The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-01-27
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.,
BACK TO LIFE
BY LAURA KiRkMAM.

eeeeeoeeeeeeoeeooeoeeooeee
John Rand blamed only himself. He
had known before he asked Pearl to
face ranch life with him that only one
woman in hundred strikes happiness
under such conditions.
Pack your trunk, kd," be said kind
ly, patting the bright head that lay de-
jectedly on the round arms. Its got
On your nerves. There's just one thing
to do and that's to get back to civtliza'
ton. I'll try to follow, girl"
You'll follow!" Up came the yei
low head. The blue eyes lighted with
hope. "Oh. joint" she cried, do you
mean it?'
He nodded-hrst hals-heartediy, then
more vigorously and convincingiy.
"See," she cried. ciutching the door
jamb, "can you blame me? What girl
brought up to dances and music and
theaters could drop to this without
going half mad?"
He went to her quietly. Soothingly,
he patted her arm. gradually drawing
her away as he did It
Il know" he said gently. "And
come! Now you're going to pack.
You'll go back to your mother-until
we see what can be done"
Back to nfe!" she caught him up.
The following morning he drove her
to the station.
'Good-by!" he sang out as the train
pulled away.
He stood long time looking after
It. Then, whistltng tune that had
strange bitches in 1t, he sprang into
his wagon and turned Demons head
homeward.
When he reached the ranch he flung
the reins over the mares back and
strobe into the house No doubt one
Of the boys would attend to the horse.
He went straight to the little room at
the back Of the house which had been
Pearls.
Cod" he whispered, bring her
back! Bring her back!"
For, ell at once, he knew that unless
he had hopes of her coming back be
could not 80 on. He had thought he
could grit his teeth and work Now
he knew that he couldn't
The only way he could get himself
to go out with the boys and work was
to tell himself that her first letter
would bring news Of her coming back.
And so he lived In hope, until the
letter came. One Of his boys deliv-
cred 1t to him two nights later, as ne
sat smoking on the back step, watch
ing tie red ball Of the sun drop behind
the prairie.
With eager hands, he took It His
fingers trembIed as he tore It open. He
bent, shoulders contracted. His eyes
were like fires.
Darling Johnnie" he read, 7 can
hardly wait till you sell the old place
and come East"
lie dropped the letter. He covered
his eyes with his shirt sleeves. His
shoulders heaved. He was sobbing as
he had sobbed when little boy.
But gradually he got back the cour.
age to go on: "Oh, Johnnie darling this
IS the only place to live! have been
II Z dream CT happiness since re-
turned. Of course I could not be so
happy il I didn't know you were com
Ing soon. Goodness! How I have
danced. and teaed. and played the
pianola!"
After all he did Lot 90 on. He could
not He knew what the rest Of the
letter was like. Hearing commotion
In the corral, he got up and pushed his
steps toward it ise dared not sit and
think
And Il was with welcome that he
saw a. otst.epercus broncho tearing
round aud round the corral, defyins
autkority.
Don't go In" cried the men IN hor'
rc-, as he raulted the fence and made
toward the wild beast.
John laughed. Here, for q moment,
he could forget his pain. He headed
of the animal. cornered it. Then reck.
lessly, step by step, he neareo It.
Wnea he came to he was lying IN
bed with e doctor bending over him.
O2e movement told him that his leg
was broken; He ley back. closing his
eyes il pain.
Dinly. he saw figures flying about
waiting on hin. He was conscious OF
some one putteri2g over the fire. An
other Of ths boys Strengthened his pill
low. Still another asked him il there
was anything ne wanted.
There's not q letter." he asked
But through the long day none came.
Quietly, he lay on his bed with his
eyes wandering out over the plain.
The darkness fell at last. Pitch-black.
ness care.
Johnnie, darling!" he was saying to
himself. IS she used to say it. "oh,
Johnnie, darling"
Or was some cne else saying It? Sud
denly it seemed to him that voice IN
the pitch-blacI1ness about him was say,
ing 1t. He propped himself up on his
elbow. Yes, there it was again:
Johnnie, cariing!"
AND his own lips were closed! He
sat up straight now.
Pearl" he cried. in the threatening
voice Of child, who, If disappointed,
will so into wild, inconsolable, hysteri-
cal crying.
But there was no Disappointment in
store fcr him; Pearl was really there
in tho darkness beside him.
With broken cry, she few to him
She sobbaG herself still in his arms.
Il te.c!: the mex. train back-after
writing t::llas letter. she whispered.