The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1920-08-20

of finding home. OF all Mrs. Deland's |
creations none, perhaps, is more be- |
loved than is Doctor Lavender. WISE |
benign humorous; yet just at all |
| times-a man who is never to be |
turned aside from principle by idle
sentimentality. Doctor King is not un-
| like him in this unflinching feaIty to
duty and to honor.
These two persons put their heads
Richie leads such solitary life and Is
abundantly able, she is the one to take
the homeless David. The conspirators
proceed with extreme caution. The
child is brought to Doctor Lavendars
house, and Mrs. Richie is given the Op-
portunlty to see him.
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
Doctor Lavender is telling him story
he keeps his eyes fixed so intently on
the mans face that the old gentleman
is much fattered.
well well, you are great boy for
stories, aren't your" remarks the de-
lighted 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 gar
ments, 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 az
, lection the dominant motif of her
life. It even overshadows her love for
Prior, although it is some time before
she is conscious that it 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.
d, Riches junior, Sam Wright, who has
drifted into the habit of calling on her,
I and who falls in love with her. 1t is
the blind worship of one who has
never known passion, and in an at
, tempt to break up the boys infatua-
: ton his doting grandfather comes TO
v Mrs. Richie, and hnlf in irritation &C.
d cuses her of not being a good woman.
The shot is ranSom one, but the in
e slant the charge is made the speaker
h realizes he has hit upon the truth
S Helena's anger at his gibes and sar,
d casm is like the whfrlwind.
But the Lord was not in the wind.
J. 1t is Sam Wright's suicide that first
d brings home to her the gravity of defy.
d ing social responsibility. What she has
s hitherto regarded as a scorn for con
e ventiOn she now sees to be crime
g against humanity. All her being fl
g rocked with self-reproach.
= But the Lord was not In the earth
J. quake.
If 1t is not until Doctor King force!
Il her to confess her guilt, and tells hel
e she must give up David that we reacI
II the climax of the drama. Then all the
If wild mother instinct of the woman
:e leaps into being. She is lioness fight
c. ing for her young. She will give VI
lie Prior; in fact she does give him up
But she will not part with David. Sh,
r, begs, brides, prays; but Willy King
conscience will not permit him to lis
,e ten to her entreaties. She must SEM
er the child back to Doctor Lavendar, o
ar he must acquaint the good mlnlste
J with the entire story.
Dr. In an effort to fOrestall this acton
or Mrs. Richie herself goes to the rector.
A. and before she leaves it she looks int
IN the face of her own soul and pre-
ic nounces her doom.
an The whirlwind of anger had die
or out; the shock of responsibility ha
ne subsidized; the hiss of those flames o
IS. shame had ceased. She was in tn
as centre of all the tumults, where lie
lg the quiet mind Of God"
or When DR.. Lavender asks her If sh
1g thinks herself worthy to keep tn
70 child she humbly whispers: No"
IN And after the fire. the still Sma
e- Voice.
ed At last the woman's conscience
aroused, ner repentance IS Slncer'
I'd and we have the true Awakening c
ir- Helena Richie
lis How wisely DIR. Lavender meets thi
of crisis in the shattered life, allowin
ny her to taste to the full the dregs c
of remorse and suffering; and yet ho'
lis mercifully and gently he leads her VI
SIS ward toward hope and desire for re-
Id titution constitute the remainder {
70. the story.
he The kind old man suggests the
W she make her future home in distar
lie city where her past will not folio
is her and where she may start anev
to and he asks that ON the mornin
e; Of her departure she come to him fl
err a package which he wishes her to tax
| with ha,. IN hay. 3OYrpa,r Tho roo III