Cheyenne record., 1916-09-14
CHAPTER XXI.
The Price Of Peace.

Important events have a way OF
striking from ambush. without warn.
ing. So did the telegram which found
sandry fdling among these women. 30
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 1t his
face went white as a swooning wom-
ans and the hands that held the vel.
low paper shook uncontrorlably.
His lips set with a 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!" 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
eandry's own. and she slid of the
porch to step softly. unconsciously
near. with her hands clasped In dis.
tress.
4, An hour later the owner OF the Dill.
Nngworth gave a hand to Poppy and
6ilet9 simultaneously. looked from one
face to the other. saw Love in tho
black eyes and the blue, and felt a
pain at his heart that he could not
explain.
Ma put a motherly touch on his
chandler nnH coid hot
simple and earnest and tender as her
great heart. John took his last hur.
ried orders. and Sandry was of 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 ivories and browns.
There was the ache Of tears in his
throat, q 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 a smile to his lips.
In the high-canopied. copper-posted
bed lay the old fnancier. The fine.
old face with its pleasant tracery was
marked by the hand OF the Last Ac-
oountant. but It was still the face OF
. great and good man. still held It's
benignity. its kindliness and courtli.
ness.
Now. with sandry's step. a mighty
gladness fell upon It. light Of Joy
that was all-illuminating. go
"Walter!" he cried out in a. voice
Of momentary strength, "Oh. my soni
Ny soni".
Asd with . shudder to the boys
ears came an echo. -Absalom!"
He dropped beside the bed. gath
aed' the white. head in his arms. and
socked to and fro as women rock in
ausuish. 'e rs,
#SfiSsently Mt.iwnson sandry pushed
hiGtSHn from him with failing hands
an1si icgpsed ipIop, his face with the
eksfved eyes ~ fnag denied affection.
my boyi" he whisfered broksnly.
my life's crown. the point OF my
whole successi"
The loag. white hands quivsred on
oendvy's shoulders. The bright blue
evse beRnn to Aght marvelously.
4 a4 q The I'D Of my joss1sys