Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-09-21

nurse ~Elinor.. and begged her fran
tically to tell him that something was
not true.
"Of course II 70 not true" said the
nurse, who was accustomed to being
called various things.
you did not mean It at-a1lr He
eyed her wistfully. Tho nurse was
large and plain. with Q Wide, nat face.
'sYou. with the eyes Of saint. said
poor Ward. ito try to tell me that you
are wicked. Isee that 1t Is impos-
sible. I think can sleep now"
The nurse put her hand, which was
large and ill.shaped but very light and
tender, on his head. And 20 he went
to sleep.
When he was quite settled, the nurse
went out into the hall where Elinor
was sitting on . straight chair. She
had sat there almost all Of the time
since Ward was carried up the night
before.
HE is sound asleep" abe said smil-
ingly. HE thinks I am someone
named 'Elinor,' and he calls me that
As my own name is Sarah, it's rather
pleasant"
Ward had been shot on Sunday
night. BY the following Wednesday
he was out Of danger.
On that same Wednesday the rector
Of Saint Jude's brought himself and
his rheumatism back to his parish.
For three days Elinor had hardly
slept 0r eaten. Never once had she
been In Wards room. but always, day
and night, she was just outside. When
on that Wednesday evening the doctor
said Ward would live, she went down
once more into her garden.
Many times during those three days
had Elinor tried to pray to Wards
God and found herself voiceless and
inarticulate. But now, out Of the
depth Of her great relief, came yelling
the first prayer Of her life. She stood
waist-deep among her phlox and lark
spur.
Il thank thee" she said. II thank
thee.
Nothing had been heard Of HUI.
The assault on the assistant rector OF
Saint Jude's had been of a line with
the other mysterious happenings
around the village. The little town
was hag-ridden with fear. Extra con-
stables had been sworn in, and from
the hall. during her long night visils.
Elinor had seen many lighted WIN
dows, where there had been but the
one.
The problem Of her future began to
obsess her. II vas plainly impossible
to stay on here-not that she feared
exposure; she was quite past fear
but the thought Of going on with her
life was intoierable. To meet Ward,
to see again the scorn and loathing in
his eyes, more than all, to continue to
deserve them-those were the things
that to Elinor seemed worse than
death itself.
All the philosophy that old Hilary
had taught her failed her now. The
revolt of the individual against laws
made for the masses-what had 1t
brought her but isolation and grieff
OF what use was revolt? All must 60
through the mills Of the gods. She
knew that now. There were no ex.
ceptions. And something else she had
learned: that II one is to live through
great crises one must have higher
power to turn to for help. She had
felt It vaguely at the time Of her IA.
theirs death. Sitting outside Wards
door she had known it Every breath
had been Q prayer to something, she
knew not what, to save him.
II thank thee" she said again.
The phlox and larkspur quivered
about her as If under the touch Of d
gentle hand.
DoIoiay had been free tcr three
days, but beyond telephone message
announcing his release she had heard
nothing of him. Over the wire he had
advised extreme caution. She judged
from that that things were not going
well.
She knew that Huffs reckless crime
would demand a scapegoat. Their.
were bound to be arrests. All this
Elinor knew quite well. 1t was in such
an atmosphere that she had drawn her
earliest breaths the play Of cunning
against cunning, wit against Wit.
She did not send for Boroday. She
dared not. But because the intimacy
between her and the middle-aged Rus
! sian had always been very close, he
seemed to feel her need. And 20. on
that Wednesday night, an hour or so
after midnight, he came.
Old Henriette came down and
tapped softly ct Elinor's door.
"Boroday," she whispered. Tie has
rung from the arbor.'
That was ono Of old Hilary's de-
vices: q hidden wire from the arber
Y I &c the house. L prevented collisions.
Unless otherwise summoned, no man.
Der Of his band ever came directly to
the house.
Elinor went out ana found him
there. He bent over her hand and
kissed It. a. was his custom, and then.
realizing that she was crying, he held
out his arms apd she went into them.
Very tender was the Russian with her
that night, very fatherly. He put her
into one Of tho arbor seats and sat
down bssids her.
4 ''Now tell me-, J" he commanded,
everything from the start. II was
Walter, ! know. But @hy1" N.
When she did not speak, the Rus
sian nodded. n. 80 49,
u g. JJca!cnsy q course, Int what mndl