The Lamar register., 1919-02-19
The Peace
Dove
Copyright. 1913. by Western Newspaper Union,
By RAY WARBOURNE

autumn days and then regained her
strength sufficiently to sit up in bed
and even in chair at the window.
Since that fatal day, however, when we
found her lying face downward on the
floor of her room dead, to all seeming.
she had not spoken word. There
had come into her eyes strange eN-
presslon-a glaze, u dead. dread stare.
She appeared TO observe nothing before
her or directly In her proximity. Her
glance was far, as though way beyond
her there lOomed II picture that held
soul and tody In deep thrall.
When We came TO inspect The news
paper all torn aud crumpled up Ia her
hand, We. too. knew the truth. Among
the list Of war casualties was the name
Of Adrian Farrar. He had been, direct
ly ut the front In the aviation service,
his ma chine had been seen to drop all
ablaze within the lines of the enemy
and the brave young volunteer, the
nance OF Aida, had apparently met his
fate. The blow had crushed our darling
child When after the lapse Of II week
she somewhat aroused from the dead
ening influence. she recognized nobody.
The doctor was puzzled at the case,
hoped that with time the brain cloud
would pass away.
When the armlstlce was announced
the little town went wild with excite
ment. We tried to make Alldn under
stand what had taken place. but she
did not seem to have the normal men
tality to comprehend US coherently.
Of he fhnaFs
general commotion of the occasion dis
turbed her greatly. She closed all the
windows Of her room and wrapped her
self up In the couch coverings, as II to
shut out sounds that struck harshly
and unwelcome upon her senses.
"Do you think II we could rouse up
Aida and drive into the midst Of the
celebration. II would awaken her mind
and clear her clouded facultiesf"
nsked the doctor.
81 fear the strain might PROSTATE
her" he replied. and the day passed by
with the poor child having nO concep-
tion OF what Its unusual turmoil slgni-
fed
Among the decorations OF the little
park square around which clustered the
business establishments of the town
was large white dove. II had been
hastily made and the material wns
crude, but as IL was poised upon an
emergency pedestal within the basin Of
the fountain. II was u striking and at
'tractive feature of the occasion. II was
allowed to remain In place and II
month went by. winter came on. and
! recall one day when II rnined and
then froze, and when the sun came out
the gllstening effect was fairly beau
tiful.
wonderful piece OF news came to
Us one day. Adrian FHrrar had es-
capped death. Quite severely Injured,
he had fallen into the hands Of the en-
.eny abroad. had escaped and was now
on his way homewnrd. We tried TO
convey the glad intelligence TO Aida
but her dulled intellect was unable
TO comprehend II.
do not despair" encouraged the
doctor. when young Farrar comes
home and Aida sees him II may AT
once arouse her from her strange
lethargy."
Aida was greatly attached to n light
pretty dress that Adrian had often ad
mired and which She wore the evening
they had last parted. She would nr-
ray herself In this after reclining most
OF the day. arrange her beautiful hair,
put on neck chain that Adrian had
given her. and then seat herself mt the
window grooming a low, mournful tune
and gazing out blankly ut the garden
and street II was about eight o'clock |
one evening when her brother came |
rushing down the stairs with u dread |
full announcement:
'Oh. mother. Allda-she is gone 20
We found the rear door Of the house
open and marks Of the dainty low slip |
pers she wore Ia the snow. Aida had |
gone forth In light thin garb with no !
head covering. and we shuddered at u
thought OF the possible results OF the |
exposure.
Ungulded led 10y what wayward |
thought she never comprehended. Aida
had wandered toward the center of |
the town. A lad llyiGg near US had |
been the first one to notice aud rec
ognIze her. Astare, electrified, he had
shrunk back in sort of superstitious
fear as he came across her. She had
reached the fountain. had climbed up
into Its basin and there she was crouch
ed. her arms about the celebration