The Washington herald., 1908-08-07
MOX'S VACATION.

how absurd IL would be to expect TIE or
ganized charities TO take proper care of
q convalescent.
Mox- lust coming out OF the ether.
clutched the strong hand with his b0ny
fingers and smiled hopefully I guess
yO1-u have a good time, he smiled
-GoOd-by. Mr. VardOn-"
Eardon patted the claw-Iike fingers but
he did not echo the g0od-by, though he
turned away. A scheme was working Ia
his brain and he walked home that be
might think the better
It seemed Ike murder TO tUra the lad
out or the hospital as soon as the condi-
ton Of the wound made IL practicable.
yet he could not blame the hospital aE-
thorities- They were crowded for room
and the sunstrOke eases were taxing
their capacity EardOa wanted very
much 10 see Bess- Somehow IL seemed
as though he might open his heart to her
with a better chance OF success II v2ca-
ton time. AID al the year he had been
planning the trip He had nearly SOC
saved up. for the Curtains were wealthy
and spent the sumner Al an expensive
resort Yet il did not seem right to spend
all the money when il might be the price
Of Moxie Sol0mOn's life.
With a sudden determination he turned
I into a side street and presently he vas
/ in the charity organization Office The
! superintendent was interested. but help
I less Like the hospital, the demands
were greater than their resources He
might send M0x away for two weeks
with one OF the fresl-air parties More
/ than that he could not dO-Unless VzrdOn
cared 20 raise a subscription. When Var
don turned away il was with a receipt
I for more than half his vacation money
( In his pocket Nox's stay in the coun-
| Try until his leg was well was assured
/ II vas hard 70 have 10 write Bess that
/ he was not coming II was harder stu
I TO explain without seeming TO ask her
{ appreciation Of his action In the end he
said nothing Of the reasons simply writ
I ing that unexpected developments made
I IL impossible for hiu 20 come
8Iox's delight al the news Of his vaca-
ton brought a feeling OF warmth TO Var
dOn's heart. but il did not relieve the
ache when Bess' cold reply came Sle
I had not understood ard was angry that
he should have changed his plans at the
last moment
Vard0n spent his two weeks al a cheap
resort near town and came back 70 take
up the office grind again Bess had not
replied 20 his last letter. and though
Moxs beaming face as he departed On
The train for the country home repaid
part OF the sacrifice, the dull ache re-
mained.
The next few weeks dragged miserabIy.
then one morning there was q letter az
his plate az the breakfast table that. for
a moment seemed 10 stop The action OF
his heart
Bess was coming 70 town on Friday
and she suggested that they might lunch
together and he could take her 70 g roof
garden in the evening
I have q lot 10 tel you" she wrote
4 met one o. your friends Up here and
want 70 tel you what be said I snail
save il for lunch
Somehow the days dragged by. but
Friday cane at last Sitting across the
table from her EardOn could not realize
his good fortune
7 thought you were angry he said
as he leaned forward
I was she admitted frankly. 7 was
counting so much On YOUR visit I had
made no other plans for those two weeks.
and when your letter came and YOU did
not even offer an explanation Of your
I rudeless I could not understand Il Il
seemed as though You wanted 10 hurt
ny feelings.
Gould you think That he cried re-
pTOachfuIly-
I an afraid" she confessed shyly.
that IN my disappoiutuent / was not
fair. Then your friend came and i was
! al explained
Who was that2~ he asked curiousIy.
l-4 ---t- AE---E----4fS- --e-Ha--e -4a.4
one OF his real reason
- gentle-aa by the name Of Solo
mon" she smiled. -8IOxie Solomon. !
= believe II IS"
What is 8Iox doing II your part Of
the country he demanded 7 under
: + stood that he was al 1elrOse-
That IS just below Us We drove
, over there one day 10 see tHe kiddies and
: |-Mox told his story
VardOl moved awkwardly IN his chair
He did not want 70 be praised, even by
BeSs.
7 suppose NIox put q lot OF trimmings
70 it, he said. after q pause
He was very truthful" she said. s-nil-
ing softly He said that you were The
best man ne knew"
And you think so. too2- HIS voice
trenbled with eager1ess. Bess nodded.
Good enOUgh-for a husband. your
husba1dT'
7 think 50. Dick she whispered
, That's what 7 came 10 town 20 tell you;
70 make Up for your lost vacation
Lost vacation he echoed Why,
Mox's vacation was the most selfish thing
ever did. since It won me YOU
,CopyrsEted by c. Il Surcl1eJ