Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1920-01-29
Bread on the
Waters
oo

BY RALPH HAMILTON

In the close, confined quarters of u
small cottage.
"No, Elita," replied Dudley. with II
deep sigh. resting his head YEARLY on
both hands, clssping the heavy cane
he carried. reminder OF a Gripping
fall he had received several weeks
previous. "Your brother-in-law gave
no heed to my letters, and when !
spent my last cent TO reach his home
he saw me from the window, shut II
down, locked the front door and new
or paid the least attention to me. !
am sorry now that we courted this
humiliation believing he would help
us In our distress and poverty"
1t Is ST. unlike him." murinured
Mrs. Vance sorrowfuliy. I'm the old
days when my sister, his wife Myrtle.
was alive, he was the soul nj friendly
interest and generosity"
what can have so changed hlmY'
IL cant understand, Dudley. but
from what I have heard. Mr.. Warren
has been perfect recluse since Myrtle
died"
IL don't know what we shall do"
said Dudley IN broken tone. Its
the little sick ones that trouble roe. I
was 50 sure Mr. Warren would help
us over this hard place untn I am
able to get ut work again"
Philip Warren had fairly idoiieed
his wife. He WAS of . Jealous hispo-
sitiOn, however. and In his so,nbsr
moods VAS inclined TO look At the dark
side Of life. He had acted inconceiv-
ably resentfui towards Q close friend
Of Myrtle before their marriage, fancy
Ing that Alton Dover had been . rival.
and after Myrtle died would pass Dow
er on the street without even looking
ut him.
Dover had also married IN the mean
tune. but soon after Myrtie's death
Warren discovered several notes indi-
eating that there was some under
standing between Dover aud 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 wretched mis-
anthrope and hypochondriac. He
shut his heart against every friend he
had known, including his sister-in-law
and husband and even their little chill
drcn.
The troubled Vance and his wife
went over their miseres and prospects
In detail, all unconscious that under
the shade Of tree just beyond the
open window stranger was lying up.
oh the grass. As the baby went 10
sleep the conversation was hushed
and the loiterer arose and stroled TO
the rear door He knocked and as
Vance appeared asked for food.
There isn't much, friend" spoke
Vance Ia his usual kindly way but
you are welcome to what there is,"
and he set before his visitor a fru-
gal, bur ample meal.
Jim Hardy, roustabout tramp, and
ut times petty thief, went his way and
forgot all about the Vances until two
weeks later. His visit, however. was
destined To lead 10 sequel.
"Just occurred to me, Mart" he
said. "a bit of conversation I over
heard 81 Columbus gives me tin tn
try our luck here in this town. There's
q man named Warren lives all alone
and should judge il q miser with q
house full OF money. Suppose we ge'
some OF it,"
Pm agreeable" was the prompt re
Spouse. and when Philip Warren re
turned that night from solitary
stroll. he found the door forced and
his living room bearing evidences OF
having been thoroughly ransackcd.
The burglars had not found any mon.
had departed with some silverware
which he valued only because n had
belonged to his dead wife.
A. Wsrren started to lift up an
escritolre that had been upset aud
rined. its hack came loose and from
ters Eel, out. lie had missed them
when be had discovered those which
had caused him 81 much misery aud
distress. As he read one OF them q
srrst Ugh. came !nt0 his Di1A, As
he completed the perusal OF the last
one his face bore o startling radiance.
lie knelt before the picture Of dead
and cherished Myrtle and brOkeniy
uttered The words: my sngcl--for.
give. forgive. on. how could ever
doubt that your love was all mine
piinc only"
For the letters. written by Alton
Dover after her marriage. were full OF
gratitude lu Myrtle. who had been
true friend to him and 10 the girl he
later welded. and all her interest In
Ming the love Of girl whose parents
had oppoSed The match
Md. with The dark shadows of sns-
l,ici"ns and distrust hanishcd from his
nI"sl,id nina Philip Warren thought
li~t az her sister. whom he had SO
cruelty neglected. lie visited the
Nancc> AZ once. but never told them
pf inc oau>e ol his isolation. neither
did they even know that an net ~
kindness &" II hungry tramp. in
strangely. devious way. Ind brought
lo them thp renewed beneiicencs and
friendship of the man who had once
shut them out OF his life.