The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1916-04-13

ever again.
ars I.eete repeated Der words and
added ''li always seems to me that 3
bulh s ike a human soul dark and
wdthered and hlud. and then the
warmth ~ lhp earib sends up green
shoot 90 ibe sunshine 81 understand
ing ana the shoot becomes stalk that
sends oni leaves ~ faith and belief
and cg0n t. he better aud grow up-
ward. and the buds are promises ~
greater perfection and 6nally the
beautiful fragrant blossoms are proof
Of awakening 10 new life 4 man or q
woman who has buried his character
I'm dn may see his dead soul awaken g
new life IL must be watered with
prayer aud warmed by the sunshine Of
understanding and faith"
Thank you. ma am. said Bad Heck
ert, putting on his nat and picking up
his lily
Keep II IN the sunshine, Bad she
said meaningly
"Yes'm. aud. he added huskiiy, I'm
water II too i"
Mrs I.eeie watched him until he had
vanished In the little one room shack
under the cotionwoods Al the TO
employees were housed thus in little
shacks meeting IN the mess house for
meals three times a day or spending
their evenings there.
NJ. a 81 In In. thn gttY
and went back 10 the big house.
when did you say Il would be Eas
ter Sunday. ma ann" he asked.
1.-TWO weeks from tomorrow, Bad,
she said
Thanks" he said briefly, and went
back 10 his room. He soaked his head
in a pail of icy cold water from the
spring, and. feeling sobered by the ex-
perience he picked up n rough towel
and went down 10 the watering hole
quarter Of n mile distant Here he
shed his clothes and plunged into the
Icy bath At supper time he appeared
Mt the table. serious, with steady blue
eyes and freshly scrubbed appear
ance that made his companions look
hot and dusty TO n degree.
Coming over TO the dance tonight,
Bad?' asked Lester, one of the cow
boys
Nope" replied Bad.
What about Miss Fanny Freer:
She'll be missing you, sure thing
h. ,.sfl mn I NHnnt hn
there" retorted Bad.
They all went away without him,
and Bad sat on his doorstep smoking
his pipe and thinking long, long
thoughts of the past and of what n
different life he was leading. What
high hopes his mother had entertained
for his future md how poorly he had
fulfilled them Well. she was dead
now, and she had never known just
how wild he had grown. His father
was gone, too, and his sisters and
brothers. He was alone, and he had
been reckless.
Mrs. Leete's words had sunk in good
soil. Bad IIcckert was not a fool. He
knew that he was his own worst enc
my. II he could conquer the rum
habit he might be born anew He
might spring up into a new life, pure
and unSullied ms the Easter lily he had
taken by force from the little lad.
A blush Of shame overspread his
bronzed cheek This was poor be-
ginning with the thought came in
slant resolve and action. He saddled
Sanrho, and, taking the howelpot in
his arm, he rode over toward the can
yon trail
The moon was rising over the ranges
aud n little breeze waited the smell Of
grass and newly awakened growing
things Birds were chipping sleepily
from d clump Of trees. The sound of
the rushing creek made music.
Seems ike when ! was boy and
wanted to 20 fishing in schooltime.' he
smiled to himself kind Of restless
and wanting to keep going all the time
and wanting to sit still ut the same
time and enjoy it all.
The canyon train wayered up and
down many a hill before it reached
Henry Weyland's small place. The
Weylands were newcomers, and Bad
had never seen any Of them. Weyland
had small herd Of cattle and, 1t was
said. had brought his wife and family
into the open air OF the plains so that
they could be with him while he re-
gained shattered health They were
poor people. and the house they had
built was small, unpretentious place,
but it was painted white, with green
blinds, and there was a great paper
mulberry tree overspreading it. And
they had planted flowers.
The trail went on past the house.
Bad dismounted and tied Sancho to the
fence pallngs. lie wondered ii these
people could set him on the right track
to find the little lad Of his afternoons
adventure II might be one of Wey-
lands children.
lie raped AT the door. 1t was flung
open. ana he stepped into softly
lighted room where a girl was playing
on piano. II was a restful, homelike
room. and the girl was pretty, gentle
eyed creature In pale blue cotton
4