Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-24

There should be no further delay. He
would act now. He was determined that
his should not be his fathers story over
again.
The dark of moonless night crept up
the land and chill fear laid hold of him.
The words. haif-heard In the old field.
seemed to be written before him In letters
of fire as he sprang toward his horse;
then-there was the swift rush of light feet,
and a white figure flashed through the trees
straight into his arms
Take me quick, Jim, before they miss
me- Hurry! Hurryr'-and without oues-
ton, he swung her up to the saddle, ana
thew were of, through the warm sweet
ness of the bluegrass meadows. .out and
along the white pike under the stars,
while the gray's swift hoofs sent brighter
flashes behind him until far ahead, the
lights of Lynford began to shine.
Jim felt her stir against his breast, anu
then she spoke. ''Oh! Jim, what Will you
think of me. that have made you take me
at last? But they forced me to do II.
Father gave me no warning until tonignt,
when lust a little while ago. he told me to
go to my room and prepare for my mar
riage with Rob Waltham; that Waitnam
and the minister would be there by =
o'clock. 1t is now. and they have surely
missed me by this time. Be good to me-
dear. and ride. ride for our lives! tell
you, 1 won't live as that mans wife, even
if they overtake us and kill YOU
No answer but the closer pressure OF the
strong arm that held her there, and the
gray galloped into the main street WITH the
double burden and up to the court mouse
Elopements were not novel In that poroer
county, but the marriage OF the son or
John Lawrence to the daughter of his HE.
long enemy, Slas Gray, startled the Qules
little town with a sensation such as II nau
not known for many day. IN HNe NH.
utes a curious crowd was hanging drouuu
the corridors and overlooking the clerk .
Office where a hastily summoned minister
read the short service before the INK on tse
license had time to dry AS tne ias. "o thaf
left his lips. through the little hush thae
followed the catter VI hard-drlVen horses
came UP the street. and Silas Gray anu
Robert Waltham ran up the steps, oniy "
be caught and held by hlty pairs VI n ntn.,s
at once their protests drowned In STORM
of argument> while other volunteers SNUG
gled Jim and Alice out at the rear entrance
where the horse awaited, harnessed 10
light buggy.
The colonel lay in the dim light OF the
shaded lamp. A little breeze through the
window ruffied his white hair ana proushe
to him the fragrance of the great yelo"
the katydids chirruped. and farther down:
by the pond, a chorus of frogs druHfHeo VI
a rain to come The old man lay gazing;
wide-eyed out into the night HIS race na9
lost its grim keenness, the gray palior hao
given place to an ivory Wilderness
The sound of wheels broke the quiet
and the watching eyes turned toward the
door and a look of wonder grew In them,
ed Jims. There was something ABOUT
that voice that touched an old nerve
a nerve that should have been long aeau'
but never had ceased to ache Inc 1907
stems came closer hesitated and then the
door opened wider, and Jim came IN, lead
ing q slender white figure.
= "Father, this is my wife. Inc nght
of the lamp fell full on the girlsh race
and there-line for line, deep brown eyes
under the mass of red curls. dark level
brows and the sweet firm mouth, the wom-
an of his. lost youth stood before him.
MARY! My Nary Jim tried 20 reacn
him, but too late. The tau hgure tot.e req
floor The shock had done what the doc
tors skill never could do; 1t released the
locked tongue and dead muscles 10 HE
again A few minutes later ne opened ms
eyes Jim noted. with a sinking heart, the
gray shadow about the mouth, deaths GER
tain forerunner. 49,
..Father, can you understand me?'
yes" the answer came slowly eheh'
Jim where Is she-Mary?
Jim took the quivering hand In both or
his. Mot Mary. father, but Mary's chiid'
my wife" ,,
"Your wife. silas Gray's daughter?'
There was no anger In the uncertain
tones only great wonder.
Yes, Alice Lawrence now And Jim toid
him of the events that had led to his hasty
marriage.
Lust like Silas," grunted the old man.
Then he lay still, holding his sons hand in
clinging clasp that was like dagger
thrust to Jim, struggling with nus puIoe.
Of remorse and deception. He couid not let
his father die in ignorance of what ne had
done: vet he could not break into the peace
and trust that now lay between them.
The old man turned his head restlessly
and looked long at the bowed one peIore
him "Jim''-the voice was growing weaker
that was the reason l would not lease
the old field Mary and l played there when
we were children. We fished all along that
creek many a summer day, and after IL was
all over and Mary was dead and your
mother gone too, somehow l forgot that l
had been angry and sore with my little girl
sweetheart. l could only remember now
sweet she was, and used to sit out there
on the porch and look away out there where
knew the creek ran through the Old field,
trickling over the stones just as 1t used 10,
and l would think of her as a little girl
again. instead of over yonder in Plsgah
churchyard, under the stone that tells the
world that she was the wife OF Silas Gray.
didn't treat you right about it, my boy.
should have told you why l could not bear
to have that field torn up by their ma
chinery and made CHASTITY with their der
ricks; so l masked 1t with stubbornness.
Jim know you have carried heavy heart
through all this time, and l could not move
tongue or hand to tell you that l knew
what you had done, and what you were try
ing to hide from me. l have tried so hard
to make YOU understand that ! knew what
you were doing down there in the old field.
Why Jim, l was aware of the first derrick
that was planted there, and glad of 1t for
your sake Now bring Mary's daughter
here l want" moan finished the
sentence.
Alice, Alice" Jim called sharply as he
caught his father in his arms The old
hands CROPPED out toward the bright head
that bowed beside him a moment, then the
dimming eyes LOOKED past her to some one
lust beyond And the shadow passed over.
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