Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1917-01-25


ment at the livid change which came
over Steye'S face with that answer
which she flung at him. The boy fell
away a step before her fierce little
visage; he crooked one arm over the
cheek where her fists had beaten the
skin pink q moment before And then
| her meaning struck him like a blow be-
tween the eyes.
Il amt good enough to be your
knight, am ~ he accused her in a
hushed and vibrant voice. "I-I don't
know enough, ner l can't talk good
| enough to be your knight. | amt good
enough fer you. But I'm a-goin' to be
do you hear? I'm a-goin' to be. An
when l am-When l ANTHEM I'll come
back to your
This time. rigid as lance, he diSap-
peared from sight. Caleb stood star
ing at the ground. Allison stood and
stared at the horizon.
Steve did not come downstairs for
supper that night, and when he failed
TO appear at the breakfast hour both
Caleb and Sarah mounted to his ROOM
fear in their hearts The bed had rot
been slept in. The sheets were not
even disarranged, but there was q
scrap of paper pinned to one pillow
slip 1t wasn't written in ''boOi1 Ian
/ guage," that short message, for it was
not his grain. but his heart which had
phrased it:
I'm a-comin' back-Im comm back to
you some Gay when they won't be no
need fer you to be ashamed fer me. I'm
takin' my new clothes with me because l
knowed you would a-Wanted me to4-and
the shoes toe I'm askin' you to take keer
Of ole Samanthy til | come fer her-and
Miss Sarah amt got no call to worry, fer
I could always take keer O myself.
It was signed "Stephen O'Mara."
Sarah's face went white when she
had read it through. Her knees weak
ened under her. and she had to sit
down.
"Why, Cal-why, Cal, he She's
gone" she quavered.
And Caleb nodded down into her
stricken face.
eyes, he-he's gonew he breathed.
Sarah swallowed hard. Then two
bright tears crept out from under ner
eyelids and went cOursing down her
cheeks She rose and CROPPED her way
10 her own room.
Caleb found Barbara Allison waiting
in the living room when he, still numb
from the shock went back downstairs.
She came up to him and stood InO-
ment, tWining the fingers of one hand
within those of the other
81 want to see Stephen, please, I'm
| Gle Cal" she faltered
Caleb drew deep and unsteady
breath.
"Steve isn't here, Barbara" he said
as gently as he could.
| The child didn't understand.
"Father sent me over to apologize"
she explained slowly. I'm to tell him
that I'm sorry. But IL want to tell
him, too that if l couldn't have him
for my knight II wouldn't ever have
any knight at all!
| Caleb felt a tightening at his threat
, which made speech difficult.
"But Steve has gone away" he man
/ aged to guip.
A shadow came into the big dark
eyes lifted to his.
Hell be back for breakfast, won't
he?" she asked hopefully.
"I'm afraid not, Barbara. I'm afraid
| now that ne may never come back
again.
She didn't understand what he meant
at first, so Caleb tried to explain. But
when his voice broke and trailed off
into a husky whisper there was no
further need of explanation. She ran
then and threw herself in passion Of
tears upon a window seat in the cor
ner. Caleb found his chair. And after
a time he felt small hand touch his
sleeve; he felt a wet cheek pressed
tight to his own.
ooh, don't you feel so badly, too,
Uncle CAL" Barbara sobbed. 'Please,
please. Because he is coming back!
He told me he would; he told me he
would hi1nsclf!''