Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1916-02-17
CHAPTER XXI.
The Price Of Peace.


Important events have a way of
striking from ambush, without warn
tng. So did the telegram which found
Sandry fdling among these women, so
strangely mixed up with his life. who
heid together for his sake. though
Wide apart as the poles. 1t said sim
ply, Come at once Mr.. Wilton San
dry failing rapidly" and was signed by
the famous specialist.
When the young man read it his
race went white as a swooning wom-
ans and the hands that held the vel
low paper shook uncontrollably.
Ais lips set with deadly illness
and he stared unseeingly out across
the slough
The incentive!" triumphed Poppv
Ordway. but oh, why must it take him
from me Just now! | hate It'll" and
sullen anger and disappointment Jared
Tor an unguarded moment in her eyes
But the face IF Siletz between its
oraids had suddenly fallen into the
mold OF grief, faithful reflection of
Sandrys own, aud she slid off the
porch to step softly, unconsciously
near. with her hands clasped in dis.
tress.
An hour later the owner of the Dill
fingwurth gave IL hand to Poppy and
Sfietz simultaneously, looked from one
lace to the other, saw Love in the
black eyes and the blue, and felt
pain at his heart that he could net
explain.
Ma put m6therly touch on his
shoulder and said a word that was
ample and earnest and tender as her
great heart. john took his last bur-
fted orders, and Sandry was off in the
VIZ he had telephoned for to Toledo.
Weak and sad and torn by emo
tons, he watched for two whole days
sAe great West slide by his Pullman
window-that wondrous West whose
subtle charm had laid abiding hold
upon his soul.
So at last he reached New York
looked with odd unfamiliarity upon its
gayety and life, and hurried to the
great old house in Riverside drive.
Breathless, weak. scarce able to
stand for the strain on his right limb
Sandry paused with Higgins lowering
edoringly around him in the duskv
draped hall before the magnificent
foom Of the worries and browns.
There was the ache of tears in his
throat, terrible horror of what lay
behind the closed doors. an unendur-
able anguish of abnormal love, but he
squared his shoulders. lifted his head
with his old, jaunty air and entered.
He even called smile to his lips.
Ia the high-canopied, copper-posted
bed lay the old financier. The fine.
old face with it's pleasant tracery was
marked by the hand of the Last Ac-
countant but it was still the face OF
a great and good man. still held its
benignity, it's kindliness and courtli-
hess.
Now. with Sapdry's step. mighty
eladness fell upon it, a light of Joy
that was misunderstanding.
"Walter." he cried out in voice
OF momentary strength. ooh. my son!
My SOM
And with shudder to the boys
ears came an echo. "Absalom."
He dropped beside the bed, gath
cred the white head in his arms. ard
rocked to and fro as women rock IN
anguish
Presently Mr. Wilton Sandry pushed
his son from him with failing hands
end gazed upon his face with the
ktarved eyes Of long-denied affection.
my boy!" he whispered brokenly,
my life's crown, the point of nay
whole SUGGEST"
The long. white hands quivered on
bandry's shoulders. The bright. blue
eyes began to light marvelously.
y ana at the end OF my Journey.