The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1906-03-14

stopping her" Landon, the city friend.
said, breathing hard, sand 1t would be
worse sacrilege to let her stay here.
Can't you see her. dancing on floor OF
mems hearts?''
Tom broke from his hold with lit
tie uneasy laugh.
At the sound Miranda stopped, panic
stricken, blushing SO deeply her rouge
showed pale 'You-you'll help Inc get
upon one foot, arms up, arms down or
extended as though in entreaty.
On, on, on, she bent and swayed, now
stamping one tiny foot, now pirouetting
with untaught grace, unconscious that
two pairs of eyes watched her from the
ambush Of heavy curtains swung across
O deep window seat. They were mas
culine eyes-Tom Brixton and his city
friend, just back from globe trotting,
had found harbor there. They gazed
spellbound at Miranda, then breathless-
" at each other.
SIT is a miracle" Tom whispered at
last, zone that shows how blood will
tell. know our dancer She's old
Parson Carter's granddaughter, the
prettiest girl In the county. Let's go
out and take possession Of her. We
understand, but if the others saw-my!
There would be kettle Of fish!'
"Re stilli IT is sacrilege to think Of
away-back home-I-I had to come"
she painted.
Tom took her hand kindly and put
his arm half about her. Then in through
the door came the old minister in his
rusty black coat, the picture of stern,
yet benignant, amaze until he caught
sight of his granddaughter. Then a
wave of wrath swept him into speech.
Miranda, came to pluck you a
brand from the burning-but, oh, you
wantonl You have made it certain you
will burn for this in everlasting fires"
He swung upon his heel, but turned
back, saying DULY, 81 shall be visiting
when you choose to come-home."
Miranda sprang toward him, but
Landon restrained her. You will only
make things worse" he said. Listen!
Tom Brixton will vouch for me-that
mean You no harm in what say. Let
me take you away-to the city. 1t is
the place for such as you. Here life
will be a burden to you and those
around you. There you may be happy
and famous ana rich"
Lets get out Of this" Brixton said,
opening locked door that led to his
fathers Office and drawing the minis
ter and Landon within it. Miranda fol
lowed them, moving like one in a
dream. There were low, earnest words,
whose import she did not catch, then
somehow she was whisked off to the
parsonage.
She did not sleep that night Next
morning she was on a train speeding
cityward, wondering If she ever should
see her native town again.
Miranda must have been born under
a specially lucky star, for she was per-
mitted to come back seven years later
to the succor of those she had left be-
hind. Her parents had come home, all
their strength and use Slapped by the
cruel east, to rest, they said; to die,
said those about them.
Parson Carter was in little better
case New men, methods, measures
had crowded him from the place he
loved so WELL Now, for two years past
Miranda's bounty had maintained him.
He knew the source of it, although he
never mentioned her name. She was
no mere dancer, but an actress who
had conquered her place in the world.
Landon had lived up to his word-he
had made her rich and famous, albeit
he had been unable to make her love
him.
nfHxy hn rNsN%N1 n npscfo and
Brixton might possibly have enlight-
ened him. 1t was Tom who kept Mi
randa in touch with what went on in
the little brown cottage, and when he
said simply Gomez she knew some
thing of what to expect.
But not all. No fancy could paint
for her the mother face, wan and full
Of mother longing, or show the father,
thin and bowed, with yet something of
soldier fire in his faded eyes. Grand
father Carter was pitifully aged. The
almost bloodless.
Miranda came in to them, not a
creature of silk and lace, but in the
same stuff frock she had worn upon
her outgoing. AS she looked from one
to another her heart rose in her throat.
Instinctively she ran and caught her
mother in her arms, kneeling to lay
her head upon the thin breast and sob
out, II am never going away again
if you will let me stay"
''No, she isn't going, whatever you
say" Tom interposed. He was a COM
mon sense person and knew things
were getting too tense. we been
waiting for her long enough-all of
seven years. Now 1 mean to have her,
whether or not it's by your leave"
''Take her, although she is not ours
to give. We were the deserters," Mrs.
Acton said. while the two ministers