The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1914-05-28

clinging about him. Then blank
sense OF movement and OF troublous
disturbance. of insistent voices that
called to him and inquisitive hands
that plucked at him. and then voices
growing distant again. and hands fall
ing away. and at last-silence.
Inky clouds we're gathering over
the sunlight when Shirley came from
Damory Court. along the narrow wood
path under the hemlocks. and the way
was striped with blue-black shadows
and filled with signing noises She
walked warily, hating often at some
leafy rustic to catch a quick breath
of dread. Az she approached the tree
roots where the cape jessamines lay.
she had to 70: CO her feet forward by
sheer effort OF will. AT little dis.
tance from them she broke :. stick and
with It managed to drag the bunch to
her. turning her eyes with n shiver
from the trampled spot near by. She
picked up the flowers. and treading
with caution. retraced her steps to the
wider path.
She stepped into the Red Read at
length in the teeth OF thunderstorm,
which had arisen almost without warn
ing to break with the passionate in.
tenBity Of electric storms In the South.
There was no shelter. but even had
there been. she would not have sought
II. The turbulence of nature around
her matched. in q way. her over
strained feeling, and she welcomed
the fierce bulge OF the wind In the
up-blowing whorls of her bair and the
drenching wetness OF the rain. She
tried to fix her mind on near things,
the bending grasses. the scurrying red
runnels and mapping shrubbery. but
her thoughts wilfully escaped the
tether. turning again and again to the
events OF the last two hours. She pic
tured Unc' Jefferson's eyes rolling up
In ridiculous alarm, his winnowing
arm lashing his indignant mule In his
flight for the doctor.
At the mental picture she choked
with historical laughter. then cringed
suddenly against the sopping bark.
She saw again the doctors gaze lift
from his first examination of the tiny
punctures to send a swift penetrant
glance at her. before he bent his great
body to carry the unconscious man to
the house. Again At OF shuddering
swept over her. Then. all at once,
tears came. strangling sobs that bent
and swayed her. II was the dischlrge
fsnss e the Jol meyaen jar, & the !. sing OF the
lief. After a time she grew quieter
He would get well. The thought
that perhaps she had saved his life
gave her thrill that ran over her
whole body. And until yesterday she
the blurred half-light. pushing her we,
hair back from her forehead and smil
ing up in the rain that still fell fast
In few moments she rose and went on
At the gate OF the Rosewood lan'
stood a mail-box on cedar post anC
she paused to fish out a draggled Rich
mond newspaper. AS she thrust II un
a headline. With a flush she tore 4
from Its soggy wrapper. the wettet
fiber parting In her eager fingers, ant
resting her foot on the lower rail o
the gate. spread It open on her knee.
She stood stock-still until she ha'
read the whole. II was the story o
John valiant's sacrifice OF his privat
fortune to save the ruin OF the In
volved corporation.
Its effoct upon ner was shock. Sh
felt her throat swell as she read; thel
she was chilled by the memory o
what she had said to him: "Wha
has he ever done except play polo an
furnish spicy paragraphs for the &C
ciety columns?"
What a beast wasi" she said. at
dressing the wet hedge. He had JUS
done that splendid thing. II was bt