The Raymer enterprise. (New Raymer, Weld County, Colo.) 1910-19??, 1919-11-06
After Darkness
b AGNES G. sRocAN


little whltefaced one. silent, her
pathetic eyes gazing without recogni-
ton. Ths tiny warm body al her
side, the imperative baby cry. had
failed to rouse her. Much the nurse
and doctors had counted upon b;lby's
power. but the young mother heart
had grisved too deeply. to turn at
once to rejoicing.
The very appeal Of the girls help
lessness had won for her loving care
freely bestowed. In the chilly fall
night she had come to. the hospital.
III ! may stay" she had begged. Il
will make myself useful. scrubbIng
floors II that may be, anyway"
The maron looking at the small
white hands had smiled.
Il could carry trays. Ut least" An
Mabel Lee eagerly suggested.
Then the matron comforting the
little homeless creature before the
gas hre 10 her own pleasant room
had drawn from Annabell Lee her
story.
She had fallen In love with q young
civil engineer who had been upon the
broad road near her Southern home.
Annabsil's hollow, dark eyes shone
and her white cheeks flushed rose
color a. me unfolded the romance of
her girthood.
4 ran away with Jack Lee" she
confessed. bach to his own Northern
coustry. Ny people would not listen
to reason. Jack was Just struggling
along In his PROCESSION. Why. this
highway. where we met. was almost
his arst commission. But he would
make good. he told me, when we mar
Red. And II you knew Jack" the
girl paused aeouently, "Oh! you
would have no doubt OF his success.
80, 10 brought ne first to the home
Of bis mother" Annabells voice
broke trenulously-"And his mother
was angrter even than my people had
bsea. I--could hardy blame her
You see. she had sacrificed great
deal In her widowhood to put Jack
through college. to start him upon the
career they had chosen together.
"Jsck tried to reason; he plead for
her patience: he would soon be able
to care for US both, he said But the
mother was obdurate. OH she was
very severe. and she told us TO 60
to make our way as We could and
leave her to her own. So, we found
the contest rooms" Annabell's eyes
were alisht again. "and Jack taught
me TO cook.
Il was 70 strangely alone that he
spent more time with me those days
perhaps than he should, and business
did not make much progress but"
the girls voice sang "Oh! we were
happy, happy Then came the ter
ribe war. Jack and | talked II over
I seriously. We could see that he must
o. The responsibility Of II was In
his eyes before he spoke to me, and
while my heart sank like lead. I
smiled at him.
"'Why, Of course, dear said. your
country needs you most He was
troubled at leaving me alone, but all
at oace had grown very brave and
confident. I shall keep the one little
ROOM l told him, with our small saw.
ibgs will manage my housekeeping
nicely And so should" Annabell
FASTENED TO add but for the sickness
which came upon me and took II ALL
Jack never knew Of that. And now,
because I am still so frsil, | come to
you to beg work In exchange for
slight care"
Suddenly the young wife leaned to-
ward the matron, the strong capable
hands were clasped nercely by the
small frenzied ones
| II must-work," Annabell said,
for this Is now my haunting sorrow.
my terror by night and day-Jack has
been taken prisoner by the Germans
Do you know what that may meant
II was through the Red Cross | OBJ
tained my information, but they could
tell nothing further He is-a pris
oner. Those fiends are his keepers"
Soothinsly the matron caressed the
girls soft, dusky hair. II was then
that Annabell Lee was admitted into
the home and heart Of the great city
hospital.
But the haunting terror fingered In
her eyes. A newspapers heading was
sufficient 10 drive all color from the
face upon which suffering had left It's
marx. And then one night like q
weary child, she sank into sort Of
waking Sleep from which not even
the cry Of the little new life at her
side could rouse her.
The doctor sighed as though weary
Of the hopelessness about him. The
matron's eyes were filed with tears.
Little Annabell Lee had endeared
herself to all. Then, toward the
dawn Of one long night, came sud.
denly sound Of bells through the
city-which grew rapidly to a uni.
vsrsal clamor Of triumph.
Voices called out In the street be-
low. Above AZ came the nswsboys'
jubilant cry: peace Germany has
surrendered"
Cautiously the hospital mstron
stepped forward to close the window |;