The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-10-02
FROM A CLEAR SKY
BY AGNES c. sRoeAN.


Rosalia walked beside the tangled
hedges of roses in her garden and look
&c wfstfully up and down the road
Reckon" she said. I'VE may as we'll
give up looking for some one TO come
or something to happen Susan. we've
been looking a good many years"
The black cat who was the lone little
wOman's only companion. answered
by a sympathizing purr.
Seems" ROsalia went on, that we
ought to get over expecting. If anything
new or pleasant had been coming our
way. it would have come when the old
house was fresh. when father tended
the rose vines and kept them neat.
when carriages drove past our door
with happy folks coming to town for
holiday. or stopping in to visit"
ROsalia sank down upon a grassy
mound and drew the cat into her lap.
silent with her memories.
Carriages come no more down our
quiet lane" she told the cat, Its
autos now, great whirring autos fly
ing along the great white road."
ROSalia rose to her feet smiling whim-
sically upward. anything that will
come our way these days, puss, must
drop from out clear sky" And as the
woman stood gazing absently upward.
whirring sound coming not from the
main road. rent the air. Then she saw
1.-THE wonder thing with the out
spread wings of a monster bird sweep
ing the sky. And before Rosalia could
catch her astOniShed breath. the Won
der thing circled, dropped, and still cir
cling, came crashing toward her own
neglected garden.
Like throbbing monster it lay in
the wide space beyond the rose hedge;
and ROsalia. trembling, rushed to
man who frantically beckoned from its
side. He was young man and dead
IL white.
You'd better get someone" he gasp
ed, ito help carry me inside. Nothing
but broken bone, I guess-awful jar.
but made landing-in time" Then the
man of the airplane tainted.
When she returned with the assur-
ance that help would soon come, the
young man turned upon the cushions
olic pIoppctl stDOuI HILL
It's probably nothing to worry
about" he said slowly, 'but you new
er can tell. Might be internal injury.
So wOndered-if you'd he kind
enOugh-tO write n sort Of-meSsage to
girl. You could mail it to her from
me in case" he smiled family. "Well.
in either CASE he said
So Rosalia brought her best note
paper, and seated herself close to the
great broken bird, which had scared
toward the sky.
Eyes" she prompted.
Begin it," the man said steadily.
Dearest that includes everything"
Dearest" ROsalia wrote, and wait
ed. To-day only, do I dare to tell you
that which has long been in my heart,
love you. Always, I think l have
loved you" She still waited as he
lay with closed eyes apparently think
ing.
RosaIia was thinking Also She had
wished for something to happen.
Something miraculous had happened.
the something had darted into her
solitude from out Il clear sky. RO-
nance itself, was close to her, and she,
as usual. but an OnlOOker. She thought
| of this dearest girl far away. Won
dering if she had listened YEARLY for
step that never came back. But the
Dearest girl did not live. she was
sure, in an old house set far back
| from the road where briers and cares
| grew thick, to screen and choke young
I:fe. The dearest girls lover had not
| gone away years before. He was q
young lover still. Neither had heart
less parents sent him abroad to finish
a medical education. killing romance
country romance they had called it
| with one blow. And after twenty-five
| years the memory of that broken 70
nance still had power to bring mis-
to Rosafia's blue eyes.
He had married-her own lover Of
long ago-a gay creature abroad. who
had not lived long enough to return
With her husband to his homes And
when he had returned. taking up in
| later years his fathers practice OF
medicine. Rosalia kept resolUtely and
proudly out of his way.
As an auto rounded the curve. she
jumped apprehensively to her feet ant
hurried into the house. 1t was the
same step she remembered. which now
crossed the porch, as the doctor car
ried the aviator upon his own broad
back The same confident laugh
which echoed back from her sitting
room.
Presently the doctor sought her out
ave shall need you," he said, bu
his eyes were upon her, as he talked
with his patient.
And later when Rosalia and her Low
er of long ago stood together beside
the airplane in the garden. the doctor
bent to pick up piece of paper.
Dearest" he read. to-day only, d.
dare to tell you that which has Ion;
been in my heart. love you. Always
I think, have loved you"
He turned. as he was leaving, to pu
the paper into RoSalia's hand.
81 will come again this evening"" h
said.
And as she would have continues
the young lovers letter. she saw be
meath her own handwriting n hastil.
added line:
s"This is nv message TO YOU RoSalia