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Show ver Since Ti ---= HEN Marian EASTER STORY BY snn0uUnced her intention of spending the Lenten period jn the neighborhood house, and devoting the time to settlement work, her friends first doubted, then wondered, Not that the Sirl was incapable of sé¥ious effort if she 80 chose, or that she lacked sy mpathy and understanding of privation and suffering of the most lowly of the poor; but rather because it was evident the inspiration must have been a compelling spirit of penitence, and they could not comprehend anything coming into her life that would call for such expiation. They did not know a motive stronger than the sacrificial spirit of the season impelied her to seek and welcome this Isolation from her kind for the two score days of spiritual sackcloth and ashes. Womaniike she had sought to hide the jisappointment that carried with it a heart hurt, and ashe al ilelded from the gaze of others the quivering wound from which an ideal had been uprooted and cast out, as she believed forever. She had looked at the problem which had onfronted her from every possible ingle; she argued to berself the case from the man's viewpoint she oncelved it, and there was but one onclusion-that justification was Impossible, and forSiveness Tay far outside the pale of human endurance of pain Her love bec jutruged; it had been awakened by a man who had proved a stranger in spite of their three sweet y of companionship; it had been fed and compelled on deception t it had possessed her completely ind the memory of it now was 4a queer mixture of delight and despair Paul Huntley wag ; young lawyer, who had made rapid strides in his professional career He had avoided politics and public life in every form, but was Known to the substantial business world a3 a man of safe counsel on legal questlons where huge capital was at stake. In a general way she had known from the first that he came from the peopje, that his advancement had been entirely due to his own indust ind that success had been won In. the e of ady mnditions leiter he told her. a much. himael 1d enfessed his love 1nd isked her to walt until ich time ag his Income and Position gave him the financiul and sacial right to isk of her father her hand She had promised, and had waited with increasing happiness for the realization of the ife the had planned together, in which she was to be, as si had been. the inspiration of his efforts, and together they were to attain to great heights Huntley was barely over 30. but he had accomplished much, and in the eyes of his triends by no means the Jeast of his successes was that which blessed his woolng be other. In the trustfulness of this, her first but nol a shock with tragedy relatives, and Another She was only fillinghadit now. left Before a her child his had that would beenbe 1 continual reminder of the dead mother 45 a realization of these &nd other thins flooded « r Marlan she ried out in pain that the hurt was more than sh could al Paul Why h 1 kept th be ee self? ‘if I In had Kindness have ive ed or 1o woman mood there her £a i j ilngs in his know note the t love you pite of there ls something, you must not come until I again, knowing all there her t : I a realized next you, want insy ther t he The to workksd tal} ind left ay ae forge a OU. lo he an to d you think o hild outbu to bette { ie Don't wisdom is there, that lis me the going away, not for long, much jt ou for what so Now too ‘ great } understood was don't you, dear, Paul, mine, ; fr vega es Huntley the been I want you to j : ft let me e alo o of the other wom t and ing } EGeen has For ni would r Jit wom been ‘I it heard 2 Another morn- Pan] oe ther woman can't express it, I old not love far send for is to be is gone away, but you If known, But but it it sn I reamy I am where yud rts bright note th ov her wn ould n i and jer id ¢ of ju ) f wa f J j j hir W l eyes liog 1 \ l id r l Philip fh Oo J ! ire I "O, I Contearee "J should Irif from whom start Her She glanced den man's ate me footsteps re ng ‘ k be 5 ea yming Pry da ! down ume in knowing Susa had st I K j Ly t t N to b her ' \ t ( J bre ! J returned iice, kind } that th ¢ confide lee d ‘ y; then she sught ears the i , n? h t a a what I knew, I ato er 1 x the N l r BUT j or tell I ld lg i tl i you natter Su f s the fir it went o first I of see the li t to which she was assigned, and made earnest effort to get under the surface of things and be accepted by the people as a friend. She listened to their troubles ind came to know much of their: problems She Inutructed foreign girls In domestic things, cookery and the like, she helped the boys of the night classes with tasks that an American boy of 12 would have found ea but which these older boys stumbled over because of their late start in learning A score of days and nights went by, and still ashe vas as distant as ever from a clear conception of what she wanted to do with her own troubles At times she felt compelled to write Huntley that when her york wa over ind the spirit of Easter would be road he might come to her and for