Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1910-09-28
CHAPTER xv111.

you made me walk that day when VIM
were trying to convince me that von
were the meanest boy that ever breath.
ed?" asked Ardea, gathering her skirts
preparatory to the stream CROSSING
TT ID. But you didn't walk n =.
you may remember: you fell OF. Wait
a second and give me those azaleaa
I'll go hrst and take your hand.
Tom Gordon. lately home from a r,,,
half-ye spent in the unfettered soii-
tudes OF the Carriso iron fields. IA ho
married first and afterward to start
up-with Caleb for OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
idle Chiawassee plant as test and e.
perimental shop for American Acme.
duct, was indemnifying himself for ,he
long exile.
On this Saturday evening in the ,ov.
ers' month of June he had walked Az
dea around and about through the fn,.
grant summer wood Of the upper creek
valley. retracing. in part. the footsten.
of the boy whose fishing had been
spoiled and the little girl who wa. 70
bs bullied Into submission; and 40
rambling they had come at length To
the old moss grown foot-log which had
been newly-felled tree in the former
time. Tom went nrst across the rustic
bridge. holding the hand Of ecstatic
thrillings. and pausing In mid-passa re
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 II, Tom? Would real
ly have drowned il you and Hector had
not pulled me QUIT"
TITS thankless thing to spoil IN
idyl. but you could have waded out"
She made the adorable little grirnace
which was one Of the survivals of the
yesterdays. and suffered him to lead
her across.
And have always believed that I
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
the happy afternoon-on the end of the
bridge log.
Money ?"-fiippantly
mo; love. II 1t hadn't been for me.
you might never have known what love
is."
ut is high gift" she said, soberly;
the highest of all for woman. Once
I thought should live and die with
out knowing 1t. as many women do. 1
wish might give you something as
great"
Il am already overpaid." he asserted.
For man there II nothing 30 great,
no influence SO nearly omnipotent. as
the love of good woman. 1t Is the
lever that moves the world-what little
1t 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 af-
terward. when they were drifting slow.
ly homeward in the lengthening shad-
ows. a small asking.
MIR. Morelock is coming out to-mor-
row to hold service in st Johns. and
shall go to play for him. VIII you 80
with me. Tom?"
He smiled out Of the gold and sap
phire depths of lovers reverie.
One week from the day after the day
after to-morrow-and It will be the
longest week-and days OF my life,
dearest-your grandfather Will take
you to church, and shall br4ng you
away. Won't that be enough7"
She took him quite seriously.
II shall never be Felicia Young
Dickson. and drag you." she promised.
But, o Tom! wish"
Il know" he said. gently. You arc
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
1t, am only anxious now to prove
what I was once so bent on disprov-
ing"
You yourself are the strongest
proof" she interposed. You will see
1t. some day"
Shall I? I hope so; and that is an
earnest hope And really and truly.
think have come up bit-out of the
wilderness. you know. ! am willing to
admit that this is the best of all pos
sible worlds; and want to do my part
n making 1t little better because
have lived in 1t Also. I'd like to be-
lieve in something bigger and better
than protoplasm."
Her smile was of the kind which
stands halfway in the path to tears.
but she spoke bravely to the doubt in
his 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, 1t was
Gods hand that restrained you: yon
know 1t now-you knew 1t at the time.
And afterward 1t was His grace that
enabled you to do what was Just and
right. Haven't you admitted all this
to yourself?"