The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-08-01

dun dawn swirling up from the river,
with smells Of mixed salt--Dr. Rast
walked rapidly home. His face was
White, his eyes red. He showed the
marks OF the struggle, for he trembled
as he hurried along. Il had been a very
great fight-the victory shifting TO and
ifo- Time and again he hurled himself
IN with all the strength Of his soul, and
recoiled, daZed, banled, half conquered.
1t seemed at times that the child must
surely die, or the woman be crippled
Tor life. The first of these ne refused
to tolerate-he would not shut d soul
out Of life; the last was too terrible 70
think ot-fOr if the woman were Grip
pied the whole family would at once
sink as into QuiCksands and be among
the debris Of society. So he got, as it
were, his second wind, and with every
nerve alive, his head clear, his hands
precise and quick. he fought face 10
face with the enemy. He had to win
so he did wini He came out Of 1t, as
from a swing from star to star down
eternity. as from a furnace, but he came
VIGOROUSLY. Hence he trembled and
was white and feverish when Nell let
him in.
oh" she cried. in a wild fright
You've been killing yourself"
She helped him to his chair, and he
dropped into il heavily. She crowded
over him as a mother over q sick child
quick, anxious, stricken.
'Shuh!' he said feebly. NO fuss, Nell
I couldn't stand it! No fuss. Listen,
ne smiled family; Il won't
And he made her sit down in the re-
vo!ving chair while he told her the story
of the night. As she listened she
thrilled through and through-the color
rushed to her cheeks and as suddenly
disappeared-she breathed quickly-she
held herself taut and tense.
1t was war" she cried at length,
but a new kind-glorious! And you
are a great general-yOu're a Napoleon,
Oh. I'm proud OF you, Morris
Yes" he smiled sadly; ''and I didn't
leave hundred thousand dead on the
field saved one child's life"
They sat in silence.
Now won't you take some coffee?
she asked anxiously.
i suppose 1 will" he said very weak
~, trying TO smile again. But ne didn't
smile; he lay back limp.
She got him to bed then, and he drank
the coffee, feebly telling her all the time
how he hated "fussing."
Then at last she put her arm under
his head
SO the doctors not going to the
country" she said. very sadly, with
tears in her eyes. ooh, you needn't tell
me- see it all over you. And / know
just what you are going to say"
His smile was a radiant one.
Nell" he said huskily. you're the
wife 1 want and need. Now listen. This
state of things down here is a great bat
tie, isn't it? A terrible battle-no battle
in histOry-nO Gettysburg or Austelitz
as awful. as fruited with death and
mangling and slaughter-no battle ever
fought so horrible, just because this is
an invisible battle-hidden away-be-
hind walls-in cellars-in garTets-in
factories, Isn't that true?'
"Shuh Don't get so excited" she
warned him, kissing him.
But it's so, little wife-it is SOL And
I'm a trained soldier-Tm fitted 10 fight
Il know those people, understand all
-and-they love me, they love met
we all love you" she cried fervently.
and a tear splashed on him.
ooh. and I think, Nell, I think'-he
paused. and then spoke in a voice of
awe-"that maybe God is in this, too.
Our modern men of God perhaps are the
settlement workers, the magazine writ
ers, the doctors. And you see it's so
edeCtive-we don't preach to them. We
go and do something; take God to them
give them probationary giving them
a big let-up-and a let-Up means an up
lift-and backing it with love, with ser
vice, with - with"-he srniled-'I'm
afraid Pm getting churchy-yes, with
Tenunciation.'
There was a silence; Nell was crying
softly.
Now listen" he continued. Here's
the battle-here am I, the trained fighter
I've been in it, ] know it all, I'm need
ed-now snail I fight or fiy?"
She spoke TREMENDOUSLY through sobs.
And lam I not a fighter?"
Yes. Nell,' he said fervently. 81
couldn't fight without you. You're the
geneTal-yOU manage things-yoU do the
brain work-I'm only the fighter"
"Oh, you dear boyi" she cried, fling
ing her arms about him. I'VE won't
desert
That's it," he said at length. And
as for honeywell, I'll be striCter after
this, for charity's the worst thing on
earth, and only help when it isn't chart
~. I will. and you'll manage the rest"
Morris" she cried with sudden gage
ty, weren't we fools last night? Selfish,
mean. despicable back-waterers?
And she kissed him soUndly, and they
laughed softly.