South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-08-15

next Once. when DR.. Lavendar is
/ telling him a story he keeps his
( eyes dXed 50 intently on the mans
7 face that the old gentleman is
much battered.
+ Well. well. you are a great boy
for stories, aren't you?" remarks
J the delighted minister.
You've talked seven minutes. %
I said David thoughtfulIy. and 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 20 the Stuffed
Animal House"
Day by day the tie that binds her
10 David strengthens until we sec
this affection the dominant motif
OF her life. II even overshadows
her love for Prior although it is
some time before she is conscious
that il does so.
In the meanwhile. quite by
chance. the security Of her NINA
ture world is shaken to its founda-
tions 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. Q nd in an at
tempt TO break up the boys in
fatuation his doting grandfather
comes 70 Mrs. Richie. and half in
irritation accuses her OF not being
a good woman The shot is a ran
dom 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.
II is Sam Wrights suicide that
first brings home 10 her the gravity
of defying social responsibility
What she has hitherto regarded as
scorn for convention she now
sees TO be a crime against human
ity All her being is rocked with
self-reproach.
But the Lord was not in the
earthquake.
II is not until DR.. King forces
her TO confess her guilt. and tells
her she must give no David. that
we reach the climax Of the drama.
Then all the wild mother instinct
of the woman leaps into being She
is a lioness lighting for her young.
She VIII give up Prior; in fact she
does give him up. But she will
not part with David She begs.
brides. prays, but willy Kings
conscience will not permit him to
listen 20 her entreaties. She must
send the child back 10 Dr. Laven-
dar. or he must acquaint the good
minister with the entire story.
In an effort to forestall this ac-
tioE Trs Richie herself goes 10 the
rectory and before she leaves it she
looks into the face of her own soul
and pronOunceS her doom
THE whirlwind of anger had
died out. the shock of responsibility
had subsidized: the hiss OF those
flames OF shame had ceased. She
was i'm the center of all the tumults,
where lies the quiet mind OF Cod"
When Or Lavendar asks her II
she thinks herself worthy 10 keep
the child she humbly whispers:
No"
And after the IRE. the still Small
Voice
AT last the woman's conscience is
aroused. her repentance is sincere.
and we have the true Awakening
of Helena Richie"
How wisely DR. Lavender meets
this crisis in the shattered life. al
lowing her 90 taste 10 the full the
dregs Of remorse and suffering. and
Yet now mercifuHy and gently he
leads her upward toward hope and
"a desire for restitution constitute
the remainder Of the story.
The kind Old man suggests that
she make her future home in a dis
tant city where her past win not
follow her and where she may
start anew. and he asks that on the
morning Of her departure she come
90 him for package which he
wishes her 10 take with her on her
tourney The reader Shares her
shock OF joyous surprise when