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No Other Way.

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rapid footsteps coming down the stairs, and presently the door was opened to him by a young girl about fifteen, who appeared to have been crying. I beg b your pardon; I quite thought it was the doctor," she said apologetically. Do you want to see my daddy? Are you Miss Smyth, then? asked Kenworthy rather gruffly. Yes; I'm Anna Smyth. Mother's rather bad to-night, and daddy went to fetch the doctor or to telephone to him from a neighbour's house. He won't le long, I'm sure. Won't you come in and wait? I'll come in, thank you," said Ken- worthy, though he did not in the least know why he wanted to go in, or what he proposed to do afterwards. She stood by until he entered, and then led the way into the sitting-room, which was quite empty, and there was no fire in the grate. I'm sorry. I hope you won't fpel it cold while you are waiting," she said with a quaint womanly dignity which was rather pathetic in one so young. You see, we have only a ftre in the kitchen besides the one in mother's room. The children are there, doing their lessons and keeping quiet, poor dears. Mother has to be kept quiet; she has such a headache. But, what do you think ? When I went upstairs just now she was sitting up in bed, sewing ever so hard, trying to get some things made for the children for Christmas. I just cleared everything away, and now she's lying back resting." Kellworthysat down on the extreme edge of the chair nearest the door, blam- ing himself for coming, yet somehow un- able to take himself away. The clild Anna, with her big, serious eyes, glow- ing like twin stars in her gentle face, re- garded him in the friendliest possible way "I haven't even asked your name. Would you like to tell me it, if you can't wait till daddy comes back? I really came to see your mother, my dear," said Kenworthy, and his, v.ice had-in some mysterious way entirely lost its truculent note. Perhaps she might see you. I'll slip up presently, but I don't think I'll let you up unless you promise not to worry her. Something most frightfully worry- ing has happened just lately; it's keep- ing both daddy and mummy awake at nights. I heard them talking last night long after midnight." 10 Why weren't you asleep, ch ? Well, you see, I was awfully tired, and so afraid I'd oversleep myself or not hear mother if she wanted anything." You won't last out if you go on like that. So you think there's a big worry somewhere, do you ? I know there is. Mother was quite gay and getting on nicely, even though c we couldn't possibly get all the things the doctor ordered. Don't you think doctors don't always think how things are to be got for sick people when they are quite poor like us? It nearly killed dad because he had no money to get what mother needed. Do you know, I found him sobbing here one night about one o'clock in the morning; it was when I had come down for some hot water for mother, and I just made him tell me what was the matter." Mr. Kenworthy cleared his throat and smote with his stick on the floor.. My dear, would you go upstairs, see how your mother is, and ask whether she would see a friend." A friend ? repeated the girl a trifle wistfully. Mayn't I take your name first ? She mightn't know it. Can't you— can't youtrust me? Oh, yes, I think so; but, you see, the doctor is very particular that mother should not be overtired or excited. He has said none of the children must be allowed up. I've a job keeping them out, you can just imagine. If you're very anxious to see her—have you come quite a long way ? From the other side of London." Well, it might do her good. Please wait and I'll see." In a few minutes, during which he could hear the rapid movements of her swift young feet in the chamber over- head, she returned smiling. Mother feels better. She's had a little sleep, and she's taken out her sewing again. It's a pink frock, a secret for Mab. She's to be a fairy at the Sunday School Christmas Fete, and unless mother can finish the frock she can't go." Kenworthy unbuttoned his overcoat, left it on the chair, and followed his guide up the narrow stairs, which creaked with every step. The room overhead, precisely the same size as the one he had left, looked rather bare and cheerless, though there was a tiny fire in the grate, the air was by no means warm. In the bed a slender figure was sitting up with a blue dress- ing j acket about her shoulders. The de- licate colour seemed to accentuate the extreme paleness of her face, and the frail outline of her features. She leaned forward, evidently both interested and curious" You wished to see me, my Anna says. Are you sure it is not my husband?. I fancy she must