her Then she ould see the woman who had gone before and the iid the father still loved That a man could put } rt the mother of his child he doubted believe Huntley ould so far forget; intel more it hurt her to think the other woman hrined en 1 memory in any part be had belleved belonged entirely to her rhe riled with the thought that after ll io! ho was the intruder, the usurper? Tb t I l the first right Sh probat LC 1 id saved that Huntley might be advanced, for farilan Knew those were the days of scanty prosity H had giver i is earllest love to Mari 1 e gave the best o i maturer years. Still it p Ible for a man ») love supremely twice in 1. lifetim She did nat int to i 1 desire for om I She asked t $3 much herself . ld £ that l cnt would be an all ab- her Flametta had provoked disapproval. and it had taken expression in he custom of the country whence they came. She had died with no hatred against ‘Tonjo, but a great love for him that could bear death at his hands, and kiss the blade that killed her For her lov she suld bear pain; to suffer was the woman's herit and ft reminded Marian of vagrant lines that had been running In and out of her mind for the weeks she had been In the district. She ‘Ould only 1 111 of tl ‘Thus it shall t thus it hath been Ever iy Time began- Hat l red, and Joved and lost, And glad of the lo to man." Fiametta w elemental; judged from: new world standard he yas generations behind In mental deelopm ] estin e of justice. And yet there not 1 toucl tavism i ery woman when love calls? Marian to s¢ i iffering to the woman who loves Is pl ire. out of pain Did not great love dej rifl W yt that the Baster splrit that I mo ld bring Absolute happiness ittal es) en | f The lines cams I Hatt } bart 1 and loved and rd b ia oss to man. Ei r Huntle ame back In torrents t j ther woman and her child had bet i 3 Wife? They had helped to make him happ and now for the rest of his life there would be ) memory the ot r woman, and remembering if rent] in the midst of her own great happiness ould be her sacrifics 4nd on Easter Sunday Huntley recelyed his mes- and all compelling lingered in homes love where sage wives were mother- ‘Paul, mine, come." SSSSSSSeSsssss ols. 1 T 1 ir wv tI t how ild Su j 1 lo ne i ght alo ut 1 the bes stern, pale and ¢t tor nething fla o ippal evil-and to but ved come, s W Ther I ij of ther m bett parti i I Here shs that h¢ 0 elleving that he was lo + child choolgirl, whom b flirting with-well. let Susan toger had writt J by tter the rest of the to her wondered 1¢ she was Instead a o in a ' 1 wn part, phe 5 d L n with She p Py SESS na 1 sm«¢ I ied mahi I Rog Y ng at fold ned j ues a must ] I } I had Into the room and to Lu y I her ] h t nor the r then ft Julia, t white mocking triumph to with of and he inguish In the woman's 3m it just as wall be off the old love before gaging gown. than at an- turned on I-my will wt \ loved! Julla letters to steadil rising g turn her H of prel ove t uid HI r feet Susar and id ned It t hir glittering eyes dear he sald quleti the real nature of the &-the man you fancied to r l beral education he walked up to r J 1 a ng. thank me, underst i ght irl } i] prove Ther la You oug r lettir ly n fir 10 read She spoke standing up i} lize wonderful, those i nd the too letters then and t Julia 1 ) j inyt g t i g 1 Re \ @ ¥ j i ] r idded od S what his feeling in, whom he had least on ear Susan in that and black tea rapidly he h inswered Susa 1 her §$ \ll a g Julia 1 l } ‘ i v mwilede wa \ 1 to I IW-now. t d h ) at t ! wisdor 1 Susan im Oca Ae a 3 A pur t th } 5 f . rid t litt visest ar Idol ld b : t} shining v r by ta ¢t the ge f glowing hearth 4 pure womar vf fir yes be words simple hand new il and right led Into which en lit anda a w ind ounds warmed eyes ' she to woman-wlse the to Tr the colng I 1 I g vuntry r for Idol lowly 7 ts men re he Intently te cene her ul vind! miled of Pp ) her } is iddenl opened hr iold of che bo pecially instructed the irrived. long before a i r g a t igual ] nds £ remarked Julia softly and in her tone so I Roge that I am going to ny year of mourning ) nd quite too utterly rf M Tt furlou tood now i cal j in sort , eart to ma till yuld n pparentiy | new j Fred Wel H i to 1 de the | well marry ] I tt are ae NN J tl al remarked asket, the ou woman now fig he little simple. to ug Mu moc} Susan that she was not at that she intended to marry id read j much left f g ¥ou are I Rog Pelhan he I It rd , ri | i w Rog i ° Id sad la j t siler ict to thougt t d b ip ui ' for a ypt hog id 1d ob - ] Du not } r ib} story the a how sl 1d jo} ) convinced of her error QO, it was a ruel thir lo- wicked thing-t« ve tl t, dreamy} } x 11} of Roger Pell l to read-letters tier ) the yes like Julia Coombe, a nar t had lured man to t with Circe arts, and who was i ] yuld be rafty D ) } t i i Susa hai read the ] p d ti I i1ld jaugh low 11} wher flood rimson swept >I fa ner es grew dim witt lett simply-but whole peared jlla She as to I mere amused him me of the yu1d soon yu just pe j be t t had J ell ick t Roger Roger, , J A rom in i 4 tl 1 impossibi her head answered I