The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1910-11-03
CHAPTER XVIII.

Tom, Isn't this the same foot-log
you made me walk that day when YOU
were trying to convince me that Won
s,ere the meanest boy that ever breath
ed?" asked Ardea. gathering her skirts
preparatory to the stream crossing
1T Is. But you didn't walk II. ss
you may remember: you fell off. WAR
a second and give me those azaleas.
I'll go first and take your hand"
Tom Gordon. lately home from a suIl
half-year spent in The unfettered soIi-
tudes OF the Carriso iron fields. to bc
married first. and afterward to start
Caleb for Observation-Disclosures
idle Chiawassee plant as a test and ex-
detrimental shop for American Aope-
duct, was ~indemnifying himself for me
long exile.
On this Saturday evening IN the low
ers' month OF June he had walked Ar
dea around and about through the fra
grant summer wood OF the upper creek
valley. retracing. In part. the footsteps
OF the boy whose fishing had been
spoiled and the little girl who was 70
be 5ul1ied into submission; and SO
Yambling they had come at length 70
the old moss grown foot-log which had
been a newly -felled tree In the former
time. Tom went first across the rustic
bridge. holding the hand of ecstatic
f~hril1ings. and pausing IN mid passage
that he might have excuse for holding
It the longer.
It was during the mid-passage pause,
and while she was looking down on the
swirling waters sometime OF terrifying.
that Miss Dabney said:
How deep is 1t, Tom? Would I real
ly have drowned IL you and Hector had
not pulled me ous?"
It's q thankless thing to spoil an
idyl. but you could have waded out"
She made the adorable little grimace
which was one Of the survivals of the
yesterdays. and suffered him to lead
her across
And I have always believed that l
owed my life to you-and Hector" she
said. .reproachfully.
You owe me much more than that"
he affirmed broadly. when they had sat
down to rest-they had often to do this,
lest the way should prove shorter than
he happy afternoon-on the end OF the
bridge log.
@Money?"-nippantiy.
No: love. II 1t hadn't been for me.
you might rever have known what love
is"
1T is a high gift" che said, soberiy;
the highest of all .Jr a woman. Once
I thought I hould live and die with
kno, ag 1t, as many women do.
wish l might give you something as
great
I am already overpaid," he asserted.
For a man there is nothing so great.
no influence so nearly omnipotent, as
the ove of a good woman. It Is the
lever that moves the world-what little
II does move-up the hill to the high
planes"
Silence while she gathered the sweet
smelling tangle in her lap into some
more portable arrangement And az
terward. when they were drifting slow
~ homeward in the Iengthening shad-
ows. a small asking.
Mr.. Moreiocx is coming out to-mor-
row to hold service In St Johns. and I
go to play for him. VIII you so
with me. Tom?"
He smiled out of the gold and sap
phire depths OF a lovers reverie.
One week from the day after the day
after to-morrow-and 1t will be the
longest week-and-two-days OF my life,
dearest-your grandfather will take
you to church. and I shall bring you
away Won't that be enough?"
She took him quite seriously.
Il shall never be a Felicia Young |
Dickson, and drag you." she promised.
But, 0 Toni I wish"
Il know" he said, gently. You are
thinking Of the days to come: when the
paths may diverge-yours and mine
ever so little; when there may be chill |
dren to choose between their mothers |
faith and their fathers indifference. |
But am not Indifferent. So far from
It, I am only anxious now to prove
n l was once SO bent on disprov-
You yourself are the strongest
proof" h interposed. You win see
1t. some day."
h L? I hope so; and that is an
hope. And really and truly, I
think 1 have come up a i,it-out of the
wilderness. you know. am wiling 70
admit that this is the bsst of all pos
sibie worlds; and I want to do my part
\ making It a little better because l
have lived In It. Also. I'd like to be-
In something bigger and better
protoplasm." i
Her smile was OF the kind which
stands halfway in the path to tears.
ut she spoke bravely to the doubt in
bis reply.
You do believe. Tom. dear; you have
never seen the moment when you did
not. 1t was the doubt that was unreal
When the supreme test came, It was
God hand that restrained you: you
know 1t now-you knew 1t at the time.
And afterward 1t was His grace that
you to do what was just and
right Haven't you admitted all this
to yourself?"