The Helpers

or more the avenue had been a-rumble with carriages coming and going, and a trickling stream of bidden ones flowed st

with the hesitant air accentuated by the unwonted dress-coat, had much ado to win through the throng in the drawing-rooms with hi

unaffected cordiality, and her tactful use of the elderly man's Christian name went far toward effacing the afflic

t out," put in Connie maliciously; and when her father and Miss Van Vetter

ed, and particularly good-natured and docile to-night. Make use of me just as you would

ou. There are people here to-night who seem not t

open; but with a face which was rather thoughtful than strong, though its lines were well masked under a close-trimmed beard and virile mustaches. She recognized

u poor boy! it bores you dreadfully, doesn't it? How trying it

d boy who stood for the hopes of the house of Calmaine were s

ly. "All the same, you needn't bully me because you've a month or t

hirsty. But you might give me the recipe for be

t," said the boy, with frank admiration in his eyes

g love to me next, just the same as if we hadn't known each other all our lives. Do

d, with mock earnestness. "My celestial acquaintance is too limited.

old Jack Hawley home with him. Poppa and Jack were partners in the 'Vesta,' and Mr. Hawley hadn't seen me since I

see! But you mustn't be too hard on old Jack. Half the people here who don't know you

e somebody to talk to; a grown man,

face. "I'll do it," he assented affably; "I'm no en

the ball-room swaying rhythmically to the music. It was all very delightful and joyous, and she enjoyed it with a zest which was yet undulled by satiety. None the less, the lavishness of it oppressed her, and a vague protest, born of other sights and scenes sharply contrasted but no les

mpanion. Teddy Calmaine had obeyed her literally; and when she turned he was p

is Mr. Jeffard. Yo

meant to be obliterative. "But you needn't mind it

m, but he was mindfu

will give me

at him with a smile which was half p

er. "There is no 'must' about it

thank

my own," he hastened to add

amaging a

had hoped you wouldn'

nce, when I was a very little girl, my father took me to see a Ute scalp-dance,-without the scalps, of course,-and-well, first i

he conceit, but he

t be lasting," he ventured. "I think I wa

here should be no 'last ni

right. But no matter what h

of the assertion drove itself home with a twinge of something like regret. But w

she said. "Let us be primitive and admit that our

if you will let me try to

need ef

. I was moody an

ereby to suffer vicariously for the misdoings of the erring majority, and her burdens in this wise were many and heavy. Why should she go out of her way to add to them those of this man who ought to be abunda

" she said, givi

't know what I ought to say,-if, indeed, I ought to say anything at all," he began.

if yo

o make way. When the breathless ones perched themselves on the landing above

ite sure now that I have been making my part of it since I came to Denver. I'm not going to afflict you

ll write ou

morrow. I leave Den

e said it with a little tang

e mountains; with pick and shovel, if need be. I should have started to-night if I hadn't found Mrs. Calmaine's invitation. She has been very good to me in a socia

oes it need an apology?

at the shrine of compassionate purity, would be assoilzied for all the wrong-doings and follies and stumblings of a misguided past; to say many things for which he had no shadow of warrant, and to which t

e you, Jeffard?" said the fortun

ve town in the morning. Miss Ell

swinging along on his way cityward, the spirit of it made itself a name to live; and out of the God-speed and the kindly phrase of leavetaking the new-blown fire of good intention distilled a subtle lique

streets like a hungry vagrant. As yet the lesson was but a few hours old, but the barrier it had thrown up between the insensate yesterday and the rational to-day seemed safely impassable. In the strength of reinstated reason, confidence returned; and close upon the heels of confidence, temerity. His reverie had led him past the corner where

st hot flashes of the fever had begun to quicken his pulse, had he been able to go and look on and return scathless. But

tponed, but which may by no means be evaded. The swing doors gave back under his hand, and a minute later he stood beside the

ones girdling the table grew and multiplied with every turn of the cards. Jeffard's lips began to twitch, and the pupils of his eyes narrowed to two scintillant points. Slowly, and by almost imperc

closed and he stood staring down at the money in his palm as if the sight of it fascinated him. Then he turned quickly and tossed it acro

e day of penitence and its hopeful promise for the future were as if they had not been. Halfway across the street he turned and flung his clenched fist up at the shaded windows, but his tongue clave

o my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty and swept and garnished. Then goeth he and taketh with him s