Evening star., 1909-07-05

MS W1OIs pCrIS ITofli EiSHlsI
The dear arms closed above his heaving
shoulders and his head lay once more
on the girls breast. Through the he'll
Of his agony stole for the moment that
old, weirdly sweet sense of being at last
safe from all the noise and hattie of the
wqr,d-at home. And. as a mother might
hush a frightened child. the stricken girl
soothed and comforted him. Whispering
secret love words of their own. !ulline TO
rest the horror that was consuming him.
And after a time the shock passed.
bringing the mans inborn optimism back
with rush. This girl, who spoke SO
braveiy, who even laughed a little In her
eagerness TO comfort him. she could not
be at deaths door This local pill-mixer,
who had pulled SO long a face-he and
the parson chap, whose business 1t was
to speed earth's parting guests-between
them they had cooked Up 4 fine alarm
They had scared hinl--they and that fool
boy who knew nothing about accidents,
and whose own minor injuries. no doubt
made him think Desiree must be incur
ably hurt.
Caleb had seen many men who had
been injured in railroad smashups. They
had writhed clumsiiy: emitting raucous
screams way down in their throa,s: or
had lain senseless In queer-shaped heaps
from the first. Not one Of them had been
coherent, calm-yes. even cheerful-like
this worshiped little sweetheart of his
The first shock was bringing its normal
reaction to the Fighters brain and
nerves. AS ever. II was Inlpartins to
them a redoubled power to cast off de-
preston.
lie raised his head and. BY the dim
light. studied Desiree'S face. The brave
beautiful eyes met his with a message OF
deathless love. The tortured lips were
parted In smile.
All at once he knew he was right She
would get well. The enginery that had
made his fortune would not crush out
her life. The railroad that had brought
him wealth was not to bring him desola-
tion as we'll. The foreknowtedge set his
blood TO tingling.
Are you sufferin' so yery much. eiri?''
he asked.
And che. reading his thoughts as she
had always done. smiled again as sne
answered:
Not very much. dear heart. Hardly
AT all now that you're here. Oh, It's
good to have you with me again! / was
afraid you migh,n't-''
She stopped. He thought he knew why
and made answer:
Thought 1 mightn't come, hey? Why.
girl, If you had a smashed finger an sent
to kiss 1t an make 1t we'll, I'd come. An
You know / would. An you're really
better since I go. here?'
Much. much better"
Il knew IT." he declared, in triumph
Il knew you'd come round all right. l
had a hunch you would. An my lunches
don't ever go wrong. I've sent for the
best doctors In America. II there's bet
ter doctors in Yurrup TIL send for those,
too. An among 'em they'll have you fit
as fiddle In no time. You'll get we'll
Tor me. darling. You'll get we'll. You'll
get weli!"
He struck his hand on the bedpost to
drive home the prophecy Yes, dear"
she whispered. faint with new spasm
OF pain as the jar of his hands impact
shook the bed.
"oh!" he laughed. nerrously. Il was SO
sea SCARED: :u; girl: So scared t seemed IKE
Ii I'd come here an found
He could not go on.
L know, dear. know She told him.
stroking his bristled red hair as she
YOU if-if anything happened to me. You
are SO. strong In some ways. Yet in
others you are a child. No one under
stands YOU except me. No one else can
shell to the big gentle boy that hides in
side IL. It / were not here with you no
one would ever look for that boy No
one would even suspect he vas there.
And by and by he would die for lack OF
companionship. The hard, rough armor
would go on through life. But the soul
the boy I loyeA-would be dead Oh. you
need me. dear! You need me. The poor,
helpless, friendly little boy behind the
brutal shell-the real you needs me- He
can't live without me. No one else viii
love him, or even know he is in his
hiding place waiting and longing to be
made friends with. l can't let you go:'
;, The soft. soft voice broke. despite the gal
went through Conover like white-hot
steel.
Don't talk so. Dey.' he implored
Don't speak like you weren't going to get
we'll You are, I tell your
"Yes. dear" she assented once more,
petting the big, awkward hand that clung
to her.
v.sn,,x nol M you are he s protested rs
thought anything else. An. I didn't.
really. You'll be as we'll as ever you
was in week or less. I'm havin'
nurses telgraphed for. too. The best
crossing the brain he was racking for
further words Of encouragement, IAN
l,ve got present for YOU CANDY one
terest into her query.
Flowers he echoed. in fine scorn.
.'Somethin' nicer'n ali the flowers that
ever happened! See!'
He fisiled from his waistcoat pocket a
little box wrapped with tissue paper that
was none the cleaner for a weeks COM
panionship with tobacco dust and lead
pencils.
''Oh. let me open it, she commanded,
with vestige Of her old sweet t,nperious-
ness. That's the best part OF u present
She undid the grimy payer. opened the
box and sazed in childish delight at the
gorgeous diamond in its platinum setting.
y knew you'd like it, he chuckled.
Hand soonest ring in Moo York. From
the best store there. too. See the name
on the box cover. IIow's that for an en-
gagerlent rins?"
TITS beautiful. Beautiful she muir
INJURED.
She slipped it on hec third t1nse..
whence il hung heavy and ridiculousi-
loose.
Maybe it's little too large he con-
fessed, but we'll have that fixed easily
enough. I didn't want to ask your size
beforehand for fear you might suspect
somethin'. So / had to guess at it,
She praised the diamonds beauties until
even Conover was content. Then she lay
back among the pillows and Fought move
IeSsly for endurance. Her waning strength, /,
keyed up to it's highest pitch for Caleb )
sake, was deserting her. To hide her
weakness she began playing with the
ring; slipping II from finger to finger until
at length the circlet hung loose from her
thumb. Caleb watched her slender hand
toying with the gift.
It'll he a mighty short time. now. said
he, before we fit on plain gold ring
above that. Hev""
At his words the girl. to his disnay. |
broke into a passion OF tears.
There! There!' he consoled. passing |
his arms about the frail tormented body. |
why. what is 1t, sweetheart? Too much /
excitement after your accident? 1 ought |
to a. had better sense than to keep you |
talkin like this. Try an get some sleep. |