Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1915-01-23
CHAPTER XVI.
Glowing Embers-

Glowing Embers-
The figure silhouetted in the door
way was one to make men dream, full
curved, strong with the strength of
women whose forbears have always
toiled, yet without heaviness; 1t was
the strength that lies in quality, not
in bulk.
She looked at him steadily. showing
no surprise And by that he read that
she had learned to take life, it's COIN
cidences and it's climaxes as they
came, calmly, without loss of poise.
She spoke first. in a low even voice
that limited even less than her manner
at inner excitement. Il thought it was
Piotr Your step sounds like his
They might have been daily famil-
lars.
YES" he flushed II am somewhat
in his case
He almost missed the swift glance
she cast toward his cane. But he was
grateful that she had no comment for
his injury. In the presence of her
splendid projections his own physical
shortcoming seemed almost cause for
shame.
How do you do, Kazia?" he said
gravely. Il didn't expect to find you
here"
He held out an uncertain hand. She
took it, neither hastily nor reluctantly.
for brief meaningless clasp.
Il am here sometimes. VIII you
come IMP
She stood aside and he entered, try
ing to overcome his limp. 1t was the
kitchen, which in Rose alley-as he
remembered-had to serve as living
room as well 1t was clean, but bare;
pitifully bare.
By the stove stood q little faded
woman, much stopped, her hair white
and thin, her pale lack-luster eyes for
the moment frightened by a startled
| question. He went over to her and
| took her hand She shrank away from
him.
1T is Mark Truitt, Matka," said
Kazia in Polish. Don't you remem-
| ber?"
Hanka said something in the same
tongue.
She says" Kazia interpreted. they
| have never forgotten
Their eyes met again His
turned away quickly and went to the
| other occupant of the room He sat
in the only armchair, huge mass of
| inert flesh, head slouched forward and
fingers playing aimlessly with the long
unkempt beard that reached halfway
to the bulging waist. Mark laid a hand
on his shoulder. Roman looked up.
| But Roman saw as the newborn babe
sees.
The grasp on his shoulder frightened
Roman, don't you know me? I'm
Mark-Mark Truitt, you remember
The shoulder stirred a little under
the tight grasp. Romans head slouched
forward again and he began once more
his aimless twisting of the long beard
How long," Marks voice had be-
come sharp. has he been this way? 20
Almost three years"
And here?"
"A year longer"
Kazia's eyes said: What Ia that
to your
Why" he demanded, didn't you
let me know about it?'
She smiled-contemptuo az 1t
seemed to him.
I'VE must get them out of here" he
went on hastily
I'VE can't Pfotr won't let U.S."
He must" Mark declared CURLY.
He will not she repeated.
Il saw him today. He's crazy"
He is He's a good composftor
at least decently- But he prefers &c
work for the Outcry-for little or notn.
ing Generally it's nothing He SAYS
4 it's for the cause
But that's no reason why he
shouldn't let me help them"
She shrugged her shoulders TIC
Piotr it is 1 know, because I've tried
Then" he said. well take them
away and settle with Piotr afterward.'
He said it crisply. with the assured
| air OF fortunes darlings who. havinf
made their resolve, take its consum
nation for granted Her faint smile
showed again
Il 1T isn't SO simple as that THAI
: won't GO"
They won't goi- He stared WHY
notr'