The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1920-04-29
Bread on the
Waters
@o
BY L HAMILTON
Copyright, 1919, by tho Western News
paper Union.)

husly as she rocked her fretful babe
small cottage.
mo. Elita," replied Dudley, with a
deep sigh, resting his head YEARLY on
both hands, clasping the heavy cane
he carried. a reminder Of a Gripping
fall he had received several weeks
previous. "Your brother-in-law gave
no heed to my letters, and when l
spent my last cent to reach his home
he saw me from the window, shut it
down. locked the front door and nev-
. er paid the least attention to me. I
am sorry 10Y that we courted this
humiliation. believing he would help
us in Il distress and poverty"
ut is 80 unlike him." murmured
Mrs. Vance sorrowfully. "In the old
days when my sister, his Wife Myrtle.
was alive, he was the soul Of friendly
interest and generosity"
"What car have so changed him?"
81 can't understand. Dudley. but
from what l have heard, Mr.. Warren
has hcen a perfect recluse since Myrtle
died"
II don't know what we shall do"
said Dudley in a broken tone. "It's
the little sick mes that trouble me. I
was so sure Mr.. Warren would help
us over this hard place until I am
able to get at work again."
Philip Warren had fairly idolized
his wife. He was of a Jealous dispo-
sition. however. and in his somber
moods was inclined to look at the dark
side of life. He had acted inconceiv-
ably resentful towards a close friend
Of Myrtle before their marriage, fancy
ing that Alton Dover had been a rival,
and after Myrtle died would pass Dow
er on the street without even looking
ut him.
Dover had also married In the mean
time, but soon after Myrtle's death
Warren discovered several notes indi-
eating that there was some under
standing between Dover and herself,
for the communications mainly COW
cred appointments for meeting one an
other. 1t was true that they had
been written before Myrtle became his
wife, but an insane prejudice against
Dover was born in his mind, and the
dread that he had not had the exclu-
Sive love Of the wife he adored made
Of Phillip Warren a wretched mis-
anthrope and hypochondriac. He
shut his heart against every friend he
had known, including his sister-in-law
0r1 b,,c1on1 o,,1 n1,o, %1,,3. 1:+&1o allV
dren.
The troubled Vance and his wife
went owe their miseries and prospects
in detail. all unconscious that under
the shade of a tree just beyond the
open window a stranger was lying up
on the grass. AS the baby went to
sleep the conversation was hushed
and the loiterer arose and strolled to
the real door. He knocked, and as
Vance appeared asked for food.
"There isn't much, FRIEND" spoke
Vance in his usual kindly way, "but
you are welcome to what there is"
and he set before his visitor a fru-
gal, but ample meal.
jim Hardy, roustabout tramp, and
at times petty thief, went his way and
forgot all about the vances until two
weeks later. His visit, however, was
destined to lead to a sequel.
"Just occurred to me, MART he
said, "a bit of conversation l over
heard at Columbus gives me a tip to
try our luck here in this town. There's
a mar named Warren lives all alone
and I should judge is a miser with q
house full of money. Suppose we get
solne of it?"
I'm agreeable" was the prompt re-
Spouse, and when Philip Warren re-
turned that night from a solitary
stroll, he found the door forced and
his living room bearing evidences Of
having been thoroughly ransacked.
The burglars had not found any mon
ey. for he kept hat at bank, but they
had departed with some silverware
which he valued only because it had
belonged to his dead wife.
AS Warren started to lift up an
c%scritoire that had been upset and
ritlcd. its back came loose and from
some secret compartment several let
ters fell out. He had missed them
when he had discovered those which
had caused him so much misery and
distress. AS he read one of them a
great light came into his mind. AS
he completed the perusal of the last
one his face bore a startling radiance.
He knelt before the picture of dead
and cherished Myrtle and brokenly
uttered the words: my angel-for-
give! forgive! Oh, how could l ever
doubt that your love was all mine,
mine only!"
For the letters, written by Alton
Dover after her marriage, were full of
gratitude to Myrtle, who had been a
true friend to him and to the girl he
later welded, and all her interest in
poveI' had been to help him in win
ming the love Of a girl whose parents
had opposed the match.
And, with the dark shadows Of sus-
-..Y .:I-.A A- -