The Southern herald., 1912-11-15
HNeIEsSTHIRlHAGER
Reconstruction Of a Heart Net
Always Painful
~ KATHERINE HoPsoN.


IL isnt ny heart 90 much as n.
pride that Is hurt but either Way. 1
means readiusting my whole life; an.
reconstruction Is always painful.
thought judith Cameron as she locke,
down At her nov ringless third fngsr
where for seven long years. Don Bar
lows diamond had sparklsd.
They had been classmates IN col
lege, and had become engaged tbs
sumner zfter their graduation. The
following fail. Judith had accepted !
position to teach In the high schOc
Of her home town. and Don had en-
tered law. school Both were deter
mined that be should become estah
hshed In his chosen profession before
their marriage. After Don finished his
course. he secured through his fathers
influence. . good position In the once
Of an old family friend But here, in
spite Of his me opportunity. Don had
failed. as Jet. to make good.
At the end OF seven years Of patient
waiting. Judith was forced to admit
that he lacked true ambition and the
manly elements thatimake for success.
It was this fact. more than the rumors
Of his surreptitious attentions to the
pretty, frivolous sister Of his law part
ner, that caused Judith to suggest
breaking their engagement, which Of
fer Don accepted with ill-concealed re-
lief.
Shortly after this, through the influ-
ence Of friends In Oklahoma City, Ju-
dith was offered a position as teacher
Of science. Longing for the relief Of
new environment. she decided to &C
cept.
But I'm afraid | chose an unfayor-
able time to come as far as seeing the
country is concerned" she thought as
she rubbed the steam from the car
window and peered anxiously out at
the flooded landscape. 1T looks as If
1t had always rained and always
would" With a .shiver she watched
the steady downpour.
Almost even witA the track flowed
the red, clay-stained water; and tele-
graph poles were already halfway
submerged. Here and there, on some
high elevation. showed ruins Of corn
or cotton crops, and, occasionally,
persimmon-tree lifted its fruit-laden
branches out Of the sea of water, like
a spectral Christmas tree.
With sigh, Judith turned away and
wrapped herself more closely in her
travelling coat, closing her eyes with
the determination to shut out all
sights and sounds.
The train seemed fairly to crawl
over the ties. and, every now and then,
was obliged 70 stop, while the track
ahead was being tested.
I'VE can't possibly get to Oklahoma
City before midnight at this rate. That
will be cheerful indeed with no one to
meet mel" thought Judith, and the
frown Of perplexity deepened between
her eyebrows. Il must have lost my
nerve somewhere out there In the
rain," she added with a rueful little
smile.
The other passengers we're looking
at magazines or sitting In attitudes Of
bored patience. Every one felt tried
by the delay.
At last the ceaseless beating of rain
against the windows had a soothing
effect, and resting her head against a
pillow, Judith closed her eyes. For
some time she slept, till she was
awakened by harsh voice Of the
brakeman calling "Tulsa!" Many of
the passengers streamed out to pat
ronize the eating-house, glad Of any
diversion.
Several new passengers entered the
train. and Judith watched them idly.
without interest. AS one man placed
his suitcase across the aisle from her.
she glanced at him carelessly, then
something about the shape OF his head
seemed strangely familiar. She leaned
forward in amazemnt.
He looks like Frank Leedford; that
is certainly who 1t isl" she declared.
She had not seen him since their
high school days, when his general
trustworthiness and pleasant manners
had made him general favorite in
spite Of his poor surroundings and
humble parentage. He had been
obliged to stop school and go to work
before finishing his course, ana had
obtained work in a distant city where
she had lost track of him. Judith OBJ
served that he now had the bearing of
one who had succeeded, and she felt
glad as she remembered his early
As he turned, she noted the manli.
ness of his face, and at the same mo-
ment he observed the smiling gray
eyes opposite, and his own lighted up
with recognition and pleasure.
Judith Cameron, by all that IL
lucky!" he exclaimed, and crossed the
aisle to shake hands.
Where did you come from?" he
q aakad nn aho snoda xoo,,. e.. - -