The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1916-05-25
CHAPTER XXI.
The Price OF Peace.

Important events have a wpy OF
striking from ambush. without warn.
ing. So did the telegram which found
sandry idling among these women. so
strangely mixed up with his life. who
held together for his sake. though
wide apart as the poles. II said sim.
ply. Come at once. Mr.. Wilton San.
dry failing rapidly" and was signed by
the famous specialist.
When the young man read II his
face vent white as a swooning wom.
ans and the hands that held the vel.
low paper shook uncontrollably.
His lips set with a deadly illness
and he stared unsceingly out across
the slough.
The incentive!" triumphed Poppy
Ordway, but oh. why must II take him
from me ilSt now! | hate IT," and
sullen anger and disappointment Jared
for an unguarded moment in her eyes
But the face OF Siletz between it's
bralds had suddenly fallen into the
mold OF grief. faithful reflection OF
%sandry's own. and she slid OF the
porch to step softly. unconsciously
near. with her hands clasped in dis.
tress.
An hour later the owner OF the Dill.
lingworth gave a hand TO Poppy and
Siletz simultaneously. looked from one
face TO the other. saw Love In the
black yes and the blue. and felt a
pain at his heart that he could not
explain.
Ma put a motherly touch on his
shoulder and said a word that was
simple and earnest and tender as her
great heart. John took his last hur.
ried orders. and Sandry was on in the
rig he mad telephoned ior 10 Toledo.
Weak and sad and torn by emo.
tons. he watched for two whole DAYS
the great West slide by hts Pullman
window-that wondrous West whose
subtle cnarm had laid abiding hold
upon his soul.
so at last he reached New York
looked with odd unfami,larity upon its
gayety and life, and hurried 10 the
great old house in Riverside drive.
Breathless. weak. scarce able "a
oNo'A " ~ vi ult IlkuI llInD
sandry paused with Higgins towering
adoringly around him in the dusky
drapcd hall before the magnificent
o OF the worries and browns.
There was the ache OF tears in his
throat. a terrible horror OF what la
behind the closed doors. an unendur
able anguish OF abnormal love. but h,
squared his shoulders, lifted his nea,
with his old, jaunty air and entered
He ever called n smile TO his lips.
In the ~high-canopied. .posteC
bed lay the old hnancier. The fine
cid face with its pleasant tracery wa,
marked by the hand OF the Last Ac
countant, but II was still the face O
a great and good man, still held IL
b~enignity, It's kindness aud courtlI
ness.
Now. with %Sandry's step, a might.
gladness fell upon II, a light OF 10.
that was all.illuminating.
Walter" he cried out In n vote
OF momentary strength. "Oh. my son
My SOM"
And with a shudder 10 the boy
ears came an echo, "Absnlom!"
He dropped beside the bed, gath
ered the white head In his arms, an
rocked TO and fro as ome rock /
anguish.
Presently Ma Wilton sandry pushe
his son from him with failing hand
and gazed upon his face with III
starved eyes OF long.denied affection
my boy!" he whispered brokenl.
my life's crown. the point OF m
whole SUGGEST"
The long. white hands quivered O
ssndry's shoulders. The bright, blu
eyes began to light m~arvelously.
= am NJ the end OF my journe,