The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-05-27
The Ambition of
Mark Truitt

But the bent old man at the SCUM
window had forgotten breakfast. fol
little Mark watched him without
salutation.
Good morning. father. he said at
last.
Good morning Mark simon
turned reluctantly from the WINDOW.
Il was jest thiRkiR i'll be twenty
years tomorrow - went a~ay-ah
now there's that
Yes. Your dream has come true.
II you live until tomorrow might YOU II
have seen il ali-steel made I'M Beth-
ell"
"Id like TO live that long Simon
answered simply.
Mark smiled gently. More than
once lately. he had noted IN simon
signs OF growing childishness
Much longer than that hope. Are
you content"
Simon hesitated. Il reckon We
think I'd ought TO be. It's come easy
to me All had 20 do was TO think
about IL an wait fur ye to build the
mills But wish could give some
thing 10 EN-
You gave the idea That's some.
thing, | suppose a good idea is never
lost. You failed but kept the idea
alive | caught it from you and built
the mills, adding my own idea The
mills will go on though | may fail.
And suppose some day somebody
will take up my idea and make some
thing OF IT, lie smiled again Pref.
lilly reasoned. anyhow
Eye say ye may fail?'
But Mark had taken Simon's place
at the window and did not seem 10,
hear the question. Simon did not
press II then. He resumed his slow
methodical setting OF the table.
Breakfast ready. they sat down and
began the meal in silence. Mark ate
lightly, absentIy II was not until
they were about TO rise that Simon
yentured 20 repeat his question.
We say We may fail2'
Eth Oh, yes. Il Is possible
Why"
1T may be the wrong time And
! may be the wrong man. It's very
likely I'm the wrong man"
He rose abruptly and went out OF
the house toward the stable. He had
spoken quietly. but Simon watched
MIN with a troubled frown
Later he saw Mark sitting in the
stable doorway. motionless, arms fold
ed, staring unwaveringly into space.
More than once Simon had come upon
him so. What, the father now won
dered, did ne think, what hidden sor-
row uncover. during those long 81
lences? Ever since Mark had re-
turned, Simon had been vaguely
sensible OF suffering TO which some
solacing word might be said. But the
word would not come 10 unschooled
lips.
81 wish" Simon thought, II could
give him something"
The warm sun beat upon Mark. but
II had mo power TO lift the shadow
resting over him He was thinking
OF a miracle that had not come, see
ing broken, sobbing woman, pay
ing Magdalen. whose courage at the
last moment had failed. whose eyes
betrayed the hurt she had had at his
hands
Two years had but burned that pic
ture the clearer in his memory. And
he had ceased TO hope the miracle
would come
But he had paid. he was paying.
with a penitence that, too. grew more
poignant with the slow months, eat
ing into his soul forbidding happi-
ness. claiming his spirit to the earth
when II needed to soar II did not
seem strange to him that for her,
the last item in his record OF heed
less destructive desire, his penitence
passed beyond the surface agitation
with which most men pay for their
sins. II did not seem TO him unjust;
he even welcomed Il. since he could
make no reparation. he could at least
pay a penalty.
II was real suffering Simon
sensed no day without it's hour OF
payment, no hour so heavy as on that
Sabbath morning.
From across the town came mel
low clamor the voice OF the new
church bell calling the faithful Its
vibrations fingered sweetly on the