ave grown curiously heavy; a strange inertia weighted his limbs. Fear,
anger, bitterness, nay, revenge itself, had died out, leaving not a
tranquil mind but a tired one. The pulse scarcely beat in his body.
After a while the apathy of mind and body appeared to rest him. He was
so tired of hate.

"Give me the keys," she whispered. "Is it in there? Where is the plate?
In that room? Give me the keys."

As in a dream he handed her his keys. Through a lethargy which was
almost a stupor he saw her enter his house; he heard her unlock the door
of the room where his plates lay. After a moment she found a match and
lighted the candles. Helm sat heavily on the steps, his head on his
breast, dimly aware that she was passing and repassing, carrying bottles
and armfuls of tools and paper and plates out into the darkness
somewhere.

It may have been a few minutes; it may have been an hour before she
returned to him on the steps, breathing rapidly, her limp gown clinging
to her limbs, her dark hair falling to her shoulders.

"The plates and acids will never be found," she said, breathlessly; "I
put everything into the swamp. It is quicksand."

For a long time neither spoke. At length she slowly turned away towards
the gate, and he rose and followed, scarcely aware of what he was doing.

At the gate she stooped and pushed a dark object out of sight under the
bushes by the fence.

"Let me help you," he said, bending beside her.

"No, no; don't," she stammered; "it is nothing."

He found it and handed it to her. It was her crutch; and she turned
crimson to the roots of her hair.

"Lean on me," he said, very gently.

The girl bit her trembling lip till the blood came. "Thank you," she
said, crushing back her tears; "my crutch is enough--but you need not
have known it. Kindness is comparative; one can be too kind."

He misunderstood her and drew back. "I forgot," he said, quietly, "what
privileges are denied to criminals."

"Privilege!" she faltered. After a moment she laid one hand on his arm.

"I shall be very glad of your help," she said; "I am more lame than I
wish the world to know. It was only the vanity of a cripple that refused
you."

But he thought her very beautiful as she passed with him out into the
starlight.

MARLITT'S SHOES

I

Through the open window the spring sunshine fell on Calvert's broad
back. Tennant faced the window, smoking reflectively.

"I should like to ask a favor," he said; "ma