have made a mistake." No, madam; I wanted to see you particularly." Please sit down. I don't know your name yet. Run and see what the chil- dren are about, Anna, while I talk to this gentleman." The moment the door closed she leaned forward from her bed, a look of inten- sity, almost of terror, altering her whole face. Something tells me you are Mr. Something tells me you are Mr. Kenworthy," she said, feebly. "Am I right?" Kenworthy could do no more than in- cline his head. Compassion so great as almost to be like an overwhelming flood interfered ith speech. Then you have come in answer to prayer," she cried, clasping her thin hands together. I know all that has happened. It has nearly killed me, but oh, sir, if you knew all that has been behind the scenes in my husband's life— you seepart of it here—you would not blame him at least you would under- stand how hard it was for him to resist temptation." When still Kenworthy did not speak, she went on feverishly And if I could tell you what he is at home here with us, so unselfish, so brave and cheerful always, making the best of things, and only blaming himself because he cannot do more for us. We were so happy till my bad health and other misfortunes—I need not trouble you with—seemed to swamp us. He is a king among men." Inwardly Kenworthy could have smiled. Smyth, poor weak-kneed, spec- tacled Smyth, of whom many had made /a butt, a king among-men! A sudden cold sensation, almost of nausea, crept into the rich man's heart. For if Smyth was a king among men, by some accepted standard in a higher world than his, where did he, Kenworthy, stand? It was a nice, a very nice point indeed! He had not time to settle it, because the woman went on: And if you will only overlook it, sir, you will never regret it. I think I am getting better, and we shall be so care- ful, and will ask you to keep a little back each week until it is all paid off. Anything, if only you will keep him on. If he is dismissed frc.m Chadwick Court in such circumstances, wlilt will become of us? Nothing can prevent us from sinking to the lowest depths." There will be no dismissal, Mrs. Smyth pray keep your mind easy on that score." Lively gratitude illumined her face, and part of its sweetness returned. She continued to lean forward in her bed, so that Kenworthy could not escape the range of her appealing eyes. Oh, what, a relief i! My poor hus- band has not slept since it happened, I am sure, and last night—no, early this morning—he confessed to me. That is what set me back: I was really recover- ing now, please God, I shall get per- fectly well. Why, I hear my husband downstairs You will see him, sir, and tell him yourself, won't you 7" Kenworthy got out of the room with a confused sense of new emotions to whick he had hitherto been a stranger. It was Then you have come it answer 13 prayer, cried. -=- as if the veil had been lifted, and he had seen in a flash a glimpse of life on the other side of the social scale. He encountered Smyth at the foot of the stairs, and taking his arm drew him into the sitting-room. Smyth's face was ashen-hued, his trembling lips could give forth no sound as he waited for the pro- nouncement of doom. Finally he got out the words: Oh, sir, please forgive!" Kenworthy hushed him with a quick, uplifted hand. It is I who need for- giveness, Smyth—I shall never forgive myself. You had not a living wage. I did not realise it. Everything will be I changed. Try to cheer yourself and your poor wife. Your future and hers will be my care." Kenworthy did not stop to hear the thanks of that broken man. They were more than he could bear. As he journeyed back to his own luxuri- GUS home a strange upheaval was taking place in his heart. He saw himself for the first time for what he was, and understood what Jesus meant when He said it was easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. He, who had never suffered a day or hour of sordid anxiety, had been shown how the poor have to live. He had had a poignant glimpse of life on the other side of the border-line which divides class from class. There was no sleep for Mr. Kenworthy that night, and when John Cobbold, a happy man be- cause of a shy promise that had been given him at the dance the previous even- ing, went to business next morning he found his chief engrossed in a great scheme of reconstruction which would in- volve changes in every department of their business. Cobbold was a wise man and asked no questions; he only concluded that the spirit of Christmas, carried on ( every wandering wind, seeking new habita- tions, had by some mysterious process found a crevice big enough-to get through into Kenworthy's heart. And for that he thanked God and took courage. Copyright in United States of Ameiica.