The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-09-27
nent. You oon,t mean

Oakley and his father who brought the
rellef train? The old man is dead. He
was killed on the way. It's miracle
that either of them got through alive.
Hadn't you heard?'
Constance put out her hands blindly.
for sudden mist had come before her
eyes.
Father, you don't mean that Mr..
Oakley has returned to Antioch-that
he is here now?"
Eyes, it seems no one else would
come. Oakley was in Chicago when he
first heard of the fire and started i'm
mediately for Buckhorn, where he
found the relief train. Oddly enough,
he found his father there too
"Then there was something to the
old man after ALL" said Mrs. Emory.
whose sympathies We're as generous as
they We're easily aroused.
"a good deal, should say. He must
have known that he was coming back
to arrest and almost certain conyic-
tion'
Constance's glance searched her ia
theirs face. She wanted to hear more
of Oakley. Her heart was hungering
for news of this man who had risked
his life to save them. All her lingering
tenderness, the unwilling growth of
many days, was sweeping away the
barriers of her pride. mfr. Oakley was
not hurt:" she questioned breathlessly,
pale to the lips.
"He is pretty badly shaken up, and
No l..
the morning."
Where is he now?" she asked.
Her father turned to her.
"Oakley- You look tired out, Con-
stance. Do go to bed. I'll tell you all
about it in the morning"
where is he now, papa?" she ques-
toned, going to his side and clasping
her hands about his arm
"Down at the shop They carried his
father there from the train"
why didn't you have them bring
him here?" said Mrs. Emory quickly.
after this won't listen to word
against either of them. would like to
show the town just how we feel in the
matter"
II suggested it, but Oakley wouldn't
hear to it. But don't worry about the
town. It's gone wild. You should have
seen the crowd on the platform when
it saw Oakley in the engine cab. 1t
went stark mad"
Again Constance's eyes swan with
tears. The strike, the murder of Ry-
der, the fire, had each seemed in turn
q part of the tragedy of her life at An
tioch, but Oakleys return was wholly
glorious
Her father added, 81 shall see Oak
ley in the morning and learn if we can
be of any service to him.
A little later, when Constance went
to her own room, she drew forward a
chair and seated herself by the win
dow. Across the town, on the edge of
the flats" she saw dimly the long,
dark outline Of the railroad shop, with
Its single tall chimney She thought
OF Oakley as alone there keeping watch
at the side of the grim old murderer
who had SO splendidly redeemed him
self by this last sacrifice
Great clouds of black smoke were
still rolling over the town, and the
woods were still blazing fiercely In the
distance. Beyond her window she
heard the call of frightened birds as
they futtered to and fro in the dull
red light, and farther off, in the north
end, the muffled !hrobbing Of the fire
engines.
If she had had any doubts as to her
feeling for Oakley these doubts were
now thing of the past She knew
that she loved him. She had been pet
ty and vain. She had put the small
things of life against the great, and
this was her punishment. She tried to
comfort herself with the thought that
she should see him in the morning.
Then she could tell him ALL But what
could she tell him? The time had gone
by when she could tell him anything.
1t was almost morning when she I'M
dressed and threw herself down on her
bed. She was disconsolate and miser-
able, and the future seemed quite bar
rem of hope or happiness. Love had
come to her, and she had not known
its presence. Yes, she would tell Oak
ley that she had been little and narrow
and utterly unworthy. He had cared
for her, and perhaps he would UNDER
stand. She fell asleep thinking this
and did not waken until her mother
called her for breakfast.
II am waiting for your father. He
has gone down to see Mr. Oakley"
Mrs. Emory said when she entered the
dining room. Constance glanced at the
table.
lis he going to bring Mr.. Oakley
back with him p she asked nervously.
HE expected to. declare, Con-
stance, you look worn out. Didn't you
sleep wellY'
mo, not very. | wonder II they are
comingY'
You might go look" said her moth
er. And Constance hurried into the par
lor. She was just in time to see her
father enter the gate. He was alone.