The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1910-07-08
CHAPTER XII

It was until late in the afternoon OF
Christmas Day that Ardea was able to
slip away from her guests long enough
to run over to apprise herself of the
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 if he had forgotten her pres
ence; and she was womanly enough.
or amiable enough, to let him take his
own time. When he began, it was
seemingly at a great distance from
matters present and pressing.
Say, Ardea; do you believe in mir
acles?" he asked abruptly. How do
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 it's grain Of
sugar?"
Il don't know" she confessed, frank
ly. Il am not sure that l ever tried TO
account for them; l suppose l have
swallowed them whole, as you say
have swallowed my religion"
We'll, you believe in them, anyway"
he said, and that makes it easier to
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 IL
minute to ask how your mother is, and
you won't tell me-"
ppm cproiDp to bo
gravely. But l 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?"
you can be so barbarously personal
when you try, Tom" she protested.
And then she added: But did"
well, 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. It 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
dyihg-so the doctor says But it's
miracle, just the same"
I'm so glad! And now really must |
go home"
What's your rush? I'm not trying
to get rid of you now"
II positively must go back We have |
and ran away without say |
ing a word"
Anybody know?" inquired Tom
Three somebodies whom you know,
or ought to know, very well: 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 Valle's."
He made a boyish face Of disap-
oroval, saying bluntly: Il don't care if
she was. You shouldn't make friends
If 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
lgo, we were speaking Of you, and Of
What happened at Beersheba. Mr. Far
ey and his son both stood up for you"
And you took the other side, reck-
m" he broke out, quite unreasonably.
t had not as yet come to blows be-
ween him and his fathers business as
ociates but 1t made him immeasura-
'ly dissatisfied to find them on social
erms at Deer Trace Manor.
Perhaps 1 did, and perhaps l did
lot" she answered. matching his tart
less.
well, you can tell them both that
IN much obliged to them for nothing"