The state herald., 1920-08-13

orphan child whom the rector has be-
friended, and for whom he Is desirous
of finding home. OF all Mrs. Deland's
creations none, perhaps, is more be.
loved than Is Doctor Lavendar. Wise,
benign, humorous; yet just ut ali
times-a man who Is never to be
turned aside from principle by idle
sentimentality. Doctor King is not un-
like him In this unfllnching fealty to
duty and to honor.
These two persons put their heads
together to decide that since Mrs.
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 Lavendar's
house, and Mrs. Richie is given the op,
portunity to see him.
He is n quaint, winsome. appealing
little fellow-a decided personality,
and one of the most delightful md
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 Lavendar is telling him story
he keeps his eyes fixed so intently on
the mans face that the old gentleman
Is much flattered.
"Well, well. you are great boy for
stories. aren't you2" remarks the de.
lighted minister.
"You've talked seven minutes said
David thoughtfully, "and you haven't
moved your upper jaw once"
As can he 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 af.
fection the dominant motif of her
life. 1t even overshadows her love for
Prior. although 1t is some time before
she is conscious that 1t does so.
In the meanwhile, quite by chance,
the security of her miniature world Is
shaken to Its foundations. There lives
In Old Chester youth much Mrs.
Richlc's junior. Sam Wright, who has
drifted into the habit of calling on her,
and who fails In love with her. II is
the blind worship of one who has
never known passion, and in an at.
tempt to break up the boys infatua-
tlon his doting grandfather comes to
Mrs. Richie, and half in irritation ac.
cuses her Of not being good woman.
The shot is random one. but the In
slant the charge is made the speaker
realizes he has hit upon the truth
Helena's anger at his gibes and sar.
casm Is like the whirlwlnd.
But the Lord was not In the wind.
II is Sam Wrlght's suicide that first
brings home to her the gravity of defy. |
Ing social responsibility What she has
hitherto regarded as scorn for con-
vcntion she now sees to be crime
against humanity. All her being is
rocked with self-reproach.
But the Lord was not In the eartn.
quake.
II Is not until Doctor King forces |
her to confess her guilt. and tells her |
she must give up David. that we reach |
the climax Of the dramn. Then all the |
Wild mother Instinct Of the woman
leaps into being. She is a iioness fight.
ing for her young. She will give up
Prior: In fact she does give him up.
But she will not part with David. She
begs. bribes. prays: but Willy Kings
conscience Will not permit him to lis
ten TO her entreatics. She must send
the child back TO Doctor Lavendar. or
he must acquaint the good minister
with the entire story.
In nm effort TO forestall this action
Mrs. Richie herself goes to the rectory
and before she leaves II she looks into
the face OF her own soul and pro
nounccs her doom.
''Thc whlrlwlnd OF anger had died |
out; the shock of responsibility had |
subsidized; the hiss of those flames OF |
shame had ceased. She was In the
centre Of all the tumults, where lies
the quiet mind OF God"
When DR.. Lavendar asks her II she |
thinks herself worthy TO keep the |
child she humbly whispers: "No."
And after the FIRE. 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 DIR. Lavendar meets this |
crisis In the shattered life. allowing
her TO taste TO the full the dregs OF |
rcmorsc md suffering; and yet how
mcrcifuily and gently he leads her UP
ward toward hope aud desire for res.
tltu'ion constitute the remainder Of
the story.
The kind old man suggests that
she mike her future home In n distant
city where her pnst will not follow
her mud where she may start anew,
nnd he asks thnt on the morning
OF her departure she come to him for
q package which he wishes her to tnko
with her on her Journey. The roader