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THE MOTION PICTURE STORY MAGAZINE
NORRINE GRIEVES OVER THE BASELESS CHARGES
look about her, and a tendency to fits of absent-mindedness and nervous irritability which confirmed his suspicions; so he took matters in his own hands and on the Sunday after Thanksgiving preached a sermon on the commandment, "Thou shalt not steal."
Sternly the young divine drew a graphic picture of the sinner 's certain doom, his keen eyes noting the effect upon the face of Ethel, who sat directly before the pulpit. The girl paled, and trembled visibly, and her eyes, filled with terror and dread, seemed fascinated by the speaker's relentless gaze. "When his voice softened and he talked tenderly of the divine forgiveness which is the fruit of confession and repentance, the girl's eyes dropped and she struggled vainly to hide her emotion. The close of the service found her sobbing convulsively upon her mother's shoulder.
v ' ' The dear girl is so tender-hearted and Norrine 's trouble has affected her so deeply," Mrs. Gerhart explained
to the minister, when he approached them.
"Please let me speak to her," he said, quietly. "I think I can soothe her."
"What is it, Ethel?" the minister asked gravely, drawing the girl aside. "Is it pity for your disgraced schoolmate that affects you so deeply?"
"Yes," sobbed the girl, "I am so sorry for her."
"It is a great pity," the man's earnest voice continued. "Here is this young girl, with her name disgraced, her life ruined because she is known as a thief. Her mother 's heart is breaking as she watches Norrine fade away. I doubt if the poor girl can live long unless something can be done to clear her name. ' '
Ethel's sobs grew stronger, but no light of pity came into the eyes which were regarding her so intently.
1 ' Have you ever thought that there might be some mistake about Norrine 's guilt ? " he questioned. ' ' What a fine thing it would be if this sorrow could be lifted from the poor girl! If any girl has laid this burden upon Norrine unjustly she must be as miserable now as Norrine is. If the guilty one should confess, she would redeem her own soul."
Still the sobbing girl did not speak.
"Ethel," said the minister with sudden sharpness, ' ' look up at me!"
He slipped a gentle hand beneath her chin, lifting her tear-stained face, compelling her eyes to meet his magnetic gaze.
"Tell me the truth," he commanded, "tell me the whole truth, at once. Norrine will forgive you; we will all forgive you when you right this wrong that you have done."
The intensity of his gaze compelled the girl's obedience.
Kneeling there in the little chapel, Ethel told all, and sought Norrine 's forgiveness. How sincere was the confession, how complete the forgiveness may best be judged by the fact that when Norrine and the Rev. Robert Read were married, in the spring, in that same chapel, Ethel was maid-of -honor.