Los Angeles herald., 1909-11-14

the mante were in place. but Stephen had not yet per-
med himself the luxury of sitting down before the
fre-he wanted to wait till the furnished and
Martha's rugs in place.
He was up early that day in order to help Amos
ill.," he explained to his wife.
1t day-coudy with strong north wind
and Winter seemed in the air-and when the night be-
gan to fall and James furniture sparsely distributed
Janc herself being busy in the kchen), Stephen lit
the fire on his hearth and sat down before it with
thrill of satisfaction
As he gazed the spell of that which he had wrought
fell upon him. The first stanza of his poem was being
sung by the roaring flames On the white walls the
golden light was fckering-and along the ceiling the
shadows of the tall androns danced grotesquely fa
miarly, of old The manel with its carven figures
and its candles and vases seemed unchanged. The
song of the elms outside was the same.
Tears dmmed his eyes, big lump filled his throat
For moment he had the exaation of the artist He
seemed to have triumphed times DEGREES the
poet does 1t appeared that he had actually restored his
home, reconstructed the past, that Martha might at
any moment steal into the room, light OF step as of
old to sit the of his chair and to ask with that
tenderness of sympathy which always melted his heart,
Tired, Stephen?" and lay her cheek against his
shoulder.
He loved Serbia; he honored and cared for her the
mother of his children but Martha was the wife of his
youth, the Madonna Of his dreams She was associated
with the mystery of his life, the dew of his morning
The whole earth was young that marvellous May. when
they two adventured into this and fertile land
The perfume of wild honey the song of arks in owery
meadows lay in her name and around her fireplace still
fingered such hearness of cheer such neghborness
the world no longer knew. oh, those glorious pioneer
daysl
He sat so long iii dreams that the red sky and fire
grew gray and the good people i'll the kitchen became
uneasy and Amos came and brought a lamp, and then
with absent-mnded smile the dreamer rose, stiff with
the chill of age, and went back to his acknowledged
home, to the wife of his present
He again the next day, and the next and the
next reperusng with narticuate pain and pleasure his
story stone and steel his epic in pungen pine baskng
in the glow of his fire. forgetting his gray hair and
nerveless limbs in the magic of The flame From these
secret delicious excursions into the past these COM
nunons with the dead, he returned to his wife and
daughter with reluctance with certain guilty fear
Without meaning to be dsloyal, he began to find
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
like bridegroom, jealous of the very name OF his
love.
Amos had guessed Stephens proprieorship of tie
house, but being man of perception, he had cautioned
his wife to yield hint of their secret knowledge and
Jane not merely discreet; she sympathetic,
She added in many little ways to Stephens enjoyment
OF his home The fre was always blazing % on on the hearth
part only upon invitation did she enter the TO sit
with him before his shrine.
This understanding was mutual. Stephen knew that
they in possession of his secret but he gave no
outward sign indeed he kept up the fiction by greeting
them as his hosts and went far discuss the
coming of I" the owner" in the spring He always ex-
pressed gratitude for chance to sit against the fire.
don't know what I'll do when you move out" he said
once. "We, I'll have comfortable winter, any
way" he ended
Serbia deeply. resented his truancy which she as
crbed the influence of Jane Kttredge and barrier
of dsrust and defense had risen between them Cars
involved with the young life of the village gave very lit
tie thought to the matter though she occasionally de-
Tended her father. If he gets any fun out OF Aunt
Jane, let him. she rather hppanty remarked; and the
tone of her plea did not incline Stephen to confde in
her John would understand, but he hesitated about
writing I'll wait till he comes up a-Chrstmas," he
His old crones found him distinctly less companion
able more remote settled sadness, growing reserve
difficult of analysis had come into his daily greeting
He told fewer stories he less often the grocery
store and his laugh seldom heard.
All this change they referred to ill-heath, and their
comment was gentle and commissioning.
Stephen is falin fast" remarked Pitcher, one day.
"The cold weather seems to grip him.. 1t wouldn't
surprise to hear any day that he taken flat down.
l doubt if he stands many more of these winters"
defiant and wistful "Were all in the same boat and
drifin' the same way he said; and then they spoke
with resoue cheer of the weather and the price of fire.
wood
November passed without any change, of plan on
Stephens part and December halfway gone before
he broke silence Being moved by letter from John,
he suddenly said night quite in his old hearty way,
81 cell you what you do, Amos. You and Jane send
invitations to John and Aberts folks and to all of
Serilas kin, bidding EN- all to Christmas dinner Say
to the boys that, seeins their mother hant got room
enough, I'm kind O. goin' in with you here You can
say Pm hepn' out the turkey and things, and the
chdrens stockns, and that they stay herepart of
em at least We all get together here in this big
room" lump came into his throat and he did not
finish
Jane and Amos fell in with the suggestion quite as if
it command and withdrew to write out the let
ers of invitation leaving Stephen alone in the glow of
the fire, for the walk that day had been stern battle
with both wind and snow, and he seemed older and
couple of hours later, as they went downstairs to
lock the doors and put out the lights Jane said, Look
in and see how the fire in the big is, while see
TO the furnace N.Y. hear that wihd"
Amos opened the door, but paused on the threshold
and beckoned with smile. Come here, Jane" he
whispered " thought didn't hear him go out" Jane
looked over his shoulder with a word of surprise.
The fire had burned low. In deep bed of ashes
big oaken gnar still smoldered, sending up now and
again single leapng jet of fame and by its tful light
Stephen ntermittently revealed, deep-sunk in his
armchair his gray head turned laxy aside his gaunt
Better wake him." said Jane. He'll take chill.
Fed better sleep here tonight"
Amos went over and touched the sleeper on the
shoulder He did not respond. Amos laid his hand
against the grizzed cheek, and turned with start
toward MS WIFE look of awe his face-a look
gesture which told his story instantly and with COM
pleeness
Stephen was with Martha, and the past and the
present were him the morning and the evening of
one dav.