The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-12-23
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
me Message Of the Bells.
Rv A w PEACH.

reserved for prisoners and found
aim asleep. HeSitatlng to aWakeI
aim, she stepped TO the window and
ooked out into Tho Gasky street
Then she remembered-lt was Christ.
r.iS eve.
ut By the sharp realization. shc
TUNED softly 20 the bed where PF.so'
snei US3 lay. She was alone In big
world end so was he.
AgaiEet the white pillow his dark
way hair stood out distinctly. The
even lines Of his face Were clear
through his paNor. He was sleepingas
q child sleeps. quietly, restfLlS, not
rs man should sleep whose chest
was crushed. HIS face was untroubled
It was the face OF a strong man, tenn
pered and tried In some crisis.
Robert Leighton" she said to him
you arc puzzle
And so he was to her, from the mo-
nlent Of her assignment to his case
He was not like others who came
from tho great prison.
He had been injured In one Of the
machines OF the prtlon shops while
trying to ave a fellow prisoner from
death among the whirling wheels.
That knowledge was one of the silent
forces that had drawn her to him un-
iii he was more in her thoughts than
she wished he was.
Fearful Of her mood, she bent quick
ly and touched him. He woke without
starting and with his mild, pleasant
kretting. Hello lady of the white
gown, have slept late"
ITO sleep is good" she answered.
"and you need it for what I an go
ing 10 do 10 you!"
\ She barred his white, powerful chest,
and her fingers sought the bandages.
as she worked she knew she hurt him
hut he neither WINGED nor murmured,
and his brown Swallowed eyes gave
no sign Of pain as they followed her
with an odd gentlenoss in them.
In long weeks the look had grown
until 1T thrilled her with some hidden
suggestions. =.
"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?"
HeIsmiled his faint, fleeing smile.
"You see-I don't care. l have been
hurt betore-in another way"
She knew to what he referred; in
stinctively che paused and looked at
him, and she saw his thoughts were
in that dark corner Of the past that
he could not leave.
q know she said gently, "but why
don't you forget that?"
"Foreet?' he questioned, then-taint
and far and sweet came into the room
the, music of the chimes in the cathe-
dral iii the northern part of the city.
what are the chimes playing now
for"
sho looked at him with Tears In
her eyes, for she knew that he, too,
had not thought. at is Christmas eve
you know"
He sank back whispering, Christ
mas-C Christmas ever" and staring in
10 her eyes with unbehef.
He saw the tears in her eyes and his
hand caught hers. Remembering he
sought to release 1t, but she let It re-
main. Eyes it is Christmas eve. Par
dons arc given out today. Perhaps
one is on the way to you"
She said IL to ease the moment and
regretted i. Immediately, for he knew
and she knew that the last hour had
passed.
She finished her work hurriedly;
and he said, "You have been very
good to me"
because you are worth being Cos
to-" she answered stepping to the
light.
AS she snapped it out, and the friend
ly duEk rushed in with its promise OF
forgetfulness in slumber. the chimes
broke into the Joyous hymn begin
ming, "JOy to the World, the Lord has
come" She heard him sigh and touch
ed him gently.
Good night" she said, and he wits
pered, Good night"
Outside the door she stood mo-
Inent trembling with the sheer shocx
Of her realization. 81 love him--that is
what it means! l know what ! shall
dol"
She went to her room, took some
papers from her little private box,
end a few minutes later taxi was
carrying her across the city to the
annual Christmas eve ball 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 j
the keen-eyed dnoman tried to stay
her purpose. She was insistent FL
nally, the big fellow said doubttuEy:
well, young lady, 1t may cost me my
fob, but I'll fix it up for you"
Soon she found herself facing a
grave, weary looking man in evening
clothes. He stared at the slight girl
tsh figure, the dark earnest eyes, and
Is 4 changing some decision motioned
der to seat.
Breathlessly she plunged into her
story. She told him Of Leighton, Of
how he had sought TO save girl he
had loved who had foolishly embezzled
the funds of the firm for whom she and
leighton worked. He had saved her
Ut his cost. She had gone to south
ser ncity and from there had written
thnt she wanted to forget all the af-
fadr.
Show do you know all this, Miss
ThomasT' the governor asked.
II listened to him while he was in
delirtum after the operation and in
my. care and / learned enough to write
her"
'Why take such an interest in him"
he said quietly.
Il have learned toto love Nm,"