Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-10-19


Nv You saw them together-you that whelp
AJ with her? Quick"
" Hold on now, Tom,r said Ashton sooth-
ingly Don't you 20 for TO get excited He
sure was with her. and III tell you about It II you'll
keep cool"
The younger man released his hold and walked
away few steps struggling TO control himself eco
on Tom. I'm all right Where theyT"
"why, coming along by the Moore planta.
ton along about nine O'Clock, reckon. That was
while you was away In Louisville. / jess looked up
TO the house. casual like and there blot OF white
against the bushes under the sycamores. squirt
ing close, ] saw a dark figure alongside It. Now, /
thought It was kinder strange cause that where
you used to and spark Diana, the bench there
and didn't what right any at all had to be on
that bench when you away.
Maybe you wouldn't have done II II you was In my
place, Tom, but wanted to make sure. Here was
you, Tom White miles away. And here was some
one maybe not Diam Moore, but some one setting
with a man. SO climbed over the fence and come
up close"
"well" interrupted White impatiently as the other
paused.
"well" resumed the other simply, eft was Diana.
and the with her Barton johnson"
after what he's done. after what she knows OF
hlml What they saying. Steve? What elseY
Did they seem to be friendly?' asked White breath.
lessly
yes" said Ashton judiciously, "I should say they
friendly That's the trouble. Tom-they was
altogether friendly. didn't hear much they said
but It enough And he setting as close as he
could get, with her head his shoulder and there
you have t."
Ashton had dlsliked his task from the first had gone
through with It, driven by sense of obligation the
outgrowth Of an almost paterna fondness for white
He had feared explosion. but none came Whites
earlier excitement had passed sudden and strange
composure possessed him. lie sought a chair quietly
and faced his old friend. Ashton rendered quite as
uneasy by this foreign he would have been
by the frenzy he had feared did break the silence
for some minutes. Then he sought clumsly to lend
his aid.
"She's worth IT, Tom and that's the truth
could where Diana Moore held hand 10
cali you with. ! remember her when she was little
thing, pert and sassy tossing her pgtals and mighty
sharp answer when she crossed. Nothing was
ever good enough for her moren minute She'd
smash doll or friendship when It pleased her. As
hard and bright and shify as a new steel spring
that's Diana
White seemed not to have heard the words
Have lever done anything but what's right by
her, steyel" he asked suddenly and from the lone
the elder man knew that happily or not wisely or
unwisey, Thomas white had given his love past the
power Of friends to reclaim.
The Two Friends.
"No, Tom. no." he said sadly. "You can't reproach
yourself in way. whatever comes. You've always
been fair and square, that TIL stand by" White
went on his eyes fixed vacanuy at the empty fire.
place, if seeking the warm glow that once had
filed f..
Il wonder II you understand what she meant 10
Steve? You remember how Il was when / came
here. l had kin friend but yourself and in
spite Of the way You stood by me Il a hard road
hard. Then ] met her, and that gave what my
t.ftt1g t.,.aT
back with my medical degree you welcomed
That good and It good too to feel that had
made myself Of some consequence IN the town that
FIRST as a barefoot yagabond.
But the thing thought OF was her welcome
the only thing / had thought OF for years. And IL
all could have asked. You remember, Steve,
within a month we engaged. That was a year
ago, and have worked. haven't /, Steve" The
elder man nodded.
~ had almost enough for a home We planned Il To-
gcthcr, Then began to notice Johnson not much at
first but after time I spoke 10 her about him She
resented H. told her just as would have IN his or
amy ones presence, that he was utterly dlscredted
VIGOROUSLY unworthy man who ruined his family
and whose father died Of shame for him lie had some
hold over Moore In gaining entrance TO the house
don't know what
1T quarrel Steve. After a little she yielded
She gave me her promise without reservation, that
she would never see him again. Then was called
away important case. / have been successful
Steve, aud came back 10 claim her And now /
lean-what you have told me-"
what you going to do, TomT asked Ashton an.
easily.
"lll do what must be done Steve. As ] see q. al
my life-all any mans lfeis a series OF tests tests
VI htness Of courage, OF Intelligence Of worthluess
A simple slmile, perhaps, but II seems 10 me- As
we pass as we grade, as We measure up 10 the stand
ard, so we fix our value absolutely"
Ashton wondered az him White since boy hood hai
been Of high strung restless rather fiery tempera-
ment lie could recognize The ardent youth be-
had known In this grave, pale who had come into
hllng within half an hour ana talked glooInllr Of