The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-09-29
THE NEWS SHORT STORY

SIGH ever II. Slis silu lMlcIUllN, ana
without waiting for n reply she trem-
bled to her feet and walked TO the
door Come. Hester; we got 10 be
going"
II wondered whit brought Emmeline
here" murmured Calliope. taking up
her work again. "Of course after she'd
visited in Milerton she had 10 come
around and see how | took news OF
Carol Feuton. What hends women
can be- she bit on her thread With
her strong white teeth aud looked
dreamily ont of the window and shifted
the spicy fragrance OF the cinnamon
roses
Happened right here by the CHINA
mon roses she whispered To herself
II was so happy. and he said he was
afraid he had made mistake, and
gave him back the ring Seems like
all the strength went out of my legs
that very minute. spose, coming So
soon after mothers long sickness and
death. il upset me. If they all knew
how wanted TO stand and walk
around and be like other folks, oaly
somehow there's no spring back OF 1t
all DR. Brown says he can't do a
thing. and he talks about will power
I'm useless mortal. But, there: Isabel
says | ain: and il it wasn't for me
she wouldn't have home! Calliope
smiled through sudden tears. Looks
like she'd soon have handsome home
o ,I. In'g
fellow. hut. Lord forgive me, 1t does
rankle to think my girl should marry
Carols nephew
She leaned back in the chair and
closed her eyes. Her helpless feet rest
ed on n hassock. and across her lap
there rippled streams of bright colored
carpet rags. From the rosebushes
came the deep hum of bees, and the
tall tops of the locust trees rustled a
pleasant monotone.
Suddenly there broke into the sweet
harmony of the summer afternoon 9th
er sounds-the sharp raps of n horses
hoofs on the hard oyster shell road. a
mans voice shouting, then just the
pounding hoOfs and the rattle of car.
riage wheels
| Calliope leaned forward and looked
out of the window. sorrel horse
madly past the house. Behind him
swung low phaeton containing a
man. Just beyond Calliope's front
gate the phaetOn swayed and caught
upon large rock. The horse tore him
/ self loose from the shafts and disap-
peared beyond the turn of the road.
! The phaeton toppled and overturned
and pinned the man underneath.
Ii was very silent after that. 1t was
lonely road. and from her window on
the hill Cnlliope Delmore could see be-
yond the turn OF the road. and she no.
tlced that the runaway horse had stop
ped and turned into an open field to
Craze.
She felt very strange Her heart was
beating unanimously, and her blood
seemed to flow through her veins in
sustaining food that gave strength
to her weak body.
White Tipped, she stared down at
the wrecked phaeton and the still form
beneath II. That was Carol Fenton.
She knew the minister's little carriage.
but the horse was strange one TO her.
Perhaps Carol was dying down there
alone I'm the road Who would 60 for
help? IL only Isabel was there. The
horse might return and trample him.
Calliope was afraid of horses.
She closed her eyes and prayed for
help. When she opened them she
smiled oddly and placed her hands on
the arms OF her chair. She kicked aside
the hassock and stood upon her feet.
She put out one foot, and it support
ed her weight. She stood upon the
other. Then with sudden energy she
picked up the untouched glass of root
beer that Hester had poured for her.
staggered across the room 10 the door
and stumbled to the porch and down
the steps
Then Calliope Delmore. who had sat
in chair for fifteen years with help
less limbs. ran down the inclined path
TO the front gate and gained the road
With the action came renewed life
and sense of buoyancy and youth.
Newton Deane and Isabel Delmore
driving slowly home through the gold
en- afternoon. saw Calliope run down
the path, and Isabel was so frightened
that she hid her face on Newton
shoulder. 1t was easier to do it be
cause his arm was already around her
The horse stopped stock still. and they
watched Calliope as they might have
witnessed the ghost scene In play.
She darted out of the gate and down
the sloping path TO the shattered phae
ton Carol Fenton's eyes were wide
open. and his face was white ano
dra wn. The body of the vehicle rested
ON one of his legs.
"Calllopew he gasped when she knel
beside him and held the root beer Il
his lips II was just coming TO SEE
YOU, dear" he whispered-"comine e
ask your forgiveness. and you know
the rest" he murmured.
''Of course | know it," said Calliope
practically not knowing that her eyes
were full of tears Your coming this
way has worked miracle. I've rul
J every step OF the way, and ! guess
can keep on my feet now. s'pose
ought to be mad Mt you. Fenton. bu
how can be when we all make sucl
mistokesY" They were holding hand