to you, when you care
to see me-
The weeks went by, and the only
word Waldron Merritt received from
the woman he had welded was form
al, almost humble note, briefly telling
that she was we'll and comfortable, and
asking him to discontinue sending the
liberal monthly allowance he insisted
on transmitting to her. Anita declared
that she had no need of the money,
that he had originally fully provided
for her.
Then Waldr0n Merritt made dis
covery that disturbed him greatly. Ry
mere chance he heard of the engage
ment Of Anita to Vane Powers. He
began to investigate. dim fear and
suspicion grew in his mind to mighty
proportions. He made some inyesti-
CATION as to Powers to find that he
was out of work in certain city.
Through legal agency he had a posi-
ton found for the man, some money
supplied him, and then completed his
sacrifice by writing to Anita.
He told her frankly that he had
learned of her engagement to a young
er man than himself; that her love
being his, he should not stand in the
way of their happiness. He indicated
that it would be little trouble legally
to void marriage that had been q
mere hollow form. He was coming
TO see her. and he named the time Of
his arrival, indicating that if he did
not meet her he would come to the
nome OF her aunt. He wished to ar.
range for legal steps necessary to
thelr separation and to place Vane
Powers more completely on his feet.
Waldron Merritt went to the town or
this set mission. 1t was dusk when he
arrived and his mind was so occunied
with thinking over all the sad vague
situation that, as he took q lonely road
leading toward the present home of his
wife, he did not notice that no wac
followed. He scarcely felt the blow
that lurking footpad dealt him hu,
went down like shot, and, vonde,
of wonders! when he opened his eve,
his head was lying pillowed in the Ian
of woman who was staunching the
flow Of blood from a wound in his focs
his wifel
oh! what has happened?" cried
Anita. Il was on my way to meet
YOU Let me hasten for help"
i was attacked and have been rob
bed" explained Merritt. NO" "a she
made a movement to arise, "the wound
Is nothing-with you here"
He looked up into her face serone,v
1t bore new expression of noise