in reality been
performed by Helen, so that it was easy for her to take upon herself the
entire direction of the office work. In their intimate official
relations, Helen had discovered Elijah's weak points, but this discovery
had drawn her closer to him. In the multitudinous business details of
the office, often petty and annoying, Elijah had shown a restless
impatience, and an inability to straighten them out satisfactorily. He
had discovered a lack of the subtle distinctions of honor and honesty,
characteristic of a man of strong, rugged integrity. With the
development of the Las Cruces to a point of assured success, there had
grown up in Elijah an increasing sense of the magnitude of his work and
of himself.

Helen had taken the details of the office upon herself and with infinite
patience she had worked them into harmony. She had been Elijah's
conscience in a thousand different ways that were buried from sight in
the work as a whole. Sometimes patiently, more often impatiently, Elijah
had rebelled against her insistent suggestions, but in the end he had
yielded. To a certain extent Helen had been blinded as to the real
Elijah by her preconceived notions of him. She had regarded him as a
great man with great ideas. With this central thought she had looked
leniently upon his faults, as weaknesses inseparable from greatness.
With a loyal devotion, especially characteristic of women, she had
largely submerged herself in Elijah. She had gradually come to believe
in him almost as he believed in himself. The disintegrating effects of
this belief upon her character were gradual and insinuating. She was
deteriorating from the strong, sturdy sense of honor that had been her
chief characteristic. Upon Elijah, the effects of her loyalty were bound
to be equally disastrous. She was his ideal of womanhood. She was his
devoted ally. The result was a growing belief that what he desired was
right and that this right should not be questioned.

Beyond a vague, ill-defined consciousness that she was getting on
dangerous ground, Helen had given little thought to what might be the
end of her intimate relations with Elijah. He was a married man. She had
met his wife. The meeting had had the sinister effect of developing her
sympathy for Elijah in a new line.

In the affairs of the Las Cruces, Helen had been Elijah's conscience. He
had repeatedly yielded to her judgment. She had experienced a glow of
satisfaction in this that had streng