The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1916-04-21

Ing, anu the SuOOC DecOIneS u sunk tudC
sends out leaves of faith and belief
and effort to be better and grow up
ward, and the buds are promises of
greater perfection, and finally the
beautiful fragrant blossoms are proof
of awakening to new life. A man or a
woman who has buried his character
In sin may see his dead soul awaken to
new life. 1t must be watered with
prayer and warmed by the sunshine of
understanding and faith"
''Thank you, ma am" said Bad Heck
ert, putting on his hat and picking up
his lily.
"Keep It I'm the sunshine, Bad" she
said meaningly.
"Yes'm, and" he added huskily, I'll
water it too"
Mrs. Leete watched him until he had
vanished In the little one room shack
under the cottonwoods. All the no
employees were housed thus in little
shacks, meeting in the mess house for
meals three times day or spending
their evenings there.
Bad Heckert set his lily in the sun
and went back to the big house.
"When did you say it would be Eas-
ter Sunday, ma'am?" he asked.
1.-TWO weeks from tomorrow, Bad"
she said.
Thanks" he said briefly, and went
back to his room. He soaked his head
in pail of icy cold water from the
spring, and, feeling sobered by the ex-
perience, he picked up rough towel
and went down to the watering hole
quarter Of a mile distant Here he
shed his clothes and plunged into the
icy bath. At supper time he appeared
at the table. serious, with steady blue
eyes and a freshly scrubbed appear
ance that made his companions look
hot and dusty to a degree.
Coming over to the dance tonight,
BadY asked Lester, one Of the cow
boys.
"Nope," replied Bad.
what about Miss Fanny Freer?
She'll be missing you, sure thing"
"Sure she will miss me. won't be
therev' 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
different life he was leading. What
high hopes his mother had entertained
for his future and 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 Heckert was not a fool. He
knew that he was his own worst enc
my. If he could conquer the rum
habit he might be born anew. He
might spring up into a new life, pure
and unsullied as the Easter lily he had
taken by force from the little lad.
A blush Of shame overspread his
bronzed cheek. This was a poor be-
ginning. With the thought came In
slant resolve and action. He saddled
Sancho, and, taking the fowerpot in
his arm, he rode over toward the can
yon trail.
The moon was rising over the ranges
and little breeze waited the smell of
grass and newly awakened growing
things. Birds were chirping sleepily
from a clump of trees. The sound of
the rushing creek made music.
Seems like when / was a boy and
wanted to 60 fishing in schooltime," he
smiled to himself. "Kind Of restless
and wanting to keep going all the time
and wanting to sit still at the same
time and enjoy it ALL"
The canyon trail wavered up and
down many a hill before it reached
Henry WeylanTs small place. The
Weylands were newcomers, and Bad
had a small herd Of cattle and, It 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 1t was painted white, with green
blinds, and there was great paper
mulberry tree overspreading 1t. And
they had planted flowers.
The trail went on past the house.
Bad dismounted and tied Sancho to the
fence palngs. He wondered If these
| people could set him on the right track
| to find the little lad Of his afternoons
adventure. 1t might be one Of Wey-
| lands children.
He raped at the door. 1t was flung
open, and he stepped into a softly
| lighted room where a girl was playing
on plano. 1t was restful, homelike
| room, and the girl was pretty, gentle
eyed creature I'm a pale blue cotton
gown that became her fairness wonder
fully well.
The door had been opened by boy
in his nightgown-the boy Of the after
noon. His face was wan from weep
Ing, and he eyed Bad resentfully.
Bad swept off his hat and bowed
| awkwardly.
II came to inquire where little kid
lived" he said steadily, "but I see he
| lives here. I've brought back your