The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1920-07-01

them, and not of sorrow but of great
joy. In that moment his most stupefy'
ing discovery was made, and the mag
nitude Of 1t, the portent of 1t, set his
brain at naught, and left him destitute
Of reason.
Carroll" he said. petrified. "Carol 7
Mute, she shook her head. Looking
him full In the eyes, she flinched sud
denly, and great sob burst in her
throat. The photograph of Dicky Nor
gan was In her hand; she held II q
moment, trembling, and then, while
her breath came faster and her shoul.
ders quivered, she tore II across and
across, finer and finer, until only frag'
mentary scraps remained-and these
she let fall In her lap, unheeded. The
likeness of Hilliard, the lying, radiant
face Of the man nobody knew-this
she had seized, and this she had
clutched to her breast, spasmodically
as though in fear to have 1t snatched
away from her.
Hilliard was very close to her; and
his whole being was concentrated In
his eyes.
"Carol" he said to her again in that
strangers voice. "Carol You
you knewl" To him the fact
was unbelievable.
Tardily, unwillingly, she raised heI
head.
From the very first day." shs said
brokenly. Both dad and
and no one else; not even mother
your eyes told us both, and
we've trusted you so and
waited so surely we knew II
would come out all right in the end
somehow and and
do like my gift! 1t does
make the day better" And then, in a
soft whisper, Henry"
She had called him "Henry" and
even in the spell of his confusion. he
throbbed to the significance of it.
The lover was eager, but the prodigal
was startled back from the very thresb-
old Of lsve.
"From the first day." he breathed
electrified. "And you trusted me like
that when you knew what
was doing"
She was laughing and crying at the
same time; his hungry arms went out
to her and found her; words were
coming unanimously to him and he
said them as they came. Somehow
the ring was on her finger; and she
had kissed il there. Between them
partnered, a sacred understanding as
imperlshable as bronze had arisen
they both knew, without the necessity
Of prolonged speech, what his future
was to be. They both knew In what
capacity he was to face the world ;
they knew the trimming fullness of her
pardon and the trimming fullness of
his regret. These truths were mutual
ly confirmed; the shabby past was in
distinguishably merged with the fresh
and vivid present; their pledges to this
end were upon their lips. The world
was lying helpless at their feet
the wonderful, sensitive, receptive
world which had respected and hon-
ored and admired him in the days of
his regeneration, and would continue,
paying the reward Of his request.
In an irresistible passion of humility
and shame and courage, he tried to tell
her the sums of his deceits; her lips
prevented him.
"You mustn't ~ she murmured.
"Never! You let me choose-I want
It this way"
Dazed, triumphant, he was re-living
by-gone incidents, seeing faint clues
develop into mighty revelations, COM
pretending at last the supreme love
and supreme faith of the two who had
waited for his victory, and kept his
secret shut within their hearts, that
he might stand the ordeal, and prove
triumphant. And now, the reputation
that was already his the loft
Ter, reputation which he should conse-
crate himself to build not
only for the pleasure of the building,
but also because there were those to
whom he owed Ii
Behind them, firm football. Hill
Hard was on his feet, his arm instinct
lively protecting Carol. Doctor Durant
was smiling on them from the door
way grave, benevolent, pa
ternal. He, too, became q common
partner to the understanding; an inter.
change OF glances was sufficient. He
came in swiftly; his hands outstretch-
ed, his head lifted high in the pride Of
a father who has looked upon his chill
dren, and found them true to each 9th.
er, and TO him.
"What ~ he said. "Have you proved
Il already-iny SOM"
THE END.