Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-05-30
---A----
THE TWICE AMERICAN
By Eleanor N. .Ingra.n !. Aathor Of Prom the Car Behind

painted and sickened with the dismay
of that possibility. Unable to stand,
he went to the stool and sat down
upon it, hiding his face inahis hands
and shivering like a nan in delirium.
He was still crouching there in the
same attitude, two hours later, when
the jailer came to the door and sum
dy and Keeling with excitement. The
guard caught and supported him until
he was able to stand alone, and fol-
low where he was hidden.
The way taken led to a courtyard
where a large stone basin caught the
waters trickling down the cliff that
formed one side of the enclosure. On
a bench nearby was a pile of gar
ments, toward which the jailer made
a gesture
You are to make a toilette before
going to his Excellency." the man ex-
plained; he went and took his place
near the door, lighting a cigarette. ut
Is true thatEyou are no savory morsel,
my friend. to present yourself at the
Casa Noel!"
Bruce had no ears for the justified
comment. His gloating, short-sighted
eyes had fixed upon the water and the
clothing. He asked no urging of the
j%ailer's invitation. His whole body
S"SN SAo6C ltlllS--luAutl FUC.
fore him. (
The jailer, who was half Indian,
half negro, n had the stolidity Of
both, watched the prisoner, with con-
templative surprise at the enthusi-
asm of foreigners in such matters. He
was, on the whole. a good-natured
fellow. He finally became interested
in the proceedings, and contributed a
very dull razor and a comb to i'm
nrnVo. tho afaNf Il Uhon Dn,oo .-o,
clothed in a linen riding suit, with
boots not too bad a fit, clean-shaven
and trimmed, the tailer offered him a
bowl Of beans. Under these new con-
ditions, Bruce actually ate with a
sense of appetite. After this he again
followed his custodian. This time he
was led outside. AT the door a. grave
eyed Indian arose from his seat and
saluated the white man. He was clad
like a servant in a wealthy, household,
but there was something wild and un-
tanned, something unusual in his face.
He. was not of the type with which
Bruce was familiar, and his speech
had a strange accent.
Il am. Benito," he announced. Ills
Excellency has sen me-" s~
His gesture indicated two riding
horses beyond the doorway. Bruce
walked forward into the softly-cloud-
~" iAoOi LII oAooo III " ..'
No n stayed or hindered him. The
breeze moved swiftly across his face
and stirred his hair. One of the
horses reached it's soft muzzle to
touch his hand. Away before him
stretched the immensely of the noun
tain ranges mantled in thick forests.
A. murmur from Benito aroused
him from his abstraction of delight.
The Indian was %profering a small
covered dark box.
His Excellency sent" he mur-
INJURED by way of explanation.
Bruce focused his blinking, light
dazzled gaze upon the box with a
growing incredulity and hope. 49,
why! WHY" he stammered,
fumbling the lid with fingers.
A. loud cry broke from him as the
box opened. Out into his hands fell
familiar pair Of black-rimmed
s%pectacles. With, a passion of eager
ness he fitted them on-and saw the
world leap into glorious distinctness
and. color. ..E.
Absolutely crushed by the ecstasy
ofssthis miracle ofsshis restored sight,
for it seemed no Tess, glowing with u