Los Angeles herald., 1906-02-11

head was bent and his eyes were fixed dreanilv
on the chinks Of light that played about the
stove-doors.
"Hiraml" The hoarse word came like chal
lenge. It beat down the silence of years.
The old man looked up vaguely He pcered
across in the uncertain light
The figure before the other stove sat erect
and rigid. Her gaze stared at space and her
mouth worked harshly. T-don't -think-y
waste blame" The words came slowly, out of
rebelous depths ''You didn't know-shed
take 1.-THE way She"
He had CROPPED his way to her. Don't. Han
nah,"-his hand was seeking hers-"don't say no
more. / can't stand i'll" He dropped to his
knees and buried his face.
GIVE got to say til can't stop" Her rigid
gaze looked out over the bowed head. "Ive said
! never would, but I've got TO. And made IN
my mind-to-day-in the tran.-that If She could
be made to hear I'd tell We I was sorry. Oh, an
be, bc!' The stern figure shook, and she
covered her breaking face in her hands
The thin old fingers reached up and drew
them down. Don't you cry, Hannah, don't you
cry. can't stand it, he pleaded. I'D ruther
have you not speak word than feel that way
bout it. knew we loved me" he added gently,
fright along But you wouldn't speak, nor an
swer, an ] got out o the way of it. But |
knew-I knew. Now, don't you feel bad any
more" He stroSed her hair softly.
He got up stiffiy and, going over, brought his
rockingham and placed it beside hers on the
bit of bright carpet There" he said, that's
where that belongs" He laughed tremulously.
''Hiram,"-she spoke in half.whisper-"do
you suppose she'll be cured?"
He looked thoughtfully into the fire and rock
ed gently. 81 don't know, Hannah. 1 don't
know" he said at last "But the Lord amt 60
ing to punish little child like for our bein'
fools. That's what you was worrying about,
want it?'
Eyes"
always know what you're thinkn' bout Don't
you worry no more, Hannah. There amt even
a man mean enough to do that, and the Lord
won't"
She gave long. tremulous sigh. Tt seems
real good to hear you say it," she said humbly.
Six years later famous Doctor was driving
along the country road. He looked at the fields
and woods on either side, and scanned the houses
as they came in sight. He was looking for the
home of a child on whom he had operated six
years before
He had been spending his vacation in neigh
boring hitown, and it occurred to him this
morning to drive over and look up the child. He
had never forgotten her eyes, nor the stern faces
of the grandfather and grandmother who brought
her to him. He had often wondered whether
the operation had been permanently successful
and whether the child happy. He had
somehow suspected the tragedy under the two
grim faces, and had thought of the child as hv-
ing in the shadow of it.
A turn of the road brought into view large,
weathergray house with long, soping gables and
big elm over the front door. A gentle turn on
the reins guided the horse towards the low,
tumble-down fence. The Doctor leaned forward,
looking with interest at the big house. The yard
at the side was filled with trees and shrubs and
tangled vines and long, old-fashioned garden
stretched away in the rear.
"Whoa," said the Doctor softly. A figure
among the trees had caught his eye. 1t was an
old man standing under pear tree, looking up
into its branches. His face was gentle and con-
tented and irradiated with a kind of soft happi-
ness. child stood at his side, gazing up at
him admirngly.
The old mans eyes were fixed on black mass
that swayed and stirred in the upper branches
He looked down at the child Run and tell
your grandma the bees have swarmed.'' he said
The child ran obediently away. Grandma
oh grandma" she called. Her Joyous voice
hoated the call across the long garden.
The man brought ladder and assembled the
tree When the child reappeared with her grand
mother he was coming slowly down, the heavy
branch held carefully in his hand. The bees
there.
won't they sting him, grandma?" asked the
child, breathless.
"Nothing stings him." replied the old woman
proudly. "Shall I open the hive, Hiram
'Let Myra do it, said the old man, smiling;
"she wants to learn"
With round eyes, half frightened and half
awed, the child lifted the top of the hive.
Slowly the bees dropped into it, one by one,
to seek the queen. Some of them still hummed
obviously about. They lighted the child and
on the old man and on the woman. But one
brushed them off and afraid.
With smile the great Doctor gathered up the
reins and drove slowly away. "a very success
full operation he said to himself. He looked
back at the old house and the three figures stand
ing under the pear tree, the light of happiness in
their faces. "a very successful operation" he
repeated softly.