The Glenwood post., 1919-10-11
Recalled to Life
r.
BY cEcILLK LANopoN

l SeAA
q settled gloom over the quiet little
village. It had come with force and
audiences Of q thunder blast. At
midafternoon a farmer with frenzied
face and horror-haunted eyes had driv-
EN- into the town at wild speed, his
horses in lather. his lips parched and
trembling. He had circled to the
curb where the mashal stood, and had
brought the wagon to halt and the
horses to their knees with shock.
Something terrible!" he painted
forth. "At the river young Darcy No
BILE! He was driving an automobile.
1t slid from the roadway across Flat
Rock and plunged into the river, man
and all. Oh. 1t was awfuli"
There was an instant uproar and ex-
element. The town officer sprang to
the seat Of his motorcycle and made
for the familiar spot described. 9th
ers hurried after him. Soon the slant
ing shore of Elk river was crowded
with an awed, agitated throng.
"'It was Willis Daly's new automo-
bile" spoke one of the crowd. II no.
ticed Darcy came down the street
wasn't much used to it. reckon. and
made wrong turn"
The bystander spoke name very
dear to the townspeople. Darcy No
BILE was a general favorite-young,
bright-natured, just beginning a prom
Using business life. Many thought Of
his widowed mother. Some, too.
thought of Airline Drury. for 1t was
very generally supposed that he was
as good as engaged to her.
BY dusk strong, helpful hands, with
the aid Of two stout teams, diver
and strong chains had dragged the
automobile out Of the water a wreck.
Attached to 1t was fragment Of cloth
torn from the coat Of its unfortunate
driver, apparently as he and the ma
chine went down to destruction. The
body of the young man was not dis
covered, however. It was theorized
that, stunned. he had floated down
stream, over the dam. Search was
made for two days after that, but no
trace was found Of the victim of the
tragedy.
The widowed mother Of young Noble
was crushed by the unexpected be-
reavement. The friends Of Darcy, In
Guiding Airline Drury. showed the deep
est grief. Dale, closest friend Of
Dercy. seemed most deeply shocked
and stricken.
"It was my fault" he almost wept.
"Oh, that had never allowed him to
take the machine! I warned him to
be careful, knowing that he was
mere novice at the wheel. I shall new
er forgive myself!"
In vain, his friends demonstrated
that he was guiltless and taking too
greatly to heart an accident over which
he had no control. Willis DAILY became
a changed man. He went about hol-
low-eyed and depressed. His first
action was to visit the mourning moth
er and arrange lifelong pension for
her. She, too, tried to persuade him
that not in the remotest way could
she consider any responsibility on his
part in the untimely death Of her son.
From the first he had evaded Ar
line Drury. Then, one evening, as he
sat In his office, drearily attempting to
interest himself In book, there was
tap at the door, and Airline and her
cousin Irma Merrill, entered.
Their mission was sober. but solac-
Ing Frank, outspoken, full Of keen
human sympathy, Airline appealed to
Dale to come out Of his mental gloom.
Her sincerity won his confidence. She
invited him to her home Within
month she had weIl-nigh won him from
his morbid mood. Then Willis Dale
made discovery that aroused n new
and distressing OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
ly, heart and soul, he loved Airline
Druryl
Abruptly he realized the abyss into
which he had fallen. He was shocked,
crushed, at conception Of the unnat-
ural position In which he found him
self. It was like sacrilege to even
dream of supplanting the dead man
In the affections Of the supposed chos-
en- one of his love. Airline must never
suspect the truth Dale made all ar
rangements to leave the village, at
once and forever.
"A broken life but better to remove
its possible shadow from her bright
spirit ~ he uttered, as he started for
the railroad station to begin long,
almless journey. And then he drew
back. aghast. Pale, wretchedly thin,
the mere ghost of his former self.
Darcy Noble confronted him.
He was so weak that he could
scarcely stand. but at once and brief
ly Darcy recited terrible experience
in the river, months Of wandering. his
mind a dull blur. But now
Help me to the Merrill place." he
pleaded to the mystified Dale. 1rma
hrst-my afiianced wife"
"Irma1" spoke Dale in great mar
yelling gasp, and then the light shown
In upon his mind, and his soul was
radiant as he tenderly uttered the
helnYod namA-"A Arline"-and willie