Helen felt something like a traitor
as she started out; but it was spring
in the park she had not known it
before amidst the brick and stone
the grass and sky looked like his pic
ture. He was waiting" and they
found a seat in a quiet place.
"I am going to make a confession,"
he said. "I know you are going to
think me a contemptible cad. I know
I have been one; but J also believe
one need not go on being a cad. It
can be blotted out. I hope you can
think so. I was fascinated by your
aunt I never was in love with her.
I persuaded myself that did not so
much matter. If she cared for me
enough we could marry and 1 would
try to not let her see the lack, in me.
I am miserably poor, as far as money
goes. I have had a frightful, struggle.
My art means' everything to me and
it seemed I must give it up or starve.
She told nie she had enough to make
the way for me easy. You see, now!"
he cried, with intense disgust. "You
see how low I fell when I could take
this woman's money and give her no
love in return. Then that day be
fore the picture when I knew you
I couldn't do it. Can you forge it?"
"I can blot it out," she said.
"They told me you were the poor
relation. Could you go on being poor
with me? I love you so much it
would not matter to me."
"It would not matter to me," she
answered.
It was a quiet place, and when he
next spoke he said: "We shall not be
so very poor. My pictures are begin
ning to sell."
"No," she answered with a queer
little smile. "You see I have a great
deal more money than Aunt Ethel.
I'm going to own that wonderful pic
ture and we shall always have the
'Springtime'."
(Copyright, 1917, W. G. Chapman.)
o o
TODAY IN ILLINOIS HISTORY
March 14, 1849. Steamboat navi
gation on the Illinois river to Ottawa
was resumed on the 14th.
NO WINTER WORRIES FOR THIS
SOCIETY KIDDIE
Y'.,
Baby Adams doesn't know yet
what winter is, so he doesn't worry.
He is at St Augustine, Fla., enjoying
himself. When summer comes he'll
return to his home in New York.
o o
GRATITUDE "
A bereaved widow thus thanks an
insurance company for the prompt
payment of her claim: "April 29 my
husband took out an accident policy
and in less than a month he was ac
cidentally drowned. I consider it a
good investment."