The diamond drill., 1921-01-01

orphan child whom the rector has be-
friended, and for whom he is desirous
Of finding home. OF all Mrs. Delands
creations none. perhaps. is more be-
loved than Is Doctor Layendar Wise.
benign. humorous: yet just at all
tlmes--a man who Is never to ba
turned aside from principle by Idle
sentimentallty. Doctor King Is not uni
like him In this unninching fealty ia
duty and to honor.
| These two persons put their heads
together to decide that since Mrs.
Richie leads such solitary life and Ia
abundantiy able. she Is the one 10 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 opl
portunity TO see him.
! He is 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 Lavendar Is telling him story
| he keeps his eyes fixed so intently on
the mans face that the old gentleman
is much lattered.
"well. well. you are a great hoy for
stories, aren't your remarks the de-
lighted minister
you've talked seven minutes" said
David thoughtfully. "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 gar
ments. and brings him in triumph 60
the STUFFED Animal House"
Day by day the tie that binds her to
David strengthens until we see this az
fection the dominant motif OF her
life. IL even overshadows her love for
Prior although IL is some time befors
she Is conscious that II does so.
In the meanwhile. quite by chance.
the security OF her miniature world Is
shaken 20 its foundations. 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 I'm love with her. II is
the blind worship OF one who has
never known passion. and I'm an at
tempt TO break up the boys infatua-
tion his dotlng grandfather comes 10
Mrs. Richie, and half In Irritation ac-
cuses her Of not being good woman
The shot is random one, hut the In
stant the charge is made the speaker
realizes he has hit upon the truth.
Helena's anger M his gIbes and sar-
casp Is like the whIrlwind. --
3" But the Lord was not in the wind :
II is Sam WIIght's suicide that first
!, brings home TO her the gravity OF defy
Ing social responsibility. What she has
hitherto regarded as a scorn for con-
! vention she now sees 20 be a crime
against humanity. All her being ls
rocked with self.reproach, -ssSasv->
But the Lord was not in the earth
. quake. '--'"''''' 'osse $780,
II is not until Doctor King forces
her 10 confess her guilt. and tells her
she must give up David, that we reach
the climax OF the drama Then all tho
Wild mother instinct OF the woman
leaps into being. She is 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. brlbes prays: but Willy Kings
conscience will not permit him to lis
ten 10 her entreaties She must send
the child back to Doctor Layendar. or,
he must acqunlnt the good minister
with the entire story. 'Tf-''a'gsl
In nm effort TO forestal this action
Mrs, Richie herself goes to the rectory
aud before She leaves Il she looks into
the face OF her own soul and pro
, nounces her doom. 80 ~.-'--s .-------
2 "The whrlwlnd Of anger had died
+ out: the shock of responsibility had
subsidized: the hiss OF those flames or
/. shame had ceased. She was I'm the
centre OF all the tumults. where lies
the quiet mind OF God" 1885,
When DR. Lavendar asks her IL she
thinks herself worthy 10 keep the
child she humbly whispers; "No"
And after the fire, the stlll Smal
Voice. gF,s.-. e se%s-.--.
AT last the womans conscience Is
aroused. her repentance is sincere.
and we have the true awakening OF
: Helena Richie" <--sxss---
How wisely Dr Lavendar meets this
crisis in the shattered life. allowing
her 10 taste 10 the full the dregs OF
remorse and suffering: and yet how
merclfully and gently he leads her up
ward toward hope and a desire for res
titution constitute the remainder OK
the story.
The kind old man suggests that
she make her future home In a distant
city where her past will not follow
her and where she may start anew,
and he asks that on the morning
Of her departure she come 70 him for
package which he wishes her 10 take
with her on her tourney. The reader