"Not for that," he bitterly answered, "but for this I was taken to the Foundlings' Home--was taken from that place to become the disgraceful property of an Italian hag. She taught me, compelled me to be a thief. Once she and some ruffians robbed a store and forced me to help them. I ought to have died before that. She demanded that I should steal something every day, and if I didn't she beat me. I got up early one morning and robbed _her_. I took a handful of money out of her drawer and ran away. But in the street a horror seized me, and I threw the money in the gutter and fled from it. Don't you see that I was born a thief? But I have striven so hard since then to be an honorable man. But don't try not to pity, to despise me. You can't help it. But, my God, I do love you!" She turned toward him with a glory in her eyes, and he caught her in his arms. The old building was silent, and the shout of the newsboy was far away. "Angel of sweet mercy," he said, still holding her in his arms, "let us leave this struggling place. I know of an old house in Virginia--it is near the sea, and rest lies in the woods about it. Let us live there, not to dream idly, but to work, to be a devoted man and his happy wife. Come." He took her hand, and they went out into the hall. The place was deserted, the elevator was not running, and down the dark stairway he led her--out into the light of the street. =THE END.= * * * * * =The Standard Library of Mystery= =PRACTICAL ASTROLOGY= By COMTE C. DE SAINT-GERMAIN, the recognized leading authority on all occult subjects. A plain, practical thorough work on this all absorbing topic. Over 100 illustrations. Cloth, special cover in colors, $1.00 Paper, lithographed cover in five colors, .50 =THE STUDY OF PALMISTRY= =For Professional Purposes and Advanced Pupils= By COMTE C. DE SAINT-GERMAIN. The highest, authority on Palmistry. This excellent work was formerly issued in two volumes at $7.50. New edition, two volumes bound in one superb imperial octavo volume. Silk cloth, polished top, 1200 illustrations, $3.56 =PRACTICAL PALMISTRY= =A new edition (65th thousand)= By COMTE C. DE SAINT-GERMAIN, author of that standard authority, _The Study of Palmistry_. Hand-reading made easy and popular. Cloth, 71 illustrations, among them 16 hands of celebrities, unique cover, 75c =PRACTICAL HYPNOTISM.= =Theories. Experiments, Full Instructions= By COMTE C. DE SAINT-GERMAIN. From the works of the great medical authorities on the subject. Clear, simple style that will interest everybody. _How to produce and to stop Hypnotic Sleep._ How to cure disease by its use. Cloth, special cover design in colors, 75c