The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-11-11
IIII LIN Ill
CHAPTER xxII-(contihued.)

A week passed In that period.
Nbrinth came to appreciate the unfalt-
ag growth OF two conditions, not un-
IABs in character, but entirely foreign
M each other. In one instance IL was
ING devoted loyalty of Joan Bright TO
tfic Midthorne; in the other, the sur
missing devotion OF Mary Midthorne to
the sick man in the Widow Payson's
1pttage. There was no speculation as
In the attitude Of Miss Bright, but in
tome quarters wonder was expressed
Sver Mary's behavior. Corinth, in
ignorance OF the real situation, found
sflne difficulty in satisfying itself as TO
nn imaginary one. OF course, IL was
ktlown that Mary and John were in
ave with each other, but that was no
Mason why she should devote so much
af her time 10 Adam Carr, outsider. The
man could not be moved, but as there
Mere, two nurses in the house to at
( eDd@to him, with doctors making daily
Isis, ii was not reasonable to suppose
ffAt Mrs. 'Payson dependend on Mary
iDr assistance. Moreover, Corinth was
6{ill unable to make out whether Adam
Was friendly to- Mary's brother. In any
eXent, he was distinctly at odds with
Ifprace Blagden, which was some
Ming. ..H..
ABefore the end OF the week, Adam
|N|NAA AGCONSlGN lHC pOWCE VI SpGSIIl.
IkN was hopelessly paralyzed from the
sfnist down. At first he spoke with an
Hort, but his indomitable will power
y Kercame the impediment he arti-
NHlated slowly but clearly. His mind
Ms clear and active. He required the
nth Of. the doctors. Getting it, he
th ilosophized:
There's no sense in your waiting
Ntre, Jack may hang on for 10
lars. Doctors can't tell anything
NDout 1t, but I'm such a tenacious in
HiFidual that it's not likely that I'll
I'VE up. the ghost without a long fight.
MA course, / ought to be sensible and
NAit right now. Better for you, better
kNr me, better for Mrs. Payson, better
kNf everybody, IL could pass on to-
N'ght but l guess II won't be so easy
at that. Nothing has ever been real
esy for me. Even this won't be easy.
TX were you, I'd get back to New
Eprk and business. IN be lying here
4 you can find the time week ends, to
fpIne and see your mother and Mary.
NOn't mind Ii much, after ALL A long
|hst viii do me good. AS you won't
afar Ito be being removed to a hospital
4Nd your mother won't either, guess
f have 20 stay where I'm put. In a
Rek or two I can be wheeled about in
d chair. so II won't be so bad Now
I
3''fnly in your mind. So far as the
Wprld is concerned, am never to be
more to you than Mr.. Adam.
hats what I've been for 80 years
I've never said ] was anthing else.
NeVer will, not even to you. 1t won't
nuFt the world any to keep on think
lng your daddy is out there in the At
leptic, and that your mother is here
|nNtead OF up there in the little grave
n
1fch as he'd like to, can't rake either
1f Them up. He only suspects half the
tfMth. He doesn't know about poor
A.ey Barlow. Your mother here won't
Mind being mother to you, right or
Wong, till she dies. So just you go
pn thinking OF me as Mr.. Adam, your
9tst friend and I'll keep on being your
so friend. All the kings horses and
wa the kings men can't drag IL out OF
ne When It comes time for me to
a'H and know it, may ask you to
pNk your ear close to my lips so that
van whisper 1t to you, but it won't
4N till then, and IL won't be for an
ftQy else's ear. There's only one 9TH
Nfperson that must be told. Eric's got
81 know it before you make Mary
Punr wife. .a ~. =.
but Pm not going to make her my
NIte,' said his son gently but firmly.
oh, yes, you are" said Adam de-
lively. There's no way round that.
sp1 not as good as Philip Midthorne
MAS, but Lucy Barlow was as good as
nest of the Blagdens. Don't forget
mat my lad. Ask your mother She
new her"
Ask my mother" repeated John
Payson, with bitter smile.
4 didn't mean Ii to sound funny,
Iack,'' said Adam humbly.
A day or two later, old Jabez hob
,iea up to see his son. He stood at the
stdside, peering quizzically at the oc-
.NNnnt, on whose lips there was a dis
prted grin Of welcome.
Well, father, how are your"
lust $3.50. Adam" replied the
aiarlent
rheumatism any better?"
Nome." .
There was a period Of silent regard.
Hhsn old Jabez found the words he
HAnted.
IT'S a blamed shame, Adam. 1 don't
'ef why the good Lord didn't do this
q me, stead OF you. 1t wouldn't ha'
MAae any difference If 1t had been me,
lilt-but 1t don't seem right for you to
d yin here like this an me skippin'
.naRt as spry as ever. 1t don't seem
Eighty odd last January. Dang II,
su4 amt even 60. That's why it's
Br0ng.'' -. -
Nc" said Adam, your 80 odd years
1Fores 1t TO be right. Nature makes
AZ pay as we go. You haven't any
cores to settle with nature. That's
*Hy you're 80 odd and spry. And, now,
loH are the sQuirrels?' 8
Well" said Jabez. taking the chair
fNt had been placed for him, they're
'eftin SO blamed fresh that there amt
~ win with EN-. The whole caboodle
4 ON got In the house yesterday when
WAs taktn' nap. and, dang me, IL
N9N didn't find that barril Of peanuts
o4 sent down last month When I
YNNe up. by gosh, couldn't hardly
iaf put of the door fer peanut shells
N8t I thought thered been a sudden
nofFstorm. but they cracked SO loud
Yn8p 1 stepped on EN- knowed 1t
GUIDING be that. Then I got to the
|p4T and seen th em fool critters settin,
tpNnd on the grass out there in front,
r epssed fat that ! thought they'd bust.
rey Jest couldn't wobble. You never
a NV your life, Adam. seen such idiotic
1p.Nn things as they wuz. A hundred
E Rm! Squattin" around the place, I
iruer pitful like. Cussin' them didn't
n NO good. They lest looked back
4t twtgged their tails feeble the more
rllHeed. And you can't give suulrte l
arrgoric like You can q baby # 4
Ind now you have an idea what ma
ur4 bad begun to do for Jabez Carr.
NNk ! am getting ahead of my story.
|aNSn Carr did not recover his speech
nfN after the brief. perfunctory trial
+ Uric Midthorne was over and the
ul1Mg man atood honnrahlv acnuitfad