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The day book. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1911-1917, June 05, 1916, LAST EDITION, Image 19

Image and text provided by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library, Urbana, IL

Persistent link: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045487/1916-06-05/ed-1/seq-19/

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"It is a beautiful home, everything
is so tasteful," began Helena.
'Ts see what you are thinking," de
clared Edith. "You supposed that we
were rich. We were, but the last
year has changed all that."
"Then if" you have had money
trouble I shall b,e a burden to you."
"Why, we want you more than
I ever, just On that account," insisted
1 W Edith. "Is there a more helpful per
son in the world than yourself?
Think what you can do- for the chil
dren! No, no, dear, when we first
asked you to come to us Arnbld was
wealthy. A dishonest partner robbed
r him jit $50,000. But whehwe got
your letter accepting our offer Ar
nold' was actually joyous. Don't
. think ofdeserting us because we are
poor."
So Helena settled down into her
''new life. New delights came daily
V within her experience. Mr. Percival
was a resourceful man, and, though
working for others now, earned a
very liberal salary. Edith constantly
declared it was a relief to be away
from the old follies .of fashion. The
care of the children was a heartsome
joy for Helena.
One day in looking over an album
a photograph fell to the floor. Hel
' ena noted a slight shadow move over
the face of Edith as she apparently
recognized the portrait
"Who is it?" inquired Helena, and
. she steadfastly regarded the picture.
"That is Bruce Arlington, my hus
band's old partner."
Helena sighed. She replaced the
photograph,-but when alone the next
day took it again from the album.
' " "Like the one lost tame," she mur
mured. "The same ingenuous char
acteristlcs, a man of good impulses
but weak as water-In resisting temp
tation." Somehow she could not get the cir-
cumatance out of her mind. The
original of the photograph resembTW
her dead fiance only in general facial
characteristics, yet the presentment
involved poignant memories with
Helena. One evening some callers
rferred to this Arlington.' They told
of his being re-established in busi
ness in another city. The rumor was
that he was building up a, fortune. A
wild, wayward thought come into the
mind of Helena.
The following week Helena told
her friends that she must return to
the city for a few weeks at least.
They deplored her decision and
mourned her absence. At the end of
a month Edith received a startling
letter from her cherished' friend.
In a few plain words Helena wrgte
that -her purpose in coming to the
city was to seek out Bruce Arlington,
to win his love, to sacrifice herself
by marrying him, in order that She
might lead him toM-estore to Arnold
Percival the money he had taken
from him.
As' it purely accidentally, Helena
had flashed across the path of AN
lington. There was not awonmnly
artifice of fascination that" she did
npt employ to advantage in luring
Jbe man-to her side. They-became
engaged. f
Morethan once Helena felt that
she was playing a dangerous gaiue.
Much as Bhe deprecated the dishon
est trait in Bruce Arlington's char
acter, at times something ingenuous,
intangible in his better nature stirred
her soul to the depths. Was she fall
ing in love with him. She strove
vainly to banish the thought
Then, too, Arlington had changed
since coming under her influence.
Walworth. Travers had died contrite.
Was it her mission to attempt the
"coming back" Of this new brand
from the burning?
There was a week that Bruce Ar
lington acted strangely. He was de
pressed, dejected. One evening, when
she was expecting his customary call
she received a note instead.
"You will find enclosed," it read, "a
certified check for the amount I
caused Mr. Percival to lose. You may
not believe me, but voluntarily from
the day I saw you my conscience

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