The Topeka state journal., 1919-12-23
Eoening Story
The Message OF the Bells.

for prisoners, and found him asleep.
Hesitating to awaken him, she stepped
to the window and looked out into the
| dusky street. Then she remembered
1t was Christmas eve.
Hurt by the sharp realization, she
turned softly to the bed where Pris-
oner No. 653 lay. She was alone in a
big world, aRd SO was he.
Against the white pillow his dark
wavy hair stood out distinctly. The
even lines of his face were clear thru
his pallor. He was sleeping as child
sleeps, quietly, restfully, not as man
should sleep whose chest was crushed.
face of a strong man, tempered and
tried in some crisis.
Robert Leighton she said to him,
you are a puzzle.''
And so he was to her. from the mo-
ment of her assignment to his case.
He was not like others who came from
the great prison.
He had been injured in the machin-
cry of one of the prison shops while
trying to save a fellow prisoner from
death among the whiriing wheels.
That knowledge was one of the silent
forces that had drawn her to him un-
til he was more in her thoughts than
she wished he was.
Fearful of her mood. she bent
quickly and touched him. He woke
without starting and with his mild.
pleasant greeting, Hello, lady of the
white gown, have slept late"
ITO sleep is good" she answered;
"and you need it for what L am gong
to do to you!"
She barred his white. powerful chest,
and her fingers sought the -bandages.
AS she worked she knew she hurt him.
but he neither WINGED nor murmured.
and his brown. shadowed eyes gave
no sign of pain as they followed her
with an odd gentleness in them.
In the long weeks that look had
grown until it thrilled her with some
hidden suggestion. :,
you aren't natural, my prisoner,
she said, using the name that had
amused him; ''most patients do or say
something when We touch these places.
Why don't you?"
He smiled his faint, fleeting smile.
"You see, I don't care. l have been
hurt before-in another way"
She knew to what he referred; in
stinctively she paused and looked at
him, and she saw his thoughts were
in that dark corner of the past that he
could not leave.
"I know" she said gently, but, why
don't you forget that?" -
.'Forget?" he questioned, then
faint and far and sweet came into the
room the music of the chimes OF the
cathedral in the northern part OF the
now for
She looked at him with tears in her
eyes. for she knew that he. too. had
not thought. ''It is Christmas eve, you
know"
He sank back whispering, Christ
mas-Christmas eve" and staring
into her eyes with unbelief.
He saw the tears there and his hand
caught hers. Remembering, he sought
to release it. but she let it remain.
Eyes. it is Christmas eve Pardons
are given out today. Perhaps one IS
on the way to you
She said it to ease the moment and
regretted it Immediately, for he knew
and she knew that the last hour had
passed.
She finished her work hurriedly;
and ne said, You thave been very
good to me-
BECAUSE you are worth being good
to-" she answered, stepping to the
light.
AS she snapped it ost and the
friendly dusk rushed in with its
promise of forgetfu1ness in slumber.
|! the chimes broke into the joyous
hymn. beginning. Joy to the world
the Lord has come" She heard him
sigh. and touched him gently.
"Good night" she said. and he
whispered, Good night"
Outside the door. she stood a mo-
ment trembling with the sheer shock
Of her realization. 'I love him-that
is what it means! know what ]
shall do!''
She went to her room, took some
papers from her little private boX,
and a few minutes later a taxi was
CARRYING her across the city to the
annual Christmas eve bali which she
knew the governor of the state was
to attend.
When she arrived at the great man
sion her courage did not fail her: but
the keen-eyed doorman tried to stay
her purpose. She was insistent.
FINALLY. the big fellow said doubtfully:
We'll. young lady, it may cost me my
job. but I'll fix it up for you"
Soon she found herself facing
grave. weary-looking man in evening
clothes. He stared at the slight girl
ish figure. the dark earnest eyes. and.
as if changing some decision nlotioned
her to a seat.
Breathlassly she plunged into her
story She told him of LEIGHTON. of
how hs~ had sought TO save a girl he
had loved who had foolishly embez-
zled the funds of the firm for whom
she and Leighton worked. He had
saved her at his cost. She had gone
to n southern city and from there had
written that she wanted to forget all
the affair.
How do you know all this, Miss
Thomas?'' the governor Asked.
II listened to him while he was in
delirium after the operation and in my
care. and 1 learned enough TO write
her"
why take such interest in him ?'' he
said quietly.
"I have learned toto love him."
she answered as quietly and as softly.
He looked at her with grave, tired
eyes. But all this is hardly in form.
You could present it later thru an at
torney-'
She nodded. ''If he. would let me
and I doubt it. He would be foolish
about it as ne was at first, and I love
him for it. But-but, you see
He rose. Really. I could not do
this-this way. Later you might take
the matter up
He went with her to the reception
room door. Darkness seemed to be
descending upon her and silence. It