The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1921-06-02
Benny's Shadow
Pictures
BY HAZEL SMITH
20. 1921. Western Newspaper Union

comes back, drawn 1rreSlStlbly to the
scene Of his otfense against the human
law. Everyone who has done wrong,
everyone who has been unfortunate,
everyone who has suffered, even, re-
turns some day to the place where the
event occurred which marked black
bar in the spectrOsc0pe of his life. It
was 80 with Arthur Kane.
Five years before he had stood In
day, on just such an evening, outside
Evelyn's house, at the foot of her
garden. Then he had been poor now
he was weather. than he had ever
expected to be; but then he had been
happy, and now, of all men, he was
the most miserable.
It was summer then and it was sum-
mer now; the same rose bushes were
blooming, the same moon was rising
over the house-tops; nothing had
changed except his heart.
Five years before Kane had been an
underpaid clerk in the Fourth Ma
tional bank, seven blocks away, in the
heart Of the business section. And
Evelyn had been stenographer in the
same town. She lived with her
widowed mother and her little brother
Benny. Arthur had always known
Evelyn, but their engagement had
come about quite suddenly and simply.
He had discovered unsupported depths
of tenderness in her nature when his
mother died. She had cared for her
all through her lingering illness. The
night before she breathed her last she
said to Arthur:
II want you to marry Evelyn" s-..
The thought had not occurred to
him. He had not known that Evelyn
loved him. The day after the funeral
he asked Evelyn to marry him. And
when she laid her head upon his Shout
der and began to cry softly, from
sheer happiness, Kane suddenly dis
covered the world of love in his own
heart.
II thought you loved Marston," he
said.
II never cared for Martson," she an
swered, looking at him with a wonder
full light in her eyes.
Then came the fatal evening when
Kane, approaching Evelyn's house
later than usual, after the shades were
drawn, stopped suddenly as he saw
Marston's face upon the blind, and
Evelyn's. They drew near to each
other and their lips met. Then the
shadows danced away and the lamp.
light Illuminated the blind again.
Kane went home and wrote brle1
letter to Evelyn, explaining that he
had unexpectedly discovered proof Of
her faithlessness, and took the train
west next morning. In five years he
had made comfortable fortune. Now
he had come back.
AS he stood by the gate of Evelyn's
home tall boy suddenly came in from
the street, saw him, stopped short,
and accosted him.
"Mr. Kane" he exclaimed.
Kane turned. "Why, Bennyw he
said, taken aback. "How you have
grown!" he added lamely. II would
never have known you" ,
II heard you were back" said Ben
ny shyly. 1--WE been looking for you
all over the town. Won't you come
in?"
mo, thanks" said Kane, beginning
to lose his self-control. II have to be
leaving again this evening""
Mother and Evelyn won't be home
till late" said Benny. "Say," he con-
tinued. II want to show you some-
thing. I'm awfully sorry it was my
fault Evelyn and you had that trou.
ble."
"Y0ur fault" exclaimed the other.
"Yes, Mr.. Kane. 1t was an awful
blow to her when you went away.
She just cried and cried for days, but
she wouldn't let anyone write and toll
you. But it was all my fault"
Kane's feet almost dragged him
against his will into the little parlor.
Nothing was changed-only his heart.
Benny put out the gas and stood the
lamp in the middle Of the table.
"You thought she was kissing Mar
ston," said Benny, awkwardly. "Look!
1t was this way-just fun. She was
amusing me-"
And, passing behind the lamp, he
twisted his hands until shadow like
Marston's head appeared upon the
wall.
'That's Marston," said Benny. "You
can tell him by his big nose. Now
this is Evelyn-see? That's her hair,
done like they used to wear it five
years back. Now, when 1 bring nv
hands together they kiss-see?'
1t was very creditable kiss. Il
was just the same kiss that Kan.s had
seen five years before upon the snede.
Kane staggered out of his sesx.
Benny! I've been fooiw he NUT.
tered, and caught the boy by the arm.
"See here, tell me if there's any
chance for me-" he shouted. "Where
is she? I've got to see her. She's
got to forgive me at once. She's got
to, because I'm going to make her."
Benny hesitated. "YOu won't be an