Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1920-05-28

parent for the girl to mistake; she
realized now that crisis had come In
the affairs Of the Cardlgans. and across
her vision there flashed again the
vision Of Bryce Cardigan's homecom-
ing-of tall old man with his trem-
bling arms clasped around his boy,
with grlzzled cheek laid against his
sons, as one who. seeking comfort
through bitter years, at length had
found II.
Presently another thought came to
Shirley. II wonderl' she mused Hes
proud. Perhaps the realization that
he will soon be pennlless and shorn OF
his high estate has made him chary of
acquiring new friends I'm his old cir
Gle. Perhaps IL he were secure In hfs
business affairs All, yes Poor boy !
He was desperate for fifty thousand
dollarsr' Her heart swelled. "Oh,
Bryce, Bryce" she murmured, II think
I'm beginning to understand some OF
your fury that day In the woods. It's
all a great mystery. but I'm sure you
didn't intend to be $3.50 terrible. Oh,
my dear, II we had only continued to
be the good friends we started out to
be, perhaps you'd let me help you now
For what good Is money II one cannot
help ones dear friends In dIstress7
Still, know you wouldn't let me help
you, for men of your stamp cannot
borrow from woman, no matter how
desperate their need. And yet--you
only need a paltry fifty thousand dol
larsl"
Shirley carried to bed with her that
night the woes OF the CardIgans, and
In the morning she telephoned Moirn
McTavish and invited the latter to
lunch with her at home that noon.
When MORA came. Shirley saw that
she had been weeping.
my poor MORA !" she said, putting
her arms around her visitor "what
has happened To distress you? There,
there, dear! Tell me all about It."
MORA laid her head on Shirley's
shoulder and sobbed for several min
utes. Then, Its Mr.. Bryce" she
walled. Hes so unhappy. Some
things happened they're going to-
sell Cardigan's redwoods; and they
don't want 10. Just before 1 left the
office, Mr.. Bryce came in-and stood
a moment looking-at me-so tragi-
cally II nsked him what had hap-
pened. Then he patted my cheek-oh,
1 know I'm just one Of his response
bilities-and said, Poor MORA! Never
lnaly ~ TIT - &c,
office. l waited little. and then ]
went In, too; and-oh, Miss Sumner.
he had his head down on his desk. and
when touched his head, he reached
up and took my hand and held it
and laid his cheek against II a little
while-and oh. his cheek was wet.
It's cruel of God-to make him-un
happy. He's good--too good. Ard
oh, love him so. Miss Shirley, I love
him so-and he'll never never know.
I'm Just one of his--responsIbilities
you know: md shouldn't presu?:c
But pobOdy--has ever been kind T.,
me but Mr.. Bryce-and you. And
can't help loving people who are kim
and gentle to nobodies."
Molra's story-her confession o.
love, so tragic because so hopeless
stirred Shirley deeply. She seated
herself In front Of MoIra and cupce,
her chin In her palm.
"Of course. dear" she said. you
couldn't possibly see anybody you
loved suffer so and not feel dreadfu.ly
about II. And when man like Brycr
Cardigan Is struck down, he's ant Ia
present rather tragic and helpless
figure. He wanted sympathy. Moirs-
woman's sympathy, and It was dear
OF you to give II to him"
"I'd gladly die for him." Moira mn
swered simply. "Ob, Miss Shirley
YOU don't know him the way we w.o
work for him do. II you did, you'd
love him, too. You couldn't help II,
Miss Shirley"
TEL me about his trouble. MORA"
81 think It's money. He's been ter
ribly worried for long time, and no
afraid things aren't going right With
the business. II hurts them terribly
to have to sell the Valley of me
Giants, but they have to; Colonel Zen.
nington is the only one who would
consider buying II; they don't want
him to have it-and still they have
TO sell to MIN. Mr.. Bryce says his
father has lost his courage az last
and oh, dear, things are in such
mess. Mr.. Bryce started to tell me
all about it-and then he stopped sud
denly and wouldn't say another word"
Shirley smiled. She thought she
understood the reason for that. How
ever she did not pause to speculate
on It, since the crying need Of the
present was the distribution OF a ray
of sunshine TO brOken-hearted MORA.
"Sllly," she chided. "how needlessly
you are growing! You say my uncle
has dec'aed to buy the Valley Of the |
GlhntsY"
MOira nodded.
MY uncle doesn't know what he's
talking about, Mora. IL see that he
does buy 1t. Whit price are the Cardi-
gans asking for II now?"
We'll, Colonel Pennington has Of
fered them n hundred thousand dol /
lars for 1t time and again, but last
l.-l.L