The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-01-08

the manel were in place but Stephen had not yet per-
nitcd himself the luxury of sitting down before th,
hre-he wanted to wait till the was furnished and
MarthaS rugs IN place. ~
He was up carly that day in order "to hoIn Aros
move ln he explained To his wife
1t was raw day-cloudy with strong north wind
and Winter seemed IN the air-and when the nioht bc
gan to fall and James furniture was sparsev distributed
lJane herself being busy in the kitchcn) Stephen Ii
INC hre on his hearth and sat down before it with
thrill of satisfaction.
AS he gazed the spell Of that which he had wrought
ieL upon him. The first stanza of his poem was being
sung by the roaring flames On the white walls the
golden light was hickerng-and along the ceiling the
shadows OF the tall andirons danced grotesqucy ia
marly as OF old The mantel with its carven figures
ana us candles and vases seemed unchanged The
song OF the Gins outside the same
ears dimmed his eyes, big lump filed his throat
seemed to have trumphcd over times DEGREES as 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 on the of his chair and to ask with th,
tenderness of sympathy which always melted his heart
shoulder. ~ i"'
lie loved Serbia he honored and cared for her as the
mother OF his children but Martha the wife OF his
with the mystery of his life, the dew OF his morning
The whole earth young that marvellous Nav when
they two adTentured into this and fertile land
The perfume OF wild honey the song Of ar in nowery
meadows lay her name and around her fireplace still
fingered such hcartncsS of cheer such neghborncs as
the world no longer knew. On those glorious pioneer
daysl
He sat so long in dreams that the red sky and FIRE
grew gray and the good people the kitchen became
uneasy, and Amos came and brought lamp and then
with an 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 came again the next day, and the next and the
next re-pcrusing with narticuatc pain and pleasure his
story stone and STEEL his epic pungen pine basng
in the glow of his fire. forgetting his gray hair and
secret delicious into the past these COM
muniors with the: dead, he returned to his wife and
Without meaning to be dsloyal, he began to find
Serila'S brusquc ways intoerablc, and had moments
when he resolved to keep his secret He shrank from
her sharp voice, her prosaic ard harsh comment He
was like bridegroom, jealous OF the very of his
love-
Amos had guessed Stephens propretorshp of the
house, but being of perception he had cautioned
his wife to yield hint of their secret knowledge and
Jane not merely discreet; she sympathetic
She added i'll many little ways to Stephens enjoyment
OF his home. The hrc always blazing the hearth
when he i'll, aud he was left alone for the most
part only upon invitation did she enter the to sit
with hlm before his shrine.
This understanding mutual Stephen knew that
they were possession of his secret but he gave no
outward sign indeed he kept up the fiction by greeting
them his hosts and went far discuss the
coming of the owner In the spring. lie always
pressed gratitude for chance sit against the FIRE
don't know what III do when you move out" he said
once: well III have one comfortable winter. any
way" he ended,
Serbia deeply resented his truancy, which she as
crbed the influence of Jane Kttredge and barrier
of dstrust and defense had between them CarsS.
involved with the young life OF the village gave very lit
Tended her father. If he gets any fun out OF Aunt
Jane, let him.. she rather Appanty remarked; and the
tone Of her plea did not incline Stephen to conhdc in
her John would understand, but he hcsitated about
writing I'll wait till he comes up a-ChIistnas, he
decided.
His old oronics found him distinctly less companions
able remote settled sadness, growing reserve
difficult of analysis, had come into his daily greeting
He told fewer stories, he less often at the grocery
and bIe 12uuht hea
All this change they referred ill-heath. and their
comment was gentle and commiserating:
Stephen is faIlin fast, remarked Pitcher, one day.
" The cold weather seems to grip him 1t wouldn't
surprise to hear any day that he taken fiat down.
l doubt If he stands many more Of these winters.
defiant and wistful Were all in the same boat and
drftn' the same way he said; and then they spoke
with rcsolue cheer of the weather and the price of fire.
wood
November passed without any change of plan on
Stephens part and December half way gone before
he broke silence Being moved by letter from John,
he suddenly said night quite In his old hearty way
:" tell YOU what you do, Amos You and Jane send
invitations John and Albers folks and to all of
Serillas kim bidding en- all to Christmas dinner Say
10 the boys that. seems their mother hant got room
enough, I'm kind o goin in with you here You can
say I'm hepin out on the turkey and things, and the
chldrcns sockin and that they stay hcrc-part of
'cm at least We all get together here In this big
room" A 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,
of invitation leaving Stephen alone III the glow OF
the fire. for the walk that day had been stern battle
with both wind and snow, and he seemed older and
fcebler
couple OF hours later as they went downstairs TO
lock the doors and put out the lights, Jane said Look
in and how the FIRE IN the big room IS. While sec
10 the furnace My, hear that wind"
Amos opened the door, but paused on the threshold
and beckoned with smile. Come here, Jane he
whispered L thought didn't hear him so out. Jane
looked over his shoulder with word OF surprise
The fire had burned low. In deep bed OF ashes
big oaken gnarl still smodered, sending up now and
again single leaping jet of fame, and by its hul ignt
Stephen was ntermttcntly revealed deePsunk in his
armchair, his gray head turned lay aside' his gaun'
hands hanging cmptily by his side. -,
Better wake him" said Jane. Hell take chill.
He'd better sleep here tonight a.,
Amos went over and touched the sleeper on the
shoulder He did not respond Amos laid his hand
against the s,zzed check and turned @ with, with h Jia;.
toward his wife, look of awe on his lace ooS,
gesture which told his story instantly and with COM
pctcness. A..
present were to him the morning and the evening OF
ono day.