Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1918-08-15

aching lump had risen into his throat
This was the breaking point.
O'Reilly's hearing, too, was going
wrong, for he imagined that some one
whispered his name. God1 This place
was not dead-it was alfve-terribly
alive with memories, voices, q pres.
ence unseen yet real. He laid hold of
the nearest bush to steady himself, he
closed his eyes, only to hear his name
spoken louder.
"ORail-ye!"
Johnnie brushed the tears from his
lashes. He turned, he listened, but
there was no n to be seen, no one,
that is, except the dusky cripple, who
had Strengthened herself and was fac.
ing him, poised uncertainty. He looked
at her q second time, then the world
began to spin dizzily and he CROPPED his
way toward her. He peered again,
closer, for everything before his eyes
was swimming.
The woman was thin-little more
than a skeleton-and so frail that the
wind appeared to sway her, but her
face, uplifted to the sun, was gloriied.
O'Reilly stood rooted, staring at her
until she opened her eyes, then he
voiced a great cry:
"Rosa" What more he said he
never knew. $50.
He took the %misshapen figure into
his arms, he rained, kisses upon. the
lpinched, discolored face. But. Rosa
did not respond; her puny strength
had flown, and she lay inert in his en-
brace, scarcely breathing
Dazed, doubling, astounded. it was
some time before Johnnie could con-
vince himself Of the reality Of this mo-
ment, and even then words did not
come to him, for his mind was in tur-
Noil. Joy, thanksgiving, compassion
a thousand emotions-mingled in a sort
Of delirium, too wild for coherent
thought or speech.
Fear finally brought him to his
senses, for he became aware that Rosa
had collapsed and that his endearments
left her unthrilled. Quickly he bore
her to the bench and laid her upon it.
After a time she smiled up into his
eyes and her words were scarcely more
than a murmur:
"God heard my prayers and sent you
to me-"
"Rosa! You are Ill, you are weak
Her eyelids 1uttered. II am dying,
O'Rail-ye. 1 only waited to see you"
mo, no." In agony he gathered her
= once more into his arms.
, ooh, yes" Her bloodless fingers
, touched his face again, then his thin
worn rags. "You, too, have suffered
How came you to be so poor and hun.
CRY, O'Rail-ye"
: I'm not poor, I'm rich. See!" He
jingled the coins in his pocket. "That's
. money; money for you, sweetheart. II
, will buy you food and medicine, it will
, make you strong again. Rosa, dear,
have looked for you so long, so long
= His voice broke wretchedly and hi
bowed his head. IL was afraid"
II waited as long as I had strength
: to wait" she told him. 1T is too BAG
{ you came so late" Z CO
Once again she lapsed into the leth.
argy Of utter Weakness, whereupon he
y fell to stroking her hands, calling upon
> her to come back to him. He was be.
side himself now; a terrible feeling OF
impotence and despair overcame him
Hearing someone speak, he raised
l his eyes and discovered at his side that
I figure of want which he had seer dig.
d ging on the slope below. 1t was Evan.
gelina. The negress was little more
e than skin and bones, her eyes were
bleared and yellow and sunken, bel
face had grown apelike, but he rec
ognized her and she him.
"You are the American" she dc
clared. "You are Rosa's man."
eyes. But what is wrong with her
Look! She is III"
"She is often like that. 1t is the
hunger. We have nothing to eat, Sc
nor. I, too, am ill-dying; and Asen
slo- Oh, you don't know how they
have made us suffer-"
1--WE must get Rosa home. Where
do you live?'
Evangelina turned her deaths head
toward the city. Down yonder. But
what's the use? There is no food ir
our house and Rosa is afraid of those
wagons. You know-the ones with the
corpses. She babe me bring her here
to die"
The girl was not wholly unconscious II
seemed, for she stirred and murlnured
family: "Those wagons! Don't lei
them put me in there with the other
dead. They pile the bodies high" A
weak shudder convulsed her.
O'Reilly bent lower, and in a strong,
determined voice cried: "YOu- are not
going to die. I have money for food
Rouse yourself, Rosa, rouse YOURSELF
"She prayed for you every night
the negress volunteered. "Such faith
Such trust! She never doubted that
you would come and find her. Some.
times she cried, but that was because
Of her brother. Esteban, you know, is