The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1919-01-23

brave. courageous young hSurts must
not suffer-"
With her decision Halle. she sat in
the dusk near the Window Of her
room. dreamingEihearning of los,
girIhood, an eiiithS womanhood, aud
hrooding on The gray and quiet years
that lay before her-ionely pathn for
the walking II lonely feet.
The maiu vat the door sof,en.d her
voice. Mir. jeffrey says that you
must give your name AMI state your
errand, please"
Miss Copeland smiled. "reil him !
have come over two hundred miles TOR
ave minutes Of his tiIDe."
The maid hesirated. hus went In
A moment later she returned siuil,ng.
'He is In the library, where you mag
see him."
Through the great hall she walked
to the door where the maid stood aud
quietly entered the room.
A man of powerful buiid rose heav-
lily from a chair. lard Gown his paper
and lifted strong. stern face. With
lips parted he stood as II hypnotjzed.
his gray eyes stirring; then the harsh
lines seemed swept from his face.
sudden overwhelming wonder and Joy
took their place. He stepped forward
with outstfetehed hands.
"Delli. irselant -. - nnL-h .---r.--
Yes. Stephen. II Is I-but you must
not hold my hand" she said. smiling
family.
~ sliall hold 1t until I am sure
have you here! Della. where have
you been? Why have you come? Do
you remember"
"Stephen. are you so glad to see
me?"
Glad to see you'll I have been hun.
CRY for the sight OF your face for Of.
teen years! Why didn't you answer
my letters? Why" He stopped.
making an effort to calm himself.
LET'S sit down." she suggested
quietly. "Ah. Stephen. why bring
back the old years and the old re-
grets? was willing to marry you,
you remember. but you didn'. have
the courage TO go against your ia
thers will. You remember, he would
have nothing to do with me. YOU"
His voice was hoarse. MY Gcdl
II bhN tnC NO1tuSC. 4ntSC
yenrs. Della, these years-years-'of
memories" His head dropped II
was a cOward-but IT'S not too iate.
Della. You-why, the years have teen
kind to you--are you"
Married? Nor She shook her
head sadly. Il couidn't-wirh my
memories"
Della ~
wait Stephen / came to see you-
You say you wish you had opposed
your father. Let me tell you some
thing"
She leaned over, and tenderly she
told him of the young couple in the
dingy boarding. house room. of the
slight. brave young girl. OF the young
husband covering a dread of the fu-
ture with a present smile. Then she
told him their names.
He started to his feet. "Aiy little
girl-therei 1 wanted to teach them
lessOn-I forgot my-lesson. l was
coward and-my God! i have paid
for it" He turned TO her. II am go
ing to put call straight 10 your
house-where is III"
Her heart throbbed ut his words.
'.Stephen. they will be wild with joyi"
She gave him The call as she imagined
the scene 10 be enacted In that far
away room OF despair.
He shouted the call Into the ftele.
phone. brushing aside some nernons
STRANGE with an abrupt word. He
chung TO the receiver while he waited
IA picture of eagerness-
Then-"Helloi Lanrei'-.'Father"--
''Yes. father--~I want yuu to come
home! You and-apd Nerrnan."-
'.There-there-the girI,"--
Yes. pack up. and eome"-''Tve hesn
a .pig.headed ass---Yes. You bet we
wili',-'.Come right awayf'
He turned from the telephone. HIS
eyes We're quiet, his faee calm. She
thought as she watched hin that the
years had been kind, indeed. to him.
She rose. feeling as il into ber heart
had entered again the silence and the
emptiness. while soon for him the last
shadows would pass. Now. must
ga---''
He ,snrang up and laid bis hands
gently yet firmly upon her shoulders
His voice was- vibrant, yet tender
You are never .going-never. bella.
n can keep you. Now that chAsse
has brought you. no .oDe lives who eaG
lake you Grom me. i was too much of
Al coward once to take you. nnd yon
bxd too much pride to come TO ue:
bs,x. my dear. we simPly nust suve
something out OF the years-they must
n0f all be lost years. Don't you love
me even IjttIez"
Her head sank. "stepl,en. have