Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-02-26
CHAPTER TX.
The Aftermath,

81 AM cured, Robert! Robert! Rob.
ert! See, I, too, am cured! Oh
Robert, what wondrous joyY'
Mrs. Thornton had left her wheel
chair and was standing beside her hns-
band, standing alone, unaided for The
first time in many months.
'Naiday
1t was q hoarse cry from Thornton,
Then his hand passed heavily acroAs
his face, as though to force his brais
10 coherent action, to lift the spell II
what seemed a wild phantasm in an
around him. MAZDA" He sought nov
to control his voice. "Naida, get bacx
into your chair again!"
She laughed, a little Historically, but
in the laugh was the uplift Of soul
enraptured
but am cured, Robert. See, dear.
Can't you understand" She shook his
arm. "See-I am cured. can walk
just as I could before I was III. Oh.
Robert, Robert! See, see" She went
from him, walking q little, running
little, laughing the while low rip
ping, glorious laugh that was like the
music Of silver chimes ringing out in !
glad acclaim.
He stared at her, both hands now to
his temples; then he turned to look
strangely at the empty chair-but It
was not empty. Miss Harvey. the
nurse, "a her knees, had flung hsiSelf
across It and, with buried head, was
sobbing Historically.
I And now upon the lawn was enacted
Z scene indescribable. The long line
was broken. Men and women ran
hither and thither, for the most part
aimlessly, as though in some strange
state Of coma where the mind refused
Its functions. They talked and cried
and shouted ut each other in frenzy
without knowing what they said
some with tears running down their
faces, others with blank countenances,
NO sign Of emotion upon them other
than tho wild, dilated eyes. Here and
there they rushed without volition,
their throat noises rising above them,
floating through the still air in q
0OUuO LuuS Az C0X 0N0 0VCk AC&AU w.
fore, weird, terrifying.
Faith? Faith Is q matter Of degree,
is It not? Who shall define faith?
Who shall say what it is, and who shall
place Limitations upon It?
Out In the center of tho lawn young
Holmes was in his mothers arms, the
father pathetically trying to wrap both
mother and child in one embrace.
Around them the crowd constantly
grew larger. Farther out again Helena
was leading tho Patriarch toward the
cottage, the Flopper close behind her,
the Patriarch walking with a slow
tread, his head still turned In that LIS
tening attitude, and at distance fol
lowed struggling crowd. Then the
cottage door was shut, and Helena, the
Patriarch and the Flopper disappeared
from view.
A dozen yards from the wheel chair
stood Madison riveted to the spot mo-
tionless save for nervous twitching
Of the lips, his eyes now upon the In
valid who walked about, now on the
little lad who had thrown away his
crutch. Some one plucked at his sleeve,
but Madison gave no heed. Again his
arm was pulled, and he turned to see
Pale Face Harry beside him. The
Others countenance was gray, the eyes
full Of shrinking, terrified light.
Doctor Gods sake, Doc, what does
1t meanY whispered Harry shakily,
moistening his dry lips with his tongue,
doc. this amt no bunk. There's some
thing in it."
The words seemed to rouse Madison
to leadership. he stared at the other
for moment, then 4 grim smile dick
cred across his face.
Something in It'll" he repeated, with
an ironic laugh, and suddenly grabbed
Pale Face Harry's arm and shook him.
There's so much in it that I'm drunk
with it, crazy with it, but I'm trying to
make myself believe it isn't too good to
be true. Get that7 Get grip on that
and hang on. Don't lose your nerve,
Harry"
II guess amt much worse than
you" mumbled tho other. You're
whittier than sheet"
You're right" admitted Madison
frankly. I'm queer, but I'm coming
around. Helena seems to be the only
one who never lost her grip. She's got
the Patriarch and the Hopper out Of
the way and under cover Brace up,
Harry. What thought we'd get in
the Roost that night is counterfeit
money to what'Il come from this"
His eyes fastened on figure that.
separating itself from the group around
young Holmes, now dashed frantically
hatless and with disheveled hair up to
Mr.. and Mrs. Thornton.
Who's that, Harry? He came down
on the train with you-know him?"
He's only some newspaper guy or
other" answered Pale Face Harry me-
chemically, his eyes still rowing wildly
over the scene around him.
"Oh, is that allT' calculated Madison
with little gasp. eve already ex-
hausted my thanks to Santa Claus,
and here he comes with another pack
age done up in dinky pink paper tied
with baby ribbon, and the gold platter
it's on goes with it!'
what dye mean?' asked Harry
heavily?
The newspaper man, the instinct of
his calling now rising paramount to all
!. else, had left the Thorntons aud was
tearing for the wagon track on his way
3 to the station and the telegraph ONCE
4 like one possessed, n