The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1914-09-05
CHAPTER X.
Wounded on the Field.

that the cooling Stag might harden and
be broken without delay. Not seldom
the water would be conveyed under
the crust, come into contact with the
still molten Stag and be converted sud
denly into steam. Then there would
be an explosion. Men might be seri-
ously injured, or even killed, which
was very sad-but one of the hazards
Of the employment. 1t happened when
Mark had been following his straight
road ahead for more than five years.
Five years during which he had won
success, substantial II not brilliant!
The lack of brilliancy might have been
disputed by those few who knew that
sundry labor-saving devices installed
in the Quinby mills during this period
were of his invention.
When Henley heard Of the acct
dent he frowned; Henley detested &C
cidents. which spoke Of inefficiency
somewhere. But when the informa-
ton was added that the foreman Of
the open-hearth battery was among
the injured, he said: "Damn!" and
In person at once called the hospital
and his own physician by telephone
and through these agencies command.
eered the best surgical skill and care
for that valuable workman.
The doctors gathered In solemn
conclave and ded various things to
Marks shattered body. They doggedN
his steps into the very shadow of
death and would not let him die. They
did that, knowing they condemned him
to a life of pain, and having the Sc
curity Of Thomas Henley's word that
their bills should each and every one
Of them be paid.
of mystery that leads to full knowl-
edge, two men began their daily-and
nightly-watches. One was a thin
faded man who wore the rusty black
Of the country preacher. The other
was an awkward, gray little man
who would sit motionless by the hour.
never taking his eyes from the still
form under the white sheet
Mark did not die. His broken body
began slowly to mend. He passed out
Of immediate danger; he was even al
lowed to talk and to be talked to a lit
tie. But in the manner of the nurses,
Of his visitors from Bethel. even Of the
calloused doctors, were a grave gen.
tleness. an absence of the exultation to
be expected after triumph over death.
He felt 1t.
He put his question to his father
What are they keeping back from
met"
Simon's glance did not waver, nor
did he try to evade with a soothing
lie. Yell never walk easy again
zen have to use q crutch. leastways
. cane. always"
ITS my hipf"
YES"
is that all?"
"Ye were hurt innardly. Yell have
to be careful always. No more worl
In the mills"
Mark closed his eyes, uttering NJ
complaint But within was q Turmoil
Of protest and rebellion. A cripple
q partial invalid for life! Half
man! So had ended the dreamed cam
paign Of conquest Tears OF futile rag,
seeped out through his closed eyelids
His recovery was slow and yer,
painful; six years of driving ahead a
top speed had left him but little re
serve vitality for the emergency. Tn,
mood OF rebellion died down from
sheer exhaustion. He accepted hi
misfortune; but sullenly. with no swell
ing heroic resolve to defy untowar,
circumstance.
There was no conscious desire I,
return to the mills from which he ha,
been banished. They were too mucl
the object OF his smoldering resen,
ment just then. He felt toward then
as the betrayed toward the traitor.
Il think" he said once to Simon an
I Richard Courtney. who had not We
left the city. "Ill go back to Bethel"
1T will be good place to reeupe,
ate" said the preacher.
But mean to stay"
We shall be glad to have you back.
Thoughts OF Bethel naturally revive
the memory Of Unity Martin. Mar
found a certain grim humor In tn
recollection.
He had had his period Of tragic r,
morse for kazia. He had not, how
ever, let conscience push to the e,
ueme Of disturbing the fixed destin
Just mentioned. Nor was he long 1
attaining q comparative peace of min
In which he could congratulate himsel
on having avoided a serious blundel
Not many months later he by chanc
met Piotr, who conveyed the news tha
Kazia had married Whiting. Piotr'
manner OF narration implied tina
though Whiting was a poor refuge
Kaxia had been fortunate to escap
Marx He seemed disappointed tina
his auditor showed no deep emotion.
Marks letters to Unity had contir
ued. at erratic intervals. Soon her n
plies. too. began to dwindle In numbe
and In length; they had never ha
much to lose In the way Of intensity
And then he sent Q letter that sh
fAiled TO answer It all leaving thei
1--we aRair suspended. 70 to speak. 4