The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-12-15

on her hands and knees As it Was not easy to pass without ircaolnG ou her, and as she was pcffccir regardless of his near approach, h stopped. and touched her on th shoulder Looking up she shoWet him quite a young face. but onA whose bloom and promise were a4 swept away, as if the haReard win ter should unnaiuraliy kill th' ! spring
 What are you?r said RedlaV. pausing. with his hand upon the 1 broken Stalr-rai
 What do you think ! am2" she answered, showing her face again
 T am come here 10 give relief. 4 l can" he said Are you think : ing Of any wrong7'
 She frowncd at him. and then laughed. and then her laugh pro longed itself into a shivering sigh as she dropped her head again. and hid her fingers in her hair.
 Are you thinking of a wrong?' he asked. once more.
 T am thinking of my life" she said. with a momentary look a, him.
 What are your parents?7 he de- manded
 T had a good home once. NJ father was a gardener, far away iu the country"
 "IS he dead?"
 Hes dead to me. All sucn thing are dead to me. You a gentleman and not know thatl" She raised her eyes again, and laughed at him
 "Girl" said Redlaw sternly, be fore his death, of all such things. was brought about, was there TO wrong done to you? In spite Of all that you can do. does no remem- brance of wrong cleave to you? Are there not times upon times when it is misery to you?"
 So little of what was wcmanly was left in her appearance. that now. when she burst into tears. he stood amazed But he was more amazed, and such disquieted. to note that. in her awakened recol- lection of this wrong, the first trace of her old humanity and frozen tenderness appeared to show itself
 
 LIE drew a little off, and in do H ing so observed that her arms were black, her face cut, and her bosom bruised.
 What brutal hand has hurt you SOP" he asked
 My own. I did it myself" she answered quickly.
 "It is impossible.
 "Ill swear l didl He didn't touch me. did it to myself in a passion, and threw myself down here. He wasn't near me. He never laid hand upon mel"
 In the white determination Of her face, confronting him with this untruth, he saw enough of the last perversion and distortion of good surviving in that miserable breast to be stricken with remorse that he had ever come near her.
 Sorrow wrong and troublel' he muttered, turning his fearful gaze away. All that connects her with the state from which she has fallen, has those roots! Tn the name of God, let me go by!"
 Afraid to look at me again, afraid to touch her afraid to think of hay ing sundered the last thread by which she held upon the mercy Of Heaven he gathered his cloak about him and glided swiftly up the stairs.
 Opposite to him on the landing was door which stood partly open. and which. as he ascended. a man with a candle in his hand came forward from within to shut But this man. on seeing him. drew back, with much emotion in his manner, and as if by sudden i'm pulse, mentioned his name aloud
 Tn the surprise of such q recog- hilton there, he stopped, epdeayor- ing to recollect the wan and star tied face. He had no time to con slider it for. Co his greater amaze ment, old Philip came out of the room, and took him by the hand
 MT. Redlaw,' said the old man this is like you. this is liEe you sir You have heard of it, and have come after us to render any help you can. An. too late, too latel'
 tTo Be Continued)