The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-04-29
THE N STORY
THROUGH GRAY GLASSES.

hands with his old friend. They looked
at each other, hut neither made any
comment on the others appearance.
Warner knew why Lambert did not.
bert could give him would ring false:
he looked gray. and tired, and old.
Lambert was just the opposite. but
Warner could not bring himself to
speak his thought.
At the supper table Warner did not
take part in the conversation. and no
did not need to. for his wife. bright
eyed and happy voiced. had many
things to ask of lambert, and he. with
his old. warm friendliness, had as
many to ask lack. Warner gave his
attention to the boys, who. hungry
from their play. demanded some time
before their needs were appeased.
When they We're busy eating. he
leaned back and listened as he ate.
adding a word when questioned. but
striking him With repeated force, all
most like a blow in the face. came the
thought Of how we'll she and Lambert
We're fitted for each other. She had
always been beautiful. and now under
the glow of her pleasure her. girlish
face. softened and haloed with moth
erhood. was more beautiful than ever.
Warner felt his own grayness and
weakness beside the hearty, vital
strength of Lambert.
He was glad when the supper was
over. He and his wife had taken turns
IN putting the youngsters to bed. and
1t was her evening. hut he offered. and
she gave ready assent when he did, to
see that they We're piloted t. dream.
land.
AS the three t~owheaded lads fol-
lowed him up the stairs a sudden Joy
went through him, and he gathered
them all in his arms-rather a large
ATi1ftlI they" V.nr0 hYyt thnHv Hn<'
learned how to cling like burrs. In
their room he helped undress them
and the JOY anne again. He tucked
them in the wide bed. and the old hurt
came aEain-the knowledge that he
was not going to have the power to
give them what he had once dreamed
tney should have. education. oppor-
tunity to enter the big fields Of life
and business. He put his face down
against n soft cheek and a small
pair of arms went tightly around his
neck.
Why. daddy, your face it'll wet"
his little lisper said:
u Know. kiddie." Warner answered..
setting his jaws in the effort to con-
We want a story. daddy: don't for
get!" the smallest one warned.
Warner hesitated. nut the boys were
at him in chorus n he sat down to
tell tne story.
|, Through the open dor came from
below the sound of a mans cheerful
voice n a woman's eager. joyous
one. Warner closed the door and
told the story.
After the story had been told. and
n youngsters. satisfied. had drifted
away to slumber. Warner went out
with the intention of going down
stairs, but something held him-a
GonCa nf old C.Ao ~3tnnee 80 ,L-k ..s-l.x
have been. of his hopes and plans that
had not materialized. of dreams that
had not come true. of despair.
He turned and. stumbled into the
bedroom. The burden Of each separ-
ate year seemed to unite into the
great burden that he could no longer
bear. and he sank beneath it, out
stretched on the bed.
From below the voices ran on, his
Wife's clear. sweet tones reaching him
above the lower sound of the mans.
He knew why h was happy: and the
thought that Lambert's coming could
bring to her such joy led to another
thought-she and Lambert could be
girl at heart and READY for the low Of
life that had been denied her.
But he had done his best. From
that thought Warner tried to draw
comfort; but 1t was comfort unavail-
ing. He stared into the dusk of the
room. pressed his hands over his eyes
as II to shut in darkness the vision of
what might appear as a result of Lam
bert's coming.
The door opened into the room, and
a. quick. anxious voice said: Sidney,
where"
The next moment she was bending
over him and her face was near his,
What's the matter. dear? You aren't
Very polite. Just tired out?" she
queried. Come down, we've got"
silently condemning himself. he
started to rise. and said: II am
weary. Ellen; n I've been think