Show two worlds and ai gaeu M copyright esol by dally story pub co the trolley car which had been dash ing along toward chicago stopped sud denly held upon a suburban street corner by the inevitable coal lagoa with a tendency to break down frank lin atherton gazed idly at the earnest group of salvation army workers on the other side of the street suddenly in a momentary cessation ot the pon derous drum beats a clear sweet temi nine voice faltered out softly ah I 1 have sighed to rest me deep in the quiet grave the rest of the words were ing salvation army adaptations of the most characteristic type but frank alln atherton never heard them with a bound he had reached the side of the singer the girl whom he would have asked to become his wife long ago but that he feared to face poverty with her he bad not seen her tor nearly two years margaret how came you with these peopled the girl looked at him gravely when your world the world which was mine also until my father died and left me dennl ess found no time or space or attention for me I 1 turned to the world in which men and women work instead of play not knowing how to work I 1 went hungry when I 1 was homeless and seeking death be cause no other course seemed open the salvation army workers found me they saved my life and soul now I 1 am trying to save others the gong of the trolley clanged out at the moment it seemed like a sum mons to another world margaret the words seemed drawn from him leave this life tor god s sake come with me As your wife Franklin 7 the flicker of doubt and uncertainty in his eyes was so short lived that few would have seen it but the girl turned away as though she had suf a blow no dear she answered not now you are not strong enough to take me just yet but she called after him as be sprang aboard the trolley we may meet again some time when we do perhaps but he was gone three years later franklin atherton how came you with these peopled had also disappeared from the world which had once known him erces sive haste to be rich the gambling fever an unlucky speculation these were the successive steps by which he had reached starvation and for a man of his temperament al things seemed ended he was heading tor the river when there beote upon his jaded ear the sound of a flagellated drum the clear note of a silver truan pet then as he listened instinctive 1 ah I 1 have sighed to epst me step ja the guiet grave it was no dream it was not the result of a fevered imagination the voice was unmistakable the intonation quite beyond question his manhood left him suddenly and he sank down upon the curbstone sobbing the clear sweet voice came nearer A gentle hand was laid upon his arm what Is the matter my brother 9 what can we do to help you soft hurrying footsteps followed him what Is the matter my brother into the shadowy darkened si destreet to which he hastened again the gentle hand was laid upon his arm it a no use margaret do you sup pose be cad enough to let you help me after the treatment you have re at my banda god bless you good by the girl made no immediate answer in words turning she beckoned to the blue coated worker who had followed her from the lighter street this la a very dear friend of mine lieutenant caldwell she told him with a voice which shook a little from varied emotions but with eyes which shone and sparkled and he Is in trouble in need of assistance I 1 know I 1 can trust you to do all that you can for him tor my sake as well as for the sake of the man who is going to be my husband some day margaret the man was humbled as neither poverty slights hunger cold nor rag agedness had been potent to humble him but there was no bitterness in the humility with which he kissed her fingers there in the darkened street margaret you are an angel and I 1 will be worthy of you yet I 1 swear it I 1 will be your husband some day 1 the good lord and yourself will allow it but be a man first by god and the quiet stars looking down impressively on the flagellated drum and the throbbing hearts of the men and women around it saw and knew somehow that a new soul had been born |