The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1919-07-16

sort of way. to continue his reia-
ton with Mrs. Richie: Is even hon
orable enough to marry her IL he
must, II is obvious that he would
gladly be rid Of the whole AFFAIR.
But to Helena Richie this Incident
is not an affair" 1t Is her life.
She loves Prior with a devotion en-
gendered by her lonely. heart
starved existence, and she looks
forward to the moment when Fred
cries death shall release her from
her present precarious position.
and allow her to confront the world
with q clear name. That an ultf-
mate marriage between them will
wipe out the blot on their past she
does not question. In the meantime
she can only possess her soul OF
patience, and make. the best OF her
enforced seclusion. No one knows
her secret. No one can know IT.
Therefore she feels quite secure
that is, as secure as Is possible In
the face of the ever-present danger
OF exposure.
Into this fevered life of hers three
important characters projected them
selves: DR.. Lavendar, the minister
Of Old Chester; DR.. William King.
the village physician; and David. an
orphan child whom the rector has
befriended. and for whom he Is de-
sirous of finding a home. OF all Mrs.
Deland's creations none. perhaps. Is
more beloved than Is DR.. Lavendar.
Wise, benign, humorous; yet just at
all times-a man who Is never to be
turned aside from a principle by Idle
sentimentality. DR.. King is not I'M
like him In this unfiinching fealty TO
duty and to honor.
These two persons put their heads
together and decide that since Mrs.
Richie leads such a solitary life and
Is abundantly able, she is the one to
take the homeless David. The con-
spirators proceed with extreme eau
ton. The child Is brought to DR..
Lavendar's house. and Mrs. Richie
is given the opportunity to see him.
J He is a quaint, winsome. appealing
little fellow-a decided personality.
and one of the most delightful and
consistent child portraits In modern
fiction. His greatest attraction lies
in the fact that one can never be
sure what he will say next. Once.
when DR.. Lavendar is telling him a
story he keeps his eyes fixed so in
tently on the mans face that the old
gentleman is much fiattered.
We'll. well. you are a great boy
for stories. aren't your" remarks the
delighted minister.
You've talked seven minutes" said
David thoughtfully, land you haven't
moved your upper jaw once"
As can be imagined the child makes
instant conquest OF Mrs. Richie who
insists on fitting him out with tiny
garments. and brings him In triumph
to the Stuffed Animal House"
Day by day the tie that binds her
to David strengthens until we see
this affection the dominant motif OF
her life. 1t even overshadows her
love for Rrior. although it is some
time before she is conscious that il
does so.
In the meanwhile, quite by chance,
the security of her miniature world is
shaken to its foundations. There
lives in Old Chester a youth much
Mrs. Riches junior, Sam Wright. who
has drifted into the habit of calling
on her, and who falls in love with
her. II Is the blind worship of one
who has never known passion. and
in an attempt to break up the boys
infatuation his doting grandfather
comes to Mrs. Richie. and half In
irritation accuses her of not being a
good woman. The shot is a random
one. but the instant the charge is
made the speaker realizes he has hit
upon the truth. Helena's anger at
his gibes and sarcasm is like the
whirlwind.
But the Lord was not in the wind.
1t is Sam Wright's suicide that first