Rocky Ford enterprise., 1915-09-24
CHAPTER xxx.
The Miracle.


"I shall know it." he had thought.
when 1t comes"
And as he drove there came to him
the knowledge of his miracle. 1t came.
not with the lazy luxuriousness OF
youth drifting, ignorant and caring not
for wisdom. toward mate. nor yet
with the ecstatic feverish excitement
of the passionate man, but with deep.
solemn, all-pervading Joy. Peace fol-
lowed 1.-THE peace of certitude. for
he knew that in the woman who had
sinned he had found the one who Mt
ted into him as n member into its
body, completed him, with him formed
the perfect unity-of content, for he
knew that from its infinite precious
ness neither trial nor failure. disap-
pointment nor misstep could subtract
She must know" he thought. She
must be made to know-that nothing
else counts-that we are to begin over
again together"
He remembered his mission.
There was n rumble OF thunder. He
glanced overhead and saw the black
ened sky, heard the rushing wind. A
few scattered drops fell. He urged tho
horse forward.
He was miles away from the village
and near the foot of a hill that tow
cred well above its neighboN. He
smiled as he saw a trace OF an old
road. almost obliterated by weeds. that
led zigzagging up the eminence. Il
was Hedges Hill and near the crest.
he remembered, was the clubhouse that
sheltered the unhappy Piotr.
The storm overlook him before he
was halfway up the hill. When he
reached the clearing on the edge OF
which stood the shed, he made his
horse fast to a tree, and drenched to
the skin by the peIting rain. entered
the shelter.
At first, in the shadows OF the win
dowless shed, he saw no signs Of Piotr.
He stood in the doorway. watching
the storm.
He had been there several minutes
when queer choking sound came
from behind him. He turned quickly.
and as his eyes became used to the
darkness, made out the figure crouch
! ing half hidden behind a bench In the
far corner.
Hello! is that you. Piotr? What
are you DONG over there!
The noise came again.
rs something wrong with your
Mark went closer to him. I'm Mark
Truitt. Don't you know me. Piotr?"
Yves" quavered Piotr.
whats the matter-eick?"
I'm a-afraid," came the whimp pering
reply. It's the storm"
Mark smiled pityingly. So this poor
nerve-broken creature, who covered
before a little wind and rain and light.
ming, was he who had set out to harm
him.
Hes In a bad way" he thought
There. now" he said. gently. I'm not
going to hurt you. Piotr."
Piotr was in his corner. half crouch
ing. staring fixedly at Mark His eyes
made tiny points OF light In the deep
shadow.
''D-did you come here to get me7"
"Of course did. l heard you were
hereabouts and wasn't going to let
you stay up here and starve to death"
"Wh-what are you g-going to do with
me now?"
For one thing" Mark answered
gravely, when this rain let's up I'm
going to take you back to town and
get you in the habit of eating three
square meals a day. / think it's be-
ginning to let up little now"
Who" came Piotr's quaverinR
voice. who told you I was here?"
The doctor who found you yester.
iay-and Kazia."
"Kazia! She-she is here?"
Yes. She came to get you"
She knows?"
She guessed-she and the Matka
guessed-you were up to some mis-
chief. You frightened the Matka with
your wild talk. But we1l discuss that
later. Come, we'll make a start now
ITO pr f>,Nrfn-trr1A