Deming graphic., 1919-12-16
Bread on the
Waters
~n
By RALPH HAMILTON


psDss UsAsaS
mo word from Philip Warren. Dud.
leyr inquired the wife. Elita. anx-
lously as she rocked her frctful babe
in the close. confined quarters OF a
small cottage
"No. Elita." replied Dudley. with =
deep sigh. resting his head wearily on
both hands. clasping the heavy cane
he carried. reminder Of crippling
fall he had received several weeks
previous. "Your brother-in-law gave
no heed to my letters. and when ]
spent my last cent to reach his home
he saw me from the window. shut II
down. locked the front door and new
er paid the least attention to me. !
am sorry now that we courted this
humiliation, believing he would help
us In our distress and poverty"
1T Is so unlike him." murmured
Mrs. Vance sorrowfully. ''ln the old
days when my sister. his wife Myrtle.
was alive, he was the soul Of friendly
interest and generosity"
"what can have 20 changed himT
II can't understand. Dudley. but
from what I have heard. Mr.. Warren
has been 4 perfect recluss since Myrtle
died."
II don't know what we shall do"
said Dudley In q broken tone. 'It's
the little sick ones that trouble me. ]
was so sure Mr.. Warren would help
us over this hard place until ! am
able to get at work again"
Philip Warren had fairly idolixed
his wife. He was Of q Jealous dispo-
sitlon, however, and In his somber
moods was inclined to look at the dark
side of life. He had acted inconeeiv-
ably resentful towards q close friend
Of Myrtle before their marriage. fancy
ing that Alton Dover had been rival.
and after Myrtle died would puss Dow
er on the street without even looking
at him.
Dover had also married In the mean
time but soon after Myrtle's death
Warren discovered several notes indi-
eating that there was some under
standing between Dover and herself.
for the communications mainly COW
cred appointments for meeting one an
other. II was true that they had
been written before Myrtle became his
wife, but an insane prejudice against
Dover was born In his mind, and the
dread that he had not had the exclu-
sive love OF the wife he adored made
OF Phillip Warren a wretched mis-
anthrope and hypochondriac. He
shut his heart against every friend he
had known. including his sister-in-law
and husband and even their little chill
dren.
The troubled Vance and his wife
went over their miseries and prospects
In detail, all unconscious that under
the shade Of a tree just beyond the
open window a stranger was lying up
on the grass. As the baby went 10
sleep the conversation was hushed
and the loiterer arose and strolled 10
the rear door. He knocked. and rs
Vance appeared asked for food.
''There isn't much, friend" spoke
Vance In his usual kindly way, but
you are welcome TO what there ls,"
and he set before his visitor fru-
gal. but ample meal.
Jim Hardy. roustnbout tramp. and
at times petty thief. went his way and
forgot all about the vances until two
weeks later. His visit, however, was
destined to lead to a sequel.
"Just occurred to me, Mart" he
said. "a bit OF conversation I over
heard at Columbus gives me a tip to
try our luck here In this town. There's
n man named Warren lives all alone
and l should Judge Is miser with
house full Of money. Suppose We get
some Of itf"
"rm agreeable" was the prompt re-
sponse. and when Philip Warren re-
turned that night from a solitary
stroll, he found the door forced and
his living room bearing evidences OF
having been thoroughly ransacked.
The burglars had not found any mon
ey, for he kept that at bank, but they
had departed with some silyerware
which he valued only because It had
belonged TO his dead wife.
As Warren started to lift up an
escritoIre that had been upset and
rified. its back came loose and from
some secret compartment several let
ters fell out. He had missed them
when he had discovered those which
had caused him so much misery and
distress. As he read one OF them a
great Hight came into his mind. As
he completed the perusal Of the last
one his face bore a startling radiance.
He knelt before the picture OF dead
and cherished Myrtle and brokenly
uttered the words: NY angel-for-
give forgiyei oh. how could ever
doubt that your love was all mine,
mine onlyT
For the letters. written By Alton
Dover after her marriage. were full Of
gratitude TO Myrtle. who had been q
true friend TO him and TO the girl he
Inter welded. and all her interest In
Dover had been to help him In win
ming the love Of a girl whose parents
Tad opposed the match.