Smyrna times., 1918-05-08

per Syndicate.)
"Old Wilder's cutting timber on the
ledge" the big voice OF Doctor Frost
doomed from the hallway, and the
tread Of his great lumbermans boots
shook the frail New Hampshire farm
house.
Carroll Larue, wrapped in a patch |
work quilt, in an armchair by the |
window, did not look up when he en-
tered. or answer his cArcry: 'TIow's !
the little patient This cold morning?"
His hit of gossip about old Wilder |
cutting timber, had brought two dun
red patches into her pale cheeks, and
she feared to meet the doctors kindly.
piercing eyes. could it be-" she ask
ed herself, "that he knew-that lie
knew, how she and Jim had planned
to build their house among the pines
on that ledge, when Jim got his
patents-and sold them"
So she stared Mt the glass Of potash
and water, covered with a saucer; on
the window sill, and her mother an
swered for her: "She's Just the
same, doctor. Gargles her throat with
| potash, and takes the tonic you left
for her. But she doesn't take any in
terest. Are you sure, doctor, that its
not-that it isn't"
Consumption! Bahw snorted the
| doctor. "There's just one thing more
than this influenza that's the matter
with her, and that's. Well, it's
| psychological. Not case for a path
ologist at all" and he pulled up a
chair beside her.
From the corners Of her eyes, Car
roll saw his huge bulk in its shaggy
fur coat settled into the chair. The
coat and his beard were frosty, where
his breath had condensed and frozen.
"Fere you are, young lady" he an
nounced, brusquely, and slipped
thermometer between her lips. "Sm6le
that for a while, and listen to me.
"YOu and Jim Langley were both
born on Christmas day twenty-five
years ago. And I've known you both
just that long. There isn't a likelier
girl than YOU in ClaremOnt county;
but jim, well, he's n ne'er-dO-well, a
dreamer. He lost his job at the cleo
trio company for wasting the com
panyS time on his fool inventions and
such. You know more about that than
do, because you worked in Mr..
Thompson'S office and earned more
money, I'll bet, than he did in the shop.
"But now, because Jim's gone off to
the city on a wild-gOose chase, most
likely there's no use losing your grip
on yourself, little girl, and mOping."
The girl said nothing, but shook her
head slowly, and looked out across the
snow-covered fields toward the dark
fringe Of pines on Wilder's ledge.
Later she watched the doctors cutter
disappear down the road. Then she
crossed the room to a writing desk
and took out letter-Jim's last.
1t was written in New York, anC
there was the picture of a hotel OF
the envelope. 1t began:
dearest Carroll They won't tak'
any interest in my invention. Ant
I'm almost discouraged. 1 can't man
age to see anyone IN the big electric
companies who has authority to bu.
nv direct-current converter, if the.
wanted it. They all say, wen investi
gate, and let you know, Mr. Langley
ITS six weeks now, but I'll stay IN
til the c0nverter'S marketed, if it
forever. What's the use coming bac
before? I couldn't get a job payin
enough for us both to live On-even
we didn't build the cabin on Wilder
ledge by the lake. And I simply won
have you working for that ThOmpsO
after we're married"
II Jim could only understand, sh
thought looking up from the lette
that it was he with his dreams an
fancies. his Imagination that 81
wanted. What If they did call him
ne'er-do-well? What If he was? 81
wanted him.
- What if some of his dreams didr
come true? They couldn't all con
true. And so, with little sigh 81
turned back to the letter.
'D'y know" 1t went on, "that II
only the thought of you, and our cab
on the rocks above the lake with t
little workshop behind, that gives I
any courage at all. Well it sure
does: and it's the only thing, son
times. when I come in feeling COW
hearted and blue, that makes me
ont the gas in the usual way"
She laid down the letter and agf
looked out toward Wilder's led
where they were cutting. 1t was
irridescent day, and the snow glitter
blue-white in the sunshine. The j
gcd rocks OF the ledge showed &c
purple above the white fields,
Jagged by dark rail fences.
Even as she looked, one of the gr
mines on the top Of the ledge seen
to tOpple and disappear.
$50 that's the end of another dreal
she thought, with 8 choking sensat
in Ter throat. And she reached
her handkerchief.
There was a hollow crunch OF II
steps on the front porch. The tr