Evening times-Republican., 1920-10-01

fifst prayer that for long, long years
had welled from his hard heart:
'Oh. God. oh. God. forgive me. fol
knew not what did,
\ Summer dusk,
Only q single incandesCent now
burned, dim shaded, in the quiet
room. The others had all been ex-
tinguished, so that the girl and Brad
ford might not be disturbed.
Doctor" the old man was saying
in a tone quite strange to him, nov
that her life is assured, as we'll as
my sons, II feel at a great loss to
know how | can right this wrong"
1T will right itself, never fear. =
the physician smiled, wisely and
kindly, "All wrongs do, in time. just
let things take their normal course.
You understand
Yes, Yes-but how can | ever
hope to reward her?" the shipmaster
falterod.
knowing her as I have come to,
answered Tressor, still smiling,
believe she has already found her re-
ward, the very greatest in the world
Has she not given back life to the
man she loves? What more could
any true woman ask, or dream?"
Old Vinton made no reply. Silent
ly. as in n kind of musinE dream, he
walked slowly to the eastern window
where stood Martha.
Together there, they looked out
across the swarming streets now be-
ginning to fill with darkness span
gled with myriad lights. Up to them
arose the vague, continuing roar or
the CIty'S ltfes~lifo. to whose haven
Bradford now was winning back
again-life that had almost ceased
to be. for Sylvia. far-borne on dark
tides toward the iliimitable shadows.
Now that the heated day was at
it's end, thru the eastward facing
window the saving wind from the
sea brought its reyivifytng freshness,
The evening star brooding on sea
and land, shone with steady beam In
the high, purple vault OF heaven.
as night deepened. Gaz-
ing up at 1t, Eliot Vinton and his
wife stood there. silent and worn nf-
ter the long crucifiXion Of their vtgtl,
With q tenderness to which he had
been long stranger. Eliot Vtnton
drew his arm about Martha, and for
a moment held her close.
'T.Ife has many and strange les
sons" he murmured. "It bows the
neck of arrogance and pride. and
works eternal justice in its own i'm
ways. Tonight 1 almost
seem to hear the grinding OF the
mills of the gods, UP there" Toward
the yastness of the evening, high
above the city, he raised his hand.
"At thought of what the grist OF
those mills came near to being, many
things lie open to my soul that once
were dark and closed"
The old wife took his hand in hers,
and held 1t to her heart a wonderful
and silent moment a moment or
that 90 often lie too deep
for tears" before she answered:
"rt seems to me there must be
some great, cosmic purpose In all
this, Eliot. Such tragedy and such
10Y must have some meaning In the
scheme of life, some supreme justi-
fication and higher significance than
the mere casual happenings OF
chance"
The shipmaster nodded.
"Yes, I think 10, too" said ne.
"God grant that we may understand!
The boy knew best-he was right,
after all. 1t Was for him and for the
woman he loved as much as che
loved him, to choose the ordering OF
their lives. Now that they've been
given back to us, Martha. and to the
resurrection Of q name that certain
ly must have died without her sacri-
flee, the Haven must live, too We
must all work on and on together
to keep It's doors wide open and to
broaden its work in other. larger
ways, for the saving of men"
Turning, the old father Peered
earnestly at the beds. side by side
there with little space between
them, and lighted now by only the
single 1noandegcent. Then he drew
Martha toward them. The vague
form of a nurse--now In charge,
since DR.. Tressor had left the room
for a little much-needed rest-raised
a warning hand.
"Shhh!" she cautioned. They're
asleep!"
vinton stood a moment looking
down at Sylvia and Bradford. Then
he moved silently in between the
beds. Outside the coverlet lay Brad
ford's hand, half-open on the white
cloth. not far from sylvIa's.
The old man took the girls nerve-
less hand and laid 1t gently In that
of his boy.
You mustn't" warned tho nurse
swered!
"They'll only sleep the better for
this, There arc other medipines in
the world, and better onos. than
drugsl"
Bradford stirred, sighed deeply and
opened languid. pain wearied eyes, In
the half-light he peerod UP at his
father, bending over him. A moment
he looked up, understanding nothing,
then his lips framed two whispered
words, all but anaudablyi
tHello. dad!"
my boy!" answered. the father.
his voice d d1ffcrunt voice from any
Bradford had ever heard,
where's memsey?"
"Here, right here,n the nsther an
aWered. with catch In her voice at
sound of the pet name she had not
heard In many years, since Bradford
was q little boy, We're both here,
You're all right now-everything' s
all right"
The ghost of a wan smile curved
Bradford's lips, and for minute he
closed his eyes, lying very still in
the white, white bed under the dtm-
shaded lamp, But presently he be-