Gilpin observer., 1916-06-22
CHAPTER XXI.
The Price of Peace.

Important events have way 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. 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
face went white as swooning wom-
ans and the hands that held the yel-
low paper shook uncontrollably.
His lips set with deadly illness
and he stared unseeingly out across
the slough.
"The incentive!" triumphed Poppy
Ordway. but oh, why must it take him
from me Just now! hate It'll" and
sullen anger and disappointment fared
for an unguarded moment in her eyes
But the face of Siletz between its
braids had suddenly fallen into the
mold of grief. faithful reflection of
Sandry's own. and 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
lingworth gave a hand to Poppy and
Siletz simultaneously, looked from one
face to the other, saw Love in the
black eyes and the blue. and felt
pain at his heart that he could not
explain.
Ma put motherly touch on his
shoulder and said word that was
simple and earnest and tender as her
great heart. John took his last hur.
ried orders. and Sandry was off in the
rig he had telephoned for to Toledo.
Weak and sad and torn by emo.
tions. he watched for two whole days
the 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
adoringly around him in the dusky.
draped hall before the magnificent
room 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.
In the high-canopied. copper-posted
bed lay the old financier. The fine.
old face with its pleasant tracery was
marked by the hand of the Last Ac.
countant but It was still the face OF
q great and good man. still held its
benignity. its kindliness and courtli.
ness.
Now. with sandry's step. a mighty
gladness fell upon It, light of Joy
that was all-illuminating.
"Walter!" he cried out in voice
of momentary strength. "Oh. my soni
My son!"
And with a shudder to the boys
ears came an echo. "Absalom!"
He dropped beside the bed. gath.
cred the white head in his arms. and
rocked to and fro as women rock In
anguish.
Presently Mr.. Wilton Sandry pushed
his son from him with failing hands
and gazed upon his face with the
starved eyes OF long-denied affection.
my boy!" he whispered brokenly.
my lifes crown. the point Of my
whole success!"
The long. white hands quivered on
Sapdry's shoulders. The bright, blue
eyes began to kght marvelously.
IL am at the end of my journey.