Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1910-06-22
FRANCIS LYNDE

Indeed and indeed will help. Tom!
And you mustn't let 1t drive yot out
into the dark. You poor boy! I know
just how 1t hurts, and I'm so sorry for
you'll"
He freed himself gently from the
comforting arms, got up rather un-
steadily, and lifted her to her feet.
Then the manly bigness of him sent
the hot blood to her cheeks and she
was ashamed.
20 Toni" she faltered; what must
you think Of mel"
81 think God made you-and that
was one time when His hand didn't
tremble." he said, gravely.
They had picked their way down the
leaf slippery mountain side and he
was giving her the bunch of holly at
the Dabney orchard gate before he
spoke again. But at the moment of
leave taking he said:
How did you know what needed
more than anything else In all tho
world. Ardea?"
She blushed painfully and the blue
eyes were downcast.
'sYou must never speak Of that again.
didn't stop to think, It's a Dabney
failing, I'm afraid-to do things frst
and consider them afterward. 1t was
as II we were little again. and you had
fallen down and hurt yourself"
Il know" he acquiesced. with the
same manly gentleness that had made
her ashamed II won't speak of 1t any
more-and I'll never forget 1t the long
est day live. Good-by."
And he went the back way to his
own orchard gate. plunging through the
leaf beds with his head down and his
hands in his pockets, struggling as he
could to, stem the swift current which
was whirling him out beyond all the
old landmarks. For now he was made
to know that boyhood was gone, ant
youth was going. and for one intoxl-
eating moment he had looked over tbs
mountain top into the Promised Land
Of manhood.
CHAPTER XII. 3.
It was until late in the afternoon Of
Christmas Day that Ardea was able t.
slip away from her guests long enough
to run over to apprlse herself Of thu
condition of things at the Gordon
house.
Tom opened the door for her and he
| made her come to the fire before he
would answer her questions. Even
then he sat glowering at the cheerful
blaze as II he had forgotten her pres
ence; and she was womanly enough
or amiable enough, to let him take his
own time. When he began, 1t was
seemingly at great distance from
matters present and pressing.
Say. Ardea; do you believe in mir
acles?" he asked abruptly. How dc
you account for them. Did God make
His laws so that they could be taken
apart and put together again when
some little human ant loses Its way on
grass stalk or drops Its grain Of
sugar."
II don't know" she confessed, frank
ly. Il am not sure that ever tried ia
account for them; suppose 1 have
swallowed them whole. as you say
have swallowed my religion"
well, you believe in them. anyway
he said, and that makes 1t easier te
hit what I'm aiming at. Do you reck.
on they stopped. short in the Apostles
timer"
You are the queerest boy" she com
mented. Il ran over here just for q
minute to ask how your mother is, and
you won't tell me-"
I'm coming to that" he reJoined,
gravely. but wanted to get this
other thing Strengthened out first. Now
tell me this: did you pray for my moth
er last night, like you said you would n
You can be 80 barbarously personal
when you try, Tom" she protested.
And then she added: But 1 did"
We'll, the miracle was brought.
Early this morning mother came to
herself and asked for something to eat.
Doctor Williams has been here, and
now he tells us all the things he
wouldn't tell us before. 1t was some
little ,clot in one of the veins or ar
teries Of the brain. and nine. times out
of ten there is no hope"
20 Tom!-and she will get well
again?"
"she has more chances to-day Of get
ting well than she had last night OF
dying-so the doctor says. But it's a
miracle, just the same"
I'm SO glad! And now really must
go home"
Whats your rush? I'm not trying
to get rid of you now"
II positively must go back. We have
company, and / ran away without say
ing a word"
ANYBODY know" inquired Tom.
Three somebodies whom you know
or ought to know, very we'll: Mr.. Dux-
bury Farley. Mr.. Vincent Farley, Miss
Eva Farley"
I'D like to know how under the sun
they managed to get on your grand
fathers good side!" he grumbled.
why do you say that?" she retort
ed. Eva was my classmate for years
at Miss De Valles"
He made a boyish face of disap-
proval. saying bluntly: II don't care II
she was. You shouldn't make friends
of them. They are not fit for you to
wipe your shoes on"
You ought to be ashamed of your
| self, Tom Gordon! Less than an hour
ago, we were speaking Of you. and 81
what happened at Beersheba. Mr.. Far
ley and his son both stood up for YOU
And you took the other side. / reck-
on" he broke out, quite unreasonabiy
1t had not as yet come to blows be-
tween him and his fathers business as.
sociates. but it made him immeasura.
bly, dissatisfied to find them on socia
terms at Deer Trace Manor.
Perhaps did. and perhaps l dIG
not" she answered, matching his tart.
ness.
We'll. you can tell them both tina
I'm much obliged to them for nothing
he said. rising and going to the doc
with her. They would be mighty GLAD
to see 1t patched up again and me bacl
In the Beersheba school,"
/ "of course they would: so would al
of your friends"
But they are not my friends. The,
have fooled my father. and they'll foo
your grandfather. If he doesn't watcl
out. But they can't fool me-"
That is the first downright coward
ly thing have ever known you :,
say!" she declared. "And 1 wish 70,
to know. Mr.. Thomas Jefferson Cor
don. that Mr.. Duxbury Farley and Mr.
Vincent Farley and Miss Eva Earle.
are my guests and my friends!" An,
with that for her leave taking. sh
turned her back on him and wen
| swiftly across the two lawns to tn