great, sad eyes which smote Walter like a blow in the dark.

He felt almost faint and instinctively he sat down. Bauer had gone over
to his own desk and stood leaning against it.

"I ought not to come in here and annoy you at this time," he said in his
slow, almost stammering manner, "but I--you see, somehow I felt so
lonely, so afraid, when I got off the train to-night, that I could not
help the desire to see you, and they told me you must be in the shop.
Heine says in the Lorelei, you know, 'Ich weiss nicht was soll es
bedeuten, das Ich so traurig bin?' But I do know why I am so sad. It is
disgrace which has befallen me, such deep disgrace to my home, my
father------"

He stopped and looked at Walter timidly as if not quite sure how his
confidence might be received. Walter sat with his head bowed, and
smitten into silence. He did not know what to say, but Bauer probably
took his silence for quiet sympathy, being of that nature himself and
mistaking Walter's attitude for earnest attention.

"My father--you will understand what it means--has deserted my mother,
and she has run away, the home destroyed is to be, and the disgrace--Oh,
it is greater, more than I can endure, I said as I was obliged to come
back for my things. It is more than I can bear alone, and you are so
strong, so principled."

Walter cowered in his chair, appalled at the thing that was happening to
him. Here was a soul in desperate need who had come to fling itself on
him for companionship and courage, and he with his own soul stained with
deception for the love of fame and money! He would have cried out; he
wanted to, but Bauer went on, now he had broken over his natural
reserve. He eagerly awaited Walter's sympathy, and his spirit hungered
for light in his darkness.

"Yes, you see, I don't know anyone here, and your action about the story
telling in your room--I heard of that--I counted it a brave thing to do.
And, oh, I am so hungry for a friend! I need one; do you think you could
be friend to me, do you, Douglas? Friend to a disgraced family? It is
asking a great deal, but I feel the dark, the dark--it is so heavy for
me------"

Bauer, looking at Walter in his almost animal-like appeal, saw at last
that there was something he did not understand in Walter's attitude.
Walter's mind was not confused by the strange situation, it was clear
and vibrating with feeling. But it was a long time before he could
speak. How could he tell Bauer the trut