Arizona republican., 1910-05-20


 hre-he wanted wat i'll the room furnished and Marthas rugs m place.
 He up early that day in order " to help Amos move n. he explained to hls Wife.
 IL was raw day-coudy with strong north ~ld and Winter seemed ill the ar-and when inc night be- gan to fall and lanes furniture parsely distributed tJane herself being busy in the kchenl. stephen ht the fire on his hearth and sat down before II wi1h thrill of satisfaction
 As he gazed the spell of that which he had wrough. fell upon him The first sanza or his poem was beng sung Dy the roaring flames On the white walls me golden light hlckering-and along the cellii.s tae shadows of the tall andlrOns danced Srotesqney Ia miariy. as ot old. he mantei with Its carSen lsuIes and is candles and seemed unchanged he song of the eims outside the same
 Tears dimmed his eyes. big lump hled hls throas For moment he had the eXaltation ot the artst lie seemed 10 have riumphcd over times decrees as the poet does It appeared that he had actually restored ms home reconstructed the pa 90 that Martha ish' 4. any steal irto the room, light of step as or old to si the o hs chair and to ask with that tenderness of sympathy wh-h always melted hls hear Tired. Stephen: and lay her cheek ag@nst hls shoulder
 He loved Seril he honorcd ard cared for her the mother of his children; but Martha the wife or hls youth the Madonna Of .s dreams. She associated with the mystery oi lis life the dew oi his morning The whole earth yOaIg that marvellous May when they adveAtu-Cd into this and fertile land The perfume of wild honey the song of larks m OweEy meadows lay her and around her nIeplaoe stl fingered such heartines o cheer such neghborliness days!
 lie sat SO long in dreams that the red sky and ire grew gray and the good people Ill the kitchen became uneasy and Amos came and brought lamp. and tf@n with absen;-mnded smile the dreamer rose stiff with the chill of age: and went back 10 lls acknowledged home. to the w.te of hls present.
 He came again the next day. and the next, and the next re-perusng with nartculate pain ard pleasure hs story and steel his epic pungent pine baskns in the glow of his hre, forgetting his gray har and nervelesS limbs in the magic ot the flame from these secret delicious excursions into the past. these com munions with the dead he returned 10 his wife and daughter with reluctance, with certain guilty fear Without meaning to be disloyal, he began 10 md rabl had when he resolved to keep his secret He shrank from her sharp voice. her prosaic and harsh comment lie like bridegroom jealous or the very name oi hls love.
 Amos had guessed Stephens propretorshp of the house but being man of perception he had cautioned his wife to yield hint of their secret knowledge; and Jane merely discreet: she was sympatheuc She added in many little ways to Stephens enjoyment Of his home. The ire was always blazing on the heaTn when he in, and he was lett alone for the most part only upon invitation did she enter the room 10 si1 with him before his shrine.
 This understanding was mutual Stephen knew thai they in possession of his secret but he gave no outward sign indeed he kept up the fiction by greeting them his hosts, and went far to discuss the coming of the owner" in the spring He always es,ed gratitude for chance sit against the fire l don't know what I'll do when you move out he sad once. Well, I'll have one comfortable winter. way" he ended
 Serila deeply resented his truancy. which she crbed to the influence of Jane Kttredge, and barrier of distrust and defense had risen between them Carlss involved with the young life of the village gave very h tie thought to the matter though she occasionally de fended her father. ." Ii he gets any fun or Aunt Jane let him.. she rather hippantly remarked and the tone of her plea did not incline Stephen to confde m her John would understand. but he hesitated about writing "lll wat till he comes up a-Chr,s;maS he decided
 His old cronies found him distinctly less companon- able more remote settled sadness growing reserve difficult of analysis. had come into his daily greeting He told fewer stories he less often at the grocery store and his laugh seldom heard
 All this change they referred 10 nlheath and their comment gentle and cOmmseTatln2
 Stephen is falin fast remarked Pitcher. one day The cold weather seems to grip him. IL wouldn't surprise hear any day that he taken at down doubt ii he stands many more ot these winters
 Hiram looked up with smile which was at once defiant and wistful Were all m the same boat and driftn' the same way he said; and then they spoke with resou cheer of the weather ard the price or nre- wood
 November passed without any change of plan on Stephens part and December halfway gone before he broke silence Being moved by letter from John he suddenly said night quite in hs old, hearty Il tell YOU what you do Amos You and Jane send out invitations John and Aberts folks and to all oi Serillas kin. bidding em all to Christmas dinner Sa, to the boys that. seems their mother hant got room enough, I'm kind O goin' in with you here You car say I'm hepin out the turkey and things, and ths ern least We all get together here m thiS bis room" A lump came into his throat and he did no finish.
 lane and Amos fell in with the suggestion quite as i it were command, and withdrew to write out the leI of invitation leaving Stephen alone in the glow O the fire for the walk that day had been stern bau wlh Doth wiu anu sho"' di'u "e Seeiicu "'uei AIN feeber.
 couple of hours later as they went downstairs ti lock the doors and put the lights, Jane said Looi in and how the hre m the big room is while se to the furnace. My. hear that wind" Amos opened the door. but pJused on the threSho, and beckoned with smile " Come here, Jane. h whispered thought didn't hear him go out Jan looked over his shoulder with word of surprise The ire had burned low. In deep bed oi ashes big oaken gnarl still Snoldcred, sending mp again single leaping jet of flame. and by its tful lg Stephen ntermittently revealed. decpsunk hi armchair his gray head turned laxiy aside his gaun hands hanging emptily by his s;de ) Better wake him. said Jarc. :" fiell take cilil , He'd better sleep here tonight. Amos went over and touched the sleeper on ,h r shoulder He did not respond Amos laid his nam against the grizzed cheek, and turned with a ,t.- toward his wife a look of h.S fece-a look gesture which told his stCry instantly and with con r plsteness.
 Stephen Was with Martha. and the past and n present him she morning and th. evening one dsy.