The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1908-08-20

eaAl,eeaelle liil = ~. -. - /
play foe Mn u sweee Qelellss @
The long go u thsy sas aloas IN ~
dim light and Quistude Of loves ~
piness.
Two flfty I'm offered for this par
rot and the cage" shouted the AUG
tioneer in noisy duency. breaking
in upon the Doctors wandering
thoughts. do hear three dollars!"
Two nifty. two nifty! Do I hear three!
Three dollars I am offered; three dol.
lars Is bid! going at three dollars!"
he sang on. interpreting an unde-
signed nod on the part Of the doctor
Is bid at the higher figure. Going
going At three dollars! Three dol
lars! Going. going-gone!-to Doctor
Hartman
The doctor started in surprise and
was about to protest. ~ the cage with
the parrot was brought forward and
placed with the other things he had
bought. Checking himself, however.
in order to avoid possible controversy,
he accepted the situation without
comment He had not meant to buy
the bird, nor did he want It. 1t had for
him no association with Ann Motley;
for, in truth. according to the state
ment Of the auctioneer, It was corn
paratively recent acquisition. Never.
theless. 1t Was now his; and thinkin8
to dispose Of It in time to some one
who might care for It. he had it taken
to his home with the other purchases.
In tho solitude Of his library. breath.
ing now an atmosphere Of another
presence and Of other days, he opened
her desk. With trembling hands and
with . disquieting sense Of profana'
ton, every drawer. every recess was
carefully, tenderly, explored; but bic
search was fruitless. There was moth
ing-nothing for him: no message. no
word, no token, not even his own let
tiers, to comfort him with the belief
that she had retained some lingering
regard for his memory. Was it then true.
as his embittered soul had feared.
that she had gone without loving him.
without remembering, without forgtv.
ing him? @.,.f -.r
He closed the desk and sank upon
his knees. A convulsive sob shook
his bent frame: and, throwing himself
forward, he buried his face in his arms
upon the little rockingham that had
once been hers.
About him were the deepening shad.
ows Of twilight and the hush Of even
tide. The old furniture Of Ann Mot
ley, with its generations Of hallowsd
memories, lent. . mellow sancdty 10
the stiffness Of the room; and In the
enshrouding calmness, with the facs
Of sweet Ann Motley looking down up
on him from the desk beside him. Ais
heart poured forth it, anguish in d,
lent, sebbing tears.
Then suddenly voice, low and
quavering afar Of, broke softly upon
the Swallowed silence:
Grant, o Lord, that no may yet
come back to me and know that I
love and forgive him"
For q moment after the voice had
ceased the doctor remained motion.
less. The slight flutter OF wings and
the tapping Of beak upon the bars
Of q cage alone disturbed the ensuing
quiet Then, raising his head. the doc
tor clasped his hands before him In
sudden fervency. and % his eyes wsrs
lifted up to heaven. filed with tho
light Of q strange awakening. . smile
Of illumining peace shono upon bic
counteaance: and % spirit conmun'
Ing with spirit his face grew bsautt
full In the softening radiance Of revela'
ton. and upon his parted lips there
trembled . soul.uttered Z praysr-
aa answering message Of love and
thanksgiving. 5}et