Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1900-05-24

every one VINO gets tnC CIuHte W CHoOSe.
The following day Mark Barriston un
packed his books and set himself to study
furiously. But how might one study
books when day by day nature turned
over a freshcr and still more enchanting
page Of her own inimitablc volume: But
it was not wholly the charms of nature
which made Mark Barriston change hi,
mind about accepting a temporary resi-
Icnce on the farm in the North belonging
to his father. 1t was quite casually ht
learned that this farm which his father
had but lately purchased was near an
other belonging to and occupied 10y Ed
ward Thorn.
He told himself he would not attempt
to see Della, but it must be admitted il
was little difficult to avoid doing SC
when he was obliged to pass her home
every time he went to or returned from
town. The romance was an innocent one,
and as sweet as it was innocent. Ram
bles along the creck-a search for the
latest howcrs-thc stcadying clasp of Il
hand in abrupt descent or ascent-the
discovery Of mutual taStes-snatrhes Of
song-thp hutter of her sash ribbon
against his hand-silences embarrassing
but delicious, and-that was all.
Only Edward Thorn used to remark to
his wife that really that girl was growing
too pretty to he useful, and the man on
John Barriston's north farm averrel he
'ncver seen that kind Of farmer afore."
1t was he who blunderngly precipitatetl
the climax of the situation. lie had rid
den over to John Barriston's relative to u
| shipment of cattle.
You'd better go through to Chicago
with the stock. Dam" his master said.
'My son can attend to things until you
get back"
He can, II he takes time enough from
pickin' posies with Della Thorn"
"What." screamed John Barriston.
What"
IL didn't think. sir" Dan had shamble,l
up aghast. Il forgot the bad blood
atweeil---"
Saddle my horse-quck: This min
ute! Quick!
| Five minutes later nc was riding north
at brcakncck speed.
| Mark CHANGED to meet Della Mt the
abandoned bridge down by the walnut
| grove, when his father came tearing
along Rnt when that father dropped
| from his sweating horse. SO shaken WAS
uc Dv puSSltIl-Sb TuCkcu ~ IdSe-u ne
| could not utter one syllable.
"What-what is the matter?" Della
turned appenlingly to Mark. She had
never been told of the enmity between the
| houses.
Mover mrnl-now. Go home" he said
in the tone of authority no man dare use
except to one woman. and she that one
to whom he is most madly enslaved, most
willingly subservient-she who holds his
life in her fingers as one may hold rose.
Stop cried John Barriston.
| He burst out into storm Of abuse of
his son--her father-herself. There was
no stemming the tide of his fury. 1t
came down in a sweeping tlood-a parti-
ally incoherent fury, it is true. but none
the less NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Once
| Mark strove to speak-twice. In vain.
Suddenly he tnrned-held ont his hands
to the girl lie had never spoken one
word OF love to her. He spoke none now.
| But there was that In his eyes which no
| woman needs words to interpreted look
| that was ut once surrender and de-
mand.
! The old man saw the gesture-saw the
look. 4 silence fell upon him. Indeed.
there was no sound hetwiXt earth and
sky just then save his heavy breathing.
Mark put his arm around DELLA, drew
her to him. And he faced his father, not
irreverently, but fearlessly.
"She has done you no wrong. father
he cried, "she-nor l. You said you would
| curse mo. Ii you must-curse us. We
.an bear it better for sharing it,
Again, as that day in the cemetery on
| ~: III, l.:
aloft
A little, luttering cry broke from the
girl.
"Papa-here is papa"
And there. indeed, stood Edward
Thorn.
He saw the young people. He saw the
xaunt old form towering before them. lie
saw the hand uplifted in wordless male.
diction.
: They heard one wild word-saw Mark
Barriston spring forward. Then the old
man, tottering down, was caught in the
strong arms OF his son and lowered to
the ground. His face was purple. Hia
teeth were clinched. There was a foam
Oh his lips.
Although Rarriston was borne at once
to his sons bed. although the physician
drove over in hot haste, and all was done
that could be done, it was many months
before a CLEAN Of consciousness irradiat.
ed his cOuntenance-before he gazed in
telligently into the faces which came and
went at his bedside. Della was sitting
with him one radiant January day. Her
! right hand held book She felt touch
upon the left which rested on his coverlid
ID caressing touch.
"A pretty hand" she heard voice
murmur. "Annie had pretty hands. An
ME" The murmurous sound trailed
off into silence. And he slept.
In March John RarristOn was moved
back to his old home. He was wasted,
frail, patient to the point Of pathos. lie
heard all his son had to say on business
matters. gave replies that we're clear and
logical, hut left to Mark every arrange
ment-every decision. In April, when the
lilac trees in the front garden were pur-
pie and fragrant. he went out for the first
time. Mark drove him. Neither spoke
OF the winter passed-nor of what had
led up to his seizure. In May he was
abe to sit out on the front porch-his one
book on his knee. On the morning OF
Decoration day Mark was surprised to
find him up early and dressed in his old
uniform.
"Why. father" he cried. "you can't
think Of going in to the ceremonies"