quite-quite | Roger, please.' won't," I returned steadily, take replied Susan; "you will!' own way, as I might have wt he immed me into Next day I took her up to tow; r as Julia Coombe's flat, the Jdré 1 Ww I didn't is give c i T er I I turn lream 1 and i »*k e tell -I iniv truth r j ; to hi: out @ npossible-absolutely Susan No dor I oO Ss ruld 1 ted hel b hi Julia yw." from ind You in I} I it j emu : vind agen of : signt ng bla pre l 5 t to God tion 1 | of Su ) Rog BS ga 10 Th Susan sort midst of her in her love m+ roe ao cOunEEY : e@ qu pita Le ae I ec I | rease as icular ler I me, for ha ; ul quick at me } ) in ustst i matre to move R prt m ick rT ec c W auld ) would -elham pitiful. PASi- i ' nd people up ¢t I i i | an L Fou Sit dy d om a can te quite ur . think} you were in person t iad fo incl bh y Julia war there ive You Susan. Her vo} ¥ eac give all we . } casual! I answered either. I, for tance o K ver va 1 Juli I failed had 80 Yr lasted 1d tab] j sy i) that Kk 4 yi } ed way : : é gi t t hog o 1 j f w succeeded then between € s 1 al t nat had f forced him? J of property and §s Manila, fl tl fact, In hat many year of course t band died Still, it inh on Roger, able to cut | d in; Also, he was "Why do mu ll Capt. Pelham [dol S Susan questioned mé if immer flernoon was staying with Roger P<: it pla "Why do we ill P m Id I repeated Busan's words slowly, then hesitated For how was I to explain to t ‘ 1 ind girl at Roger Pelham bad gained his »brigq t Au of tl homage tha i been bestowed upt i Manil where womepD sughk cach ert i) } tr } | He adynderfully soft em to me- I laughed Su} } a Little l ofa the isk tf i ie] life Also, ] leren g skirmish eZ i isha jad he to Coon had im to ber l I Ss : e I wajted another few minutes, then determined to gE I earch of Susan For it entered my head that the poor little girl must be persuaded to come back to talk to. her guests, who might wonder at their ne s bse fi Even if the' child's heart was breaking mustn't Jet the fact appear, but must play a bold, bray¢ par Susai 1 ild gently, don't fret hild! There's 10 sorroW so heavy that It cannot be born I tell you this, | who know She rdded her little head bravely And, after all, he loves you-always remember t I went on in blundering, masculine fashion 1a8 felt for others-what he may teel-) vhat he has given [0 you, susan; jus im, my dear-just the best I know that answered Susan "Roger has told thing Then she turned to me sudden} ind ad upon my arm ‘Do you now j t lo? She spoke 4imost im] i ke me to her-to Mrs. { I ] to give up Roger ind I t i a wise shake of her head I think s will at the girl achast The boldne {f her 4 , n breath away I j t girl I muttered at Jast, what you 4 j i : ind to spread ‘ j e mm ry) his medal ip a a wounded pr 1 cl wit \ he had earned pines-rescued 7 ind sir I I nra I 4 ‘ j ( Me ‘s eta for always There must be no miStake the second time, no chance of more disappointments.' It was signed " Your Qwn Marian," and that note of affection with her admission t sae nad not quite put him entirely out of her heart was bis only solace in the days that followed. Mr. Kirby had blocked his eager Inguiries as to Marian's destination. and had tried to show him that the only just course was to let her make her decision in her own way. In a measure Marian was prepared for the work in the slums. Through school friends who had gone into the settlement work she had become interested in the problems the workers were trying to remedy, and In a small way had contributed of her time and musical ability to the entertainments planned at the neighborhood house She wanted to get her mind cleared as far as possible of all that belonged to the other life, the one uptown, that she might face again the crisis that had come Into her existence. A growing resentment towards the Woman who had gone before became conscious, and while she longed for the sympathy of a confidante of her sex. she was determined to fight {t out alone and to a definjte and absolute finality She plunged with eagerness into the material work was he ber. Vvinited. 1 aaationo{-h. Leteios orbing She much girl Bh ra e any a a eyes, from which all fun and coquetry had gone, made it impossible for the girl at the bedside to reproach her She could only express her sorrow and sympathy. eesa "Won! non, Meesa Marian, eet right. Bet Sé eesa, wa't you say, dee-serv' You a-tell me, an' I-a one-a beega fool. Meesa Marian, da no-a catcha Tony? He get-a far away?" Fiametta, of course the police are after him. They will find him---" began Marian, when she was interrupted. Non! da no-a catcha neem. No-a blama heem, Blama me!" protested the dying girl strongly. "But, Flametta, he has killed you." "T lof heem. O, Meesa Marion, geeva heem help. lie hada da righta. W'en a woman lofes she no-a cara tor suffer. She lika da hurta from heem," and Fiametta's last words were thus in defense of the man who slew her. was daylight when Marian got back to her room She had staid the body and tried to prevent its removal to the public morgue, there to await the autopsy which the law provides in deaths by violence