Gunnison news-champion., 1918-08-02
because 1 am thinking Of asking

late, but
Il saw you at the early service OF
cours4 I'll come up"
II. had seen her theD!
IN do my best he was saying. -Of
course. you know | may disappoint
yuu. These questions. that come from
within. must be answered In the same
way. But TIA coming at once
ElinOT's battle was oply half fought.
but she had a great sense Of relief.
Let him meet Walter on the way. So
much the better. Let HUFF know that
Ward was out. and tSe Offering pre-
Surnabiy 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. 10 let Walter succeed.
Women sometimes meet large crises
with small vanities. But ElInor had
no vanity. Without SO much as n
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 hll. The relief Of seeing
him unharmed sent Ellnor down the
terrace steps with both hands out.
Before he could TAKE them, Ward was
obliged 10 stoOp and deposit on the
ground at her feet 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 90 about
with so much money"
Ward was following her up the
steps.
II dare say 1t is safer with me than
any place else In the world. Did any
one ever he8- Of an assistant rector
going about with u fortune in his
hnndT
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 1t with his humorous
smile.
would anyone suspect" he said,
that In that box there Is n stone par
Ish house a new church organ, and a
cIildren's Playground"
Then. glancIng at her with keen
eyes, he was struck by her pallor.
.You TO ask me II ! am tired!" he
cried. why, you poor child, IT is you
who are worn out. Wouldn't It be bet
ter TO have me come tomorrow and 90
over the things you-spoke aboutT'
II think we had better talk about
them now." said Elinor, desperately
calm.
At quarter before eleven that Sun
day night, old Henriette, bent on her
evening task OF sending Elinor to bed,
wandered into the library. She found
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
us Elinors 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.
ave done 1t all very badly" he
said. Il seem to wander all about
and not get anywhere. You see it's
all so real to me"
Elinor had leaned back with closed
eyes.
ut 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 It all means? How terrible this
life would be II 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 I 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
baud Of her self-control snapped. She
could not hold him much longer, and
before he went he must know.
"When sent for you" she said. II
had two reasons. wanted to see you.
Please!" AS he took a step toward
her. "And I wanted to save you from
something that know off,
Something In her thinly drawn voice
was familiar.
81 see" Ward said slowly. TT was
you who telephoned me and then rang
on
"when you say that l am good and
tender" Elinor went on. ''you shame
me. am all that is bad and wicked.
Everything You wer<, to have been