Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-02-28
CHAPTER X.

the wheel chair, Mrs. Thorn
ton, her husband and Doc Mad
ison were In earnest CONVEX
sation. and around them was
mass Of people. The crowd had divid-
ed into two.s or, rather, was constant
" coming and going between two
points Holmes and Mrs. Thorn
ton-and still the hysteria was upon
men and women.
Il am stunned and stupefied," Madi-
son was saying. and bis hand trembled
visibly In its outnung gesture. II am
not, am afraid, q man Of deep sensi-
bilities, but cannot help feeling that
I have been chosen to witness this
sight for some great, Interior purpose.
It's as though this place were hallow.
ed, set apart; that here, II only one has
faith, mans miraculous power Is bound.
less. feel should help some way. I
I'm afraid don't explain myself
well"
IT know what you mean," Mrs.
Thornton returned eagerly. 1T IL
That was saying to my husband-to
make this place known, to help to
ring suffering people here"
Madison nodded silently.
.And IL you, who have no personal
auss for gratitude, feel like that, how
kuch more should we who-who-oh,
here are no words to tell Tiny heart
too fuuw Mrs. Thornton smiled
Trough tears. Robert, you said You
kould do anything"
Eyes, DEAR" Thornton answered
rayely. "But what? We cannot do
hings in a moment. If money
Madison shook his head.
'Tt's beyond money" he explained.
Money is only q secondary considera-
lon. It's the needs Of the place that
Ire paramount. It's not so much the
ringing Of people here-they will hear
K what has taken place and will flock
ere In numbers as time goes on. But
hen-what? What can be done with
hem In this little village? For a
lime perhaps they could be accommo-
lated, but after that they must be
burned away"
Turned awayr' exclaimed Mrs.
Thornton In a hurt voice. Turned
lway from hope-to bitterness and
misery again! No, no; they must not!
Why"-she grasped her husbands arm
hgitatedly--"why couldn't We buy land
knd pit little houses upon it where
they could stay 7"
Madison leaned suddenly toward her.
II believe you've hit on the idea,
Mrs. Thornton" he said excitedly.
|sWhy not? It would be the finest
thing that was ever done in the world.
But why not go further? This should
not be private enterprise with the
burden on the few
He turned abruptly on Mr.. Thornton.
Z what q monument from grateful
hearts, what a tribute to that sanity
soul, huge sanitarium built and prop
erly endowed would be! And it Is fea-
sible- purely from the voluntary con-
tributions Of those who come here and
have money-free as the air to the
poor who are sick-free to all, for that
matter-no one asked to give-but the
poorest would gladly lay down their
mites"
"Yes-oh, yes" cried Mrs. Thornton
raptly.
YES admitted her husband thought
fully; that might be DONE"
"There is no doubt of It," asserted
Madison enthusiastically. TT needs
hut the initiative ON the part Of some
one. on our part, and the rest will take
care Of itself. But we must, Of course,
have the Endorsement Of the Patriarch.
why not go to the cottage now, at
once, and talk it over?"
Can we see him" asked Mrs. Thorn
ton wistfully. ooh, I would like to
kneel at his feet and pour out my graf
3itude! But see how all these people go
Emo nearer than that row Of trees, as
Enough love or fear or reverence kept
Chem from going farther"
81 True" said Madison, "and sense
That very thing myself. All men must
tense it after what has taken place.
Hi must feel the presence Of q power
90 majestic, too full Of awe, for the
mind to grasp. This faith"-he threw
Tut his hands in an impotent gesture
I'VE can only accept it unquestioningly
10 mighty thing, an actual, living,
Existent thing, even II we cannot fully
Understand. Butt feel that with what
NE have In mind we have a right to go
there now, and we should take that lit
tie lad who was cured as we'll, and his
<t,n~ uy, CANA f0ov
and shall we see him" Mrs. Thorn
ton asked again tensely.
why, l do not know" Madison re-
plied, "but, at least we shall see his
hiece, Miss Vail; and it is with her, in
4 kny case, that we would have to dis
Y uss the plan, for the Patriarch, you
know, is deaf and dumb and blind"
"You know them, don't you?" Thorn
I ION inquired.
Madison smiled little strangely. a
title deprecatingly.
"If one can speak Of knowing such
p b 4they-yes," he answered. when l
/ ame, two weeks ago. the Patriarch
kas not wholly blind, and he was very
Z Ind to me. I learned to love the gen.
I 10 soul Of the man, and in a way,
4 ksptical though was, felt his pow.
\; but never realized until this aft
B moon how stupendous, how immeas-
h rable 1t was
d LET us 60 to the cottage, then" sug-
Issted Thornton. Nadia, dear, let me
slp you. It is quite little distance.
nd
Eho put out her hands in happy. In
mate way to hold him Oh.
Won canst reallxe Il. Robert caii YOU?