The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-12-09
AGood ANGEL
BY MARTHA MecULLocH.WiL.
LIAM9.
copyright, 1920, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)


''Thatll be all from you right
now Wilton broke out sternly.
III you were not what you are-a
shadow, not a mani would wash
my hands of you before tomorrow
morning"
'But-since I am weak and III,
you want me for son, eh?" Marin
tainted. "AlI you Legion fellows
think It Is easier, also pleasanter,
to marry money than to make 1T.
Let q one waiting for grateful
country"
wilton caught the other mans
wrists, held them immovable for a
minute, then loosed them; his eyes
suddenly filled with infinite pity
reused by the tremors, the heat he
felt In the others flesh. In kind.
steady voice he began: Billy
know what shelshOCk does to fell
low-how 1t seems to kill his right
soul and put devil instead Of II.
Let me help you to dislodge that
devil. You know that is why we
are here.
DR.. Lyme says your one chance
Of getting back is quiet, good care.
good food. and exercise in this
healing pInewoods air Try to re-
member that--remember, too, you
are here by your own volition-you
We're keen enough about coming
only yesterday. Ask yourself what
motive / could possibly have in
i bringing you here, except sincere
@Wlsh to help you save yourself!
Marin apparently was not lis
tening. Suddenly he broke out:
isSee the new moon. Moon. is Anna
hooking at you, too? She promised
4 lyon know she did! Do you think
she will break her word?"
Wilton strolled softly away, no.
daring to remain. Anna Dclna was
hardly likely to be looking at new
moons upon the eve OF her we'd.
ding. She was not deserving a sick
man In cold blood-instead she had
fallen out of love with him while
he YVES away-Compasston had kept
her from breaking with him open
ly at fIrst-lRter, when she knew
the shock might Kill or craze him,
she had temporlzed, keeping him
deluded in FOOLS paradise, where
in there was no forecasttng beyond
the day.
Then her new fIance had demand
ed imperilously immediate mar
riage. It was because Of this that
Martins mother had prevailed
upon Tommy Wilton to take her
! poor child into the deep silent will
derness Wilton had known his
task would be hard-just how hard,
though, until now, he had not real
ICED.
AS he went about necessary
tasks Marin sat relaxed against a
pine trunk. his eyes on the moon,
his face blissful. His ill humor
had Vanished-he came cheerily
enough ut the call to supper; after
It smoked a pipe in smiling silence,
and presently flung himself OH the
bed OF fresh boughs, where inside
Of a minute he was sleeping heav-
lily. Wilton was thankful-it was
long since he had slept naturally.
II the healing OF the pine woods
began thus early might it not make
whole the shattered creature? I'm
less it did-Wilton would not think
further. He loved Marin, in spite
OF the ten years between them, MS
though he were Of his own blood.
Yet there was no truth in Marin S
taunt-Wilton revered Lucia Mer-
rim as saint rather than loved her
as a woman. She had carried
weight so CALAMITY. faced down Ill
luck with a courage, faith and char
ity that showed her quality TO be
rare indeed.
Gallant lies had yelled the dis
grace OF an unfaithful husband
when he died. Only his wife and
his lawyer had ever known the
truth; Wilton had guessed It in
tnitiveIy. Lucia had sent her twin
sons to the army almost joyously-
clad OF their chance to redeem the
name and blood. One had fallen
among the first and farthest for.
ward; there remained to her only
this hearthreaking wreck.
Heart-wrenching tragedy yet
wilton held fast to hope. 1t grew
with the morning. Marin was al.
most boisterous IN spirits. You
uromised me wild Strawberries"
he said gayly after breakfast. "Un-
less. you make gOod-well, awful
things may happen to you"
The berries gemmed the grass
of a natural meadow a mile or more
from camp, but the tramp did not
lire Marin. He flung himsCIr down
beside the first ruby cluster he
spied, shouting like a boy and
examining his mouth with fruit.
Then twenty yards off up rose a
slim figure, beautiful-yet Wilton
started at sight as though 1t were
q ghost. No ghost, but living like
ness OF Anna Delna, in pose, fea.
tares, coloring. How would Marin
bear sight of it? Wilton watched
him with a wildly humping heart,
AZ he sprang erect, and made three
PAGES toward the stranger, his face
iITumined, his hands outstretChed.
suddenly they fell lifeless-he be-
gan to stammer excuses. The girl
nodded comprehension, stepped
forward and offered him her hand,
saying: $50 glad to happen on you
80 early-we are camping too
mother and 1.-The milk boy told US
there was g. soldier-gentleman just
come. Welcome to the pine woods.
No better place in tho world to for
get-things better forgotten"
"You are right indeed" Wilton
said, approaching. Inside OF five
minutes he had placed himself and
Marin and found ont that the Girl