South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-12-26


and that she lived with her brother
They hal talked about everything
except themselves Perhaps her
retCcnce had been caused by mis-
They came. at length. upon the
levce and sat up0n q great. pros
tr8te beam. The air was puugeut
with the dust II commerce. The
great river slipped yelowly past
Across D. AlEiers lay. "a longitudin-
Gus black bulk against q vibrant
electric haze sprinkled with exact
stars.
The girl was young and OF the
piQua1t order. A certain bright mel
aucholy peryaded her; she possessed
an uutarnished. pale prettiness
doomed 20 please. Her voice when
she spoke dwarfed here theme. Il
was the voice capable Of investing
little subjects with "a large interest
She sat at ease bestowing her skirts
with tho little womanly touch. Sc
rene as if the begrimed pier were a
summer garden. Lorison poked the
-ottiug boards with his cane.
Hebecan by telling her that he
was iu love with some one TO wflom
he burst not speak OF IL. And why
n0t2" she asked. accepting swiftly
his fauuous presentation OF a third
person OF straw. MY place in the
world he answered. lis none to ask
q woman % share. / am an outcast
from honest people: I am wrongly
accused Of one crime, and am. I be
ueve guilty Of another"
Thence ne plunged into the story
OF his abdicatiOn from society The
story pruned of its moral philoso-
ply, deserves no more than the
slightest touch 10 is no new tale.
that Of the gamblers deClension.
During ont nights sitting ne lost
and then had imperilled certain
amount OF his employers money.
which boy accident. ne carried with
him. He continued TO lose. 10 the
last wager. and then began to gain
leaving the game winner 10 a some
what formidable sum. The same
night his employers safe was rob-
bed. a search was had; the win
uings Of LOrisOn were found In his
room. their total forming an accusa-
tive nearness 20 the sum purloined.
He was taken. tried and. through in
complete evidence. released. smutch-
cd with the sinister devOurs az a
I disagreeing jury.
1T is not in the unjust accusa-
ton" ne said to the girl. that my
burden lies. but in the knowledge
that from the moment I staked the
first dollar Of the firms money I was
n crimiual-no matter whether I lost
or won. You see why il is impOs-
si1le for me TO speak of love TO
her
cit is a sad thing" said North.
after a little pause. ito think what
very good people there are in the
world"
Good o" said Lorison
IT was thinking of this superior
person whom you say you love. She
must be a very poor sort of crea-
ture.'
II do not understand
Nearly She continued. "as poor
a sort of creature as Yourself"
''You do not understand" said
LorisOn. removing his hat and
sweeping back his fine light hair.
suppose she loved me in return.
and were willing 10 marry me.
Think. il YOU can. what would fol-
low. Never day would pass but
she would be reminded OF her sac
ritco. ] would read a cOndescension
i'm her smile a pity even in her af-
lection. that would madden me. No.
The thing would stand between us
i could never ask her 10 come down
upon my lower plane"
An arc light family shone upon
Lorison's face. An illumination from
within also pervadcd il. The girl
saw the rapt ascetic look; IL was
the face either OF Sir Galahad or
Sir Fool.
quite starHke." she said. us this
, uuaUproach8ble angel Really too
high 20 Doe grasped."
"Ey me- yes"
She faced him suddenly. My dear
friend. would you prefer your star
5 fallen %" Lorison made a wide ges-
ture
You push me to the bald fact"
nc declared you are not in sym
p5thy with my argument. But l
viii answer YOU SO. II 1 could reach
b my particular star. 10 drag it down.
! would not do IL. but 10 were fallen.
b would pick it up. and thank heaven
for the privilege"
They were silent for some min
Utcs %orah shivered and thrust
her hands deep into the pockets of
her Jacket LOrisOn uttered a re-
morsefuI exclamation
I'm not cold" she said Il was
just thinking ] ought 20 tell YOU
something. You have selected a
strange coufdante. But YOU cannot
expect a chance acquaintance pick
el mp i'm q doubtful restaurant, 10
be am angel
"Norah," cried Lorison.
Let me Eor on. You have told me
about yourself We have been such
good friends 7 must tell YOU now
what 1 never wanted YOU TO knew.
Jm--worse than YOU are. I was on
the stage sang in the
chorus I was pretty bad. I
guess I stole diamonds
from the prima donna they
arrested me I gave most
OF them mp and they let me go
I drank wine every night
a Ereat deal / was very
wicked but
Lor.son kneIt quickly by her side
and took her hands
Dear North" he said exultautly.
1T IS YOU. ii is YOU I love- You
never guessed it. did YOU? It's YOU
7 meant an the time. Now I can
speak. Let me make you forget the
nast. We have both suffered. let us
shut out the world. and live for each
other NOrah. do YOU hear me say