Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1914-01-16
10
CHAPTER v111-(continued,.

u told her to go on. seize all the best
In 1T. She is a grand little girl, some
way. You know I've lived south
know her temperament[ know all
she's had to fight. too, out at Lind
strom's. Know and sympathize with
u don't suppose another person in all
the town could know or care!"
II don't imagine" Janet knew Wiley
homeless old soldier, or a destitute
family in h county. they always
came to Wiley's attention-he was even
knowing and caring. helplessly in his
penniless struggle with News.
But you, Wiley-what can yeu do
for herr"
II don't know. Only befriend her.
All the towns laughing over her win
ming a beauty prize. No n ever
noticed her. except Sc was considered
pretty INT eccentric. The big fat
/! any one p they'd see that mar
Vicious purity in her face-her grace,
and all that odd quality Of her mind
Wiley" Miss Vance sat back. her
lips frightened.
ooh. 1 know! Scold me-say 1 can't
afford it! That it's aroused a lot Of
heartburnings and %jealousies and silly
rot in town, and l shouldn't be in it!
But she came t. me-said h / was
almost her only friend in Rome. And
Win dll tnlS DeWll.
dered, dumbstruck-needs protection
a-friend!"
"You consider yourself a.
chaperon?"
Don't laugh. l tell you she woke
me up!"
What possibly could she have to do
with your a~wakening?"
w had a long talk. a splendid
talk, Janet. / saw the hopelessness of
her life If she stayed here. There's
nothing for her here. AND now, who
can tell? Why, I'll bet she gets pro-
posals of marriage by the dozen
artists will want to paint her, mana
gers will want her to go on the stage
everything is possible with her! And
she left it to me, Janet-and l told her
go-seize all the good in life. anyhow.
anyway-live. live."
An You yem% 5 Tnnf pursued pitilessly.
Ing SO. And only l know how she is
suffering! / told o it fired me. She
grew ST wide-eyed and big with it, and
determined to be somebody! And l
though of myself-the years I'd wasted.
Janet, and l said to myself: Goo bless
you, child! If you can, l cant i don't
know how it was. but felt my old fire
again-my old ambition! That's why
] promised you, Janet. to make this
fight"
Yes" Janet answered slowly. I'll
0etp you. Wiley.
He could not see her face. She was
watching her brother bring the rig
across the street. But the splendor
seemed to have died for her. IN it's
stead was the old shrewd patience Of
the successful ma touched now
with pathos Of some haunting defeat.
yes. I'll help you. Wiley" she added
and arose to go.
Wiley watched them drive. away. At
tho end OF the street thu gray Of the
autumn Ountry began: the lonely
land of hill n bottom. but over it
the home fires We're burning. So they
thought something of him out there?
Curran Of the News-the heart in
exile. the man without place and
honor? They believed in him. the
brown harmed quiet men; they had
watched him fight. heard his incessant
cutlery against every wrong. every
privilege OF class whether in the OBJ
scure countryside. or out in the great
world? He could not tell. It had
seemed as If he spoke alone. champion
Ing valiant but hollow theories against
their complacent i~ncredulity. He had
envied. at times. the prosperous town
tradesmen. professional men. the best
people-they had. not spent their hearts
In crying put for new things-and the
county had enriched them.
But now out Of his long and hidden
despair Of himself a great vision came:
the farm home lights were beacon fires
lighted for an eternal struggle. await
Ing the coming leaders. And his heart
cried out that he would be one to
answer: 10 understood at last what
Arne meant. He heard the traps Of the
young men,. up the hill.
my ----