The Washington herald., 1920-12-25
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

SS@N-A<'N11 1oo. oeS S%s1-
the door. and he. nothing Ioath to go.
accompanied her.
always a delicate creature.
whom = breath might have with
ered.- said the Ghost But she had
a large heartr'
SO she had cried scrooge,
You're right. I'll not gainsay it,
Spirit God forbid!'
she died a woman" said the
Ghost. "and had, as think. chill
dren.-
"one child" Scrooge returned.
True" said the Ghost. your
nephew
Scrooge seemed uneasy in his
mind. and answered briefly, Yes"
Ny time grows short" observed
the Spirit ~Quickr'
This was not addressed to Scrooge,
OF to anyone whom he could see.
but II produced an immediate ef-
feet For again Scrooge saw him
self. He was older now; a man in
the prime of life His face had
not the harsh and rigid lines Of
later years; but 1t had begun to
wear the signs of care and avarice.
There was an eager. greedy, rest
less motion in the eye, which show
ed the passion that had taken root,
and where the shadow of the grow
ing tree would fall
He was not alone, but sat by the
side of a fair young girl in a
mourning-dress; in whose eyes
there were tears. which sparkled in
the light that shone out OF the
Ghost of Christmas Past.
1T matters little" she said. soft
Iy. TO you, very little. Another
Idol has displaced ne; and il it can
CHEER and comfort you in time to
come, as ] would have tried to do,
have no just cause to grieve."
What Idol has displaced your
he rejoined.
"A golden one"
This is the even-handed dealing
of the worldr he said. There is
nothing on which it is so hard as
poverty; and there is nothing II
processes to condemn with such Sc
verify as the pursuit of wealth."
You fear the world too much"
she answered, gently. "All your
other hopes have merged into the
hope of being beyond the chance OF
It's sordid reproach. Il have seen
your nobler aspirations fall off one
by one. until the master passion,
Gain, engrosses you Have ! not?
What them" he retorted. Even
II have grown so much wiser, what
then? I am not changed towards
YOU
She shook her head.
Am II
Our contract is an old one. 1t
was made when we were both poor
and content to be so. until, in gooo
season. we could improve our
worldly fortune by our patient in
dustry. You are changed When
It was made, you were another
man"
Il was a boy" he said impatient
y.
your own feeling tells you that
you were not what you are" she
returned. II am. That which
promised happiness when we were
one in heart. is fraught with mis-
cry now that we are two. How Of
ten and how keenly 1 have thought
Of this, viii not say. 1t is enough
that / have thought of it, and can
release you"
Have I ever sought release?
In words No. Never"
In what. then?"
Tn a changed nature; in an al
tered spirit; in another atmosphere
of life; another Hope as its great
end. In everything that made my
love of any worth or value in your
sight II this had never been be-
tween u.s." said the girl, looking
mildly, but with steadiness, upon
him; tell me. would you seek me
out and try to win me now? All,
nor
He seemed to yield to the justice
of this supposition, in spite of him
self. But he said with a struggle,
You think not.
'T would gladly think otherwise
IL could" she answered. Heaven
knows! When 1 have learned a
Truth like. this, know how strong
and Irresistible ii must be. But II
you were free today, tomorrow, yes
terday, can even i believe that you
would choose a dowerless girl-you
who. in your very confidence with
her. weigh everything by Gain: or,
choosing her, IL for a moment you
were false enough to your one guild
ing principle to do so, do i not know
that your repentance and regret
would surely follow7 l do; and ]
release you. With full heart, for
the love OF him you once were"
He was about to speak; but with
her head turned from him. she re-
Sumed..
You nay-the memory of what
is past half makes me hope you will
have pain In this. A very, very
brief time, and you will dismiss the
recollection of 1t. gladly. as an un-
profitable dream, from which II
happened well that you awoke- May
you be happy in the life you have
ehoseni-
She left him. and they parted.
"SptritT- said Scrooge. SHOW me
no morei Conduct me home Why
do you delight to torture me?