She knew she had seen the last act of a tragedy; no, not the last act, for somewhere in the open, with the bloodhounds of the manhunters behind him, was a murderer, deeply remorseful for what he had done. Sleep was out of the question, for her mind was still active in its pictures of the night. And that the girl should haye almost prayed for her slayer to ele. om-ti i os tiee-the-orime t lehed I surrendes It must ba STORED 10uU tT me ae ead worked had He a year. lover over her OOP, as listened, nn neighborhood but CRE Pion want ger, Fiametta only laughed, and pattered away in unintelligible Neapolitan patois that there was no danger, the Greek boy was splendid looking, and, welljt was only a little thing. Not so many nights after jt was a bigger thing, for ‘Tonio had heard and had watched. It was not even a kiss, only the suggestion one of a possible that had roused him, and the laughand maiden of ing man were unaware spying eyes with an oath until the infurjated lover rushed in, and his and the blade of stiletto an imprecation buried his sweetheart hilt in where the from the hospital, Marian was ‘Tonio had evaporated, injured girl had some of the burrows of the tenements probably into hopeless and where shelter where pursuit js-us ually is always.walting for a fugifrom the American hope The doctors. he out small for Fiametta, *» had bled internally, and death was near She was lous stricken . look her big black and toe in - ther alt nothing to ee him brought who to the man indebtedness plat roe fea, then saved enough to starta boot shining the so $9 4 week, $5 or making was apd own, his tne from excellent was pair engaged of the prospect standpoint of material prosperity. much was house neighborhood the girl from The could Marian Naples. from girl the in Interested learning was Flametta and a bit of Italian, speak little English day by day, and not long before it was they reached a basis of understanding that expanded and ways American taught was Fiametta rapidly customs, She became a member of classes 4t the neighborhood house, and Antonio called for her evenings his on way home from the stand Fiametta would make an excellent wife, that of no could. be there doubt, but Fiametta was young, she was beautiful, and a measure of the coquetry of the Latins danced in her eyes and found ex 2ssion in pouting lips and inviting impudence. She made the most open eyes at 4 young Greek who was attending the classes, and he did not deny her the flirtation she sought When Marian ventured to remonstrate and suggest that ‘Tonio would not like his betrothed to flirt with the handsome stran- love woman and another woman's child! not the only woman who had filled was and 9 es, marriag They knew Work was their pleasure because 7 months; Huntley confessed that while) his ‘great loys for Marian overshadowed everything else In his Hfe o1 iat could be in it, he had an Instinctive father love for the almost stranger babe, and wanted her consent that it come to their home after they were married life. She inother, them they it brought. She observed, there was nothing in the it. Could vrenmaTinetrar? trom then in eo Only had bearing on her hurt. way there anything approaching mrs se who was going a young Italian girl and who in the immediately after Easter happy period of penitence was In ordinately uncommon an not It was for Antonio the in been had Fiametta district. the Huntley's birthplace was a rocky farm in a New England state. that had about it the glamour of traditions, but as a source of living Was anything but productive. The vitality of the soll had long been exhausted, and while still a boy he left the home roof for a nearby city. He worked early and late, and when barely 20 met and married @ gir) of his class whom he thought he loved. When she died five years Jater there was left a tiny babe, a life exchanged for i life. The baby had been cared for by the mother's ‘ but problems. dream, and in the completeness of her Surrender, she gave small heed to what may have been in his life before she knew him. Then came the night he bared his soul, and told her of the other woman, and the other woman's child. The story was Simple; had it been told frankly at the t of the j before love came it would have been, perhaps, 4 sur- prise, nothing : former: busbands' their of children learned contented, ing she Miss Kirby was woman af ideals From th¢ dreams of the schoolgirl, with visions of a higher life she had passed to practical problems without losing confidence in herself and faith In humanity She maintained her faith in the possibility of philosophic pinnacies, and when Huntley awoke her love it was quite the most natural sequence that she enshrined the man along with her love, and believed them both perfection approaching Out of an apparently unending aspect of eternal happiness came a tragedy that seemed to her insurmountabl: He told her she was his ideal, his Inspiring angel, and that her love had been the great power in urglog him to supreme efforts in his career during the three years they had known each T-A-ROBERTS Wi Kirby re- nd t ae BN a ° |