The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1913-09-04


silence for sever
as al moments; the
mans voice break
ing the drowsy stiffness called the
Homan's gaze away from the sky line
of the distant hills.
Why should we care what the world
says? It's code of ethics is warped
and inconsistent The modifying cir
cumstances of an act determine its
moral character Those circumstances
the world seldom knows and, even
should it know, would not care to un-
derstand. When the evidence is all
in and the Great Judge prepares to
Guilty / feel sure that he will take
into account all the extenuating cir
cumstances. Is your loveless mar
riage sanctified in the eyes of God
simply because it has been legalized
in the eyes of man? Your husband
knows only the desire of possession;
l love you with the complete trinity
of body, mind and soul"
His voice had risen in the intensity
of his appeal, but the last words end
ed almost in a sob.
You say your husband refuses to
divorce you My yacht lies in the
harbor; at word from you she shall
spread her wings. We"
On the threshold stood a little lad.
simultaneously their eyes wandered
from the tangled curls down over the
ridiculously short expanse of bare,
sun-browned legs.
Il was sure / would find you here"
he began. 81 followed you over the
fields and brought you these daisies
because you have no little boy; l was
sorry for you"
The woman caught the child in her
arms and strained him to her yearn-
ingly. His dusty little feet strayed at
will over the skirt of her green linen
gown.
Thank you, she said simply, one
of the rare smiles reserved for chill
dren illumining her face. But tell
me, dear, why you were sorry for
me-"
Last night" the child began, nest
ling contentedly into the curve of her
arm, 81 heard father and mother talk
ing of you, after | had gone to bed. l
couldn't hear all they said, but l un-
derstood mother to say you had hurt
yourself. Did you bump your head?
with sudden inspiration) cause If
you did, / know just how horrid you
feel. | bumped mine once and it hurt
and hurt ever so many nights. After
it stopped hurting the ugly scar stay
ed just the same"
The scar, John" the woman's head
dropped lower and lower; a painful
silence fell on the little company The
lad slipped down, and, kissing her
hand, sped away over the hills. The
child's quick intuition had perceived
the strain of the situation.
The man rose and raised the wom-
ans averted face to his, until their
eyes met. He was the first to break
the spell which held them.
God sends revelations even in these
days We have entertained one of his
angels unawares." His voice was ten
der and strangely softened Weighed
in the balance and almost found want
ing. The Grey Gull shall sail to NOR.
row and II must be her only pas
senger Forgive me, dear. l did not
think about the scar"
He folded her trembling hands in
his firm, strong ones and gazed into
the deep, steady glow of her eyes His
own were very bright with unshed
tears as he said, Goodnight"
"The daisies" she whispered softly,
carefully dividing the cluster Of flow
ers beside her and extending half of
them towards him shyly.
He took them reverently; a new,
sweet diffidence had suddenly sprung
up between them. His eyes travelled
from her well-poised head in it's frame
OF shining hair to her feet, clad in
their stout little oxfords. He even no.
ticed, his throat contracting sharply,
the perky little bows of her wide silk
iacings. Then he turned and walked
steadfastly away; his shoulders erect,
his face turned toward the setting sun.
The woman watched him until he
disappeared around the curve in the
road. Her hands idly folded in her
lap, she saw the shadows deepen
around he'd one by one.
When the west was yelled in a cloud
OF fieecy mist, the evening star came
out and the pale crescent of the moon
rose over the horizon. A wondrous
quiet settled on the hills and wales;
soothing peace stole over her, and,
sinking on her knees, she hid her face
In the brown-eyed daisies and gave
thank to God for the "AftergIow
(Copyright, by Daily Story pub. Chi