The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-11-13


and Winter seemed in the airand when the night be-
gan to ia and lanes furniture was sParss distributed
Uane herself being busy the ki,chen). Stephen lit
the FIRE on his hearth and sat down before with
thrill OF satisfaction.
fell upon him. The first stanza of his poem herY
sung by the roaring flames. On the white walls the
Shadows OF the tall androns danced sro,esquely. ia
miliary OF old The man'el with its figure.
song Of the Gins outside was the same
Tears dimmed his eyes big lump hlled his throat
seemed to have .Iunphed over times DEGREES the
home reconstructed the past. that Martha might At
any steal into the room, light of step as Of
DID, to sit the of his chair and ask with that
tenderness OF sympathy which always melted his heart
shoulder.
mother of his children but Martha the wife Of hi.
youth. the Madonna of his dreams She associated
The whole earth young that marvellous May when
they two adventured into this and fertile land
meadows Iay in her name and around her rep,se .,
fingered such hearness of cheer. such neehboness
days!
He sat so long in dreams that the red sky and fire
grew gray and the good people in the kitchen became
with an abssn, minded smile the dreamer rose stiff nth
home eai to the wife OF hi. present 10 "'
He came again the next day. and the next and the
next Ieperusng with inareua.e pain and pleasure his
story in stone and steel his epic in pungens pine baskng
nerveess limbs in the magic Of the flame, From these
munions with the dead. he returned to his wife and
a %os ans se &c se S.. s y
Serillas brusque ways intoerable, and had moments
when he resolved to keep his secret He shrank from
her sharp voice, her prosac and harsh comment He
love
Amos had guessed Stephens propretorshp Of the
house but being a man of perception he had cautioned
Jane was not merely discreet; she sympathetic.
She added in many little ways to Stephens enjoyment
when he came in and he was left alone for the most
only upon invitation did she enter the to sit
This understanding was mutual Stephen knew shse
they were in possession of his secret but he gave no
outward sign; indeed he kept up the fiction by greeting
coming Of the :' owner in the spring He always ea
pressed gratitude for chance to sit against the FIRE
once. wen. ri have comfortable winter: any
Serbia deeply resented hi. truancy, which she As
crbed the influence of Jane Kittredge and barrier
of dstrust and defense had risen between them Carss
tie thought to the matter though she occasionally de-
Tended her father " II he gets any fun out of Aunt
Jane let him. she 81 rather gp,n' 1sm.,sd and the
her. John would understand, but he hesitated about
writing I'll wait till he comes up a-Christmas." he
His old cronies found him distinctly less companion
difficult Of analysis had come into his daily greeting
He told fewer stories he less often at the grocery
store, and his laugh seldom heard
All this change they referred to ilhealth, and their
eom ssn, was gentle an; and commise1a'pS
surprise hear any day that he taken fiat down
doubt if he stands many more Of these winters"
defiant and wis,ful We're all in the same boat and
driftin the way" he said and then they spoke
wood.
N9ysmbs, passed xis,eu. any change Of plan On
he broke silence. Being moved by letter from John
he suddenly said night quite in his old hearty way
Il tell you what you do, Amos. You and Jane send
invitations John and Albers folks and to all Of
Seras kim bidding EN- all to Christmas dinner. Say
to the boys that seems their %Cs. h.n g.
say I'm helpn' the turkey and things and the
ehildrens s,oekns and that they can stay herep. q
em at least We all get together here in this big
room" lump came into his throat and he did MOI
finish.
it command and Withdrew write the lei.
of invitation leaving Stephen alone in the glow OF
the FIRE, for the walk that day had been battle
feebler
Ss sd
in an, and how The fire in the big u.s. while
and beckoned with smile Come here Jane" he
whispered thought didn't hear him go out" Jane
In OF Of .e.
big oaken gnar still smoldered sending up and
Stephen was nterni,ienty revealed deep-sunk in hi.
armchair his head turned laxy aside. his gaun,
hands hanging emptily by his side.
Better wake him." said Jane Hell take chill
He'd better sleep here tonight"
Amos went over and touched the sleeper On the
shoulder He did not respond. Amos laid his hand
against the erizzed check, and turned with stars
toward hi: wife. look of awe on his faoe-a look
gesture which told his story instantly and with
pleteness-
Stephen wa. with Martha. and the past and thu
present him the morning and the evening a
day.
~ ~ 0rze