The Ordway new era., 1920-10-01

when It's repeated. conquest Is
empty without the popular acclaim. or
the arrival of the historian. lie felt
this kecnly; he reflected TINT of all the
syndicate. he alone was without
beneficiary. And today, when he had
steeled himself to speak to Carol =.
Like countless generations of men
before him, he began vaguely to
wonder what he should do If she re-
fused him.
What would be left? Only the shell
of achievement. Would he go back to
France? or would he remain in Amer
lea, nnd struggle for success by en-
dowing war charities out of his glori-
Gus income-to-be? Also and
this was enervatlng what
should he say to her? 1t is given TO
few men TO propose twice, In different
characters, TO the same girl.
The train plowed and painted through
the thickening drifts; billiards watch
was coming out of his pocket at five
minute intervals; here was Rochester
mt last three hours late
and there. shining dmly through
banked clouds, was the sunl The
by Its mere appearance; Hilliard, who
had measured time by weeks, then by
days. and more recently by reluctant
hours. began to mark the minutes from
his mental calendar.
And then. after nn interminable
century of impatlence, the outlying vii
lagos, gray and smoky; the fiat wastes
of Solvay; the road slowly becoming
streets; the buildings adding height
Syrncusel
His feet were on the platform he
was hurryIng forward. Ahead of him
and In his excitement he STUN
bled heavily there, coming
toward him Carol and the
Doctor, befurred and rosy no
question of the welcome they were
bringing himl
His own initial remarks were grossly
incoherent. There were no words to
fit the situation; perhaps he did 1t
greater Justice by the disconnected
sounds he made. And then he was
entering the Doctors closed car; they
were bouncing over the cobbles of the
lower city; they We're attacking the
grade of james street, and he was
peerlng out in an ecstasy of memory
mt the houses where he had played In
boyhood
| Two O'Clock on time for
dinner to the second A house hang
Ing with evergreen: Christmas
| spirit permeating every nook and
granny Christmas odors-not all Of
evergreen-drifted In tantalizing whiffs
TO meet him.
A joyous interlude; gay process
sion; hush; gravely spoken bless
ing-oh, that Christmas!
There came time early in the eve
ming when Hilliard found himself
alone with Carol. He had vague
recollection that they had been sent
to look for something corn
pepper. or some other equally futile
article and for an instant
he marveled at their expecting to find
1t In the sun-parlor, where they had
wandered. But the sun-parlor was hap
PLY unoccupied: and there were COM
Portable chairs in 1t; and something
very green and red and seasonnble in
all the windows: so that they both de-
layed prodigiopsly, and exchanged a
number of highly inconsequential re-
marks about the decorations. Pres
emily. without so much as transient
thought for the corn-popper, they sat
down with one accord. From dis
tance the murmur of cheerful voices
in the living room was an adequate
accompaniment to their thoughts.
HillIard's head was dropped low; his
reverie was so profound that not even
Carols voice could rouse hlm-not un-
til she spoke second time.
'I said-a penny for them" she re-
peated, amused.
"Ohw billiards awakening was ex-
piosive. "Why, that's queer
I was just thinking about that my.
self mean the first Sunday ever
came up here to dinner. You said
the same thing then. Remember it?'
"Yes, indeed and they were
wonderful bargain at the price -
He didn't seem to recall that she had
ever looked so mischievous.
"They are now. then" he said. "Be.
cause it's just us 1t was before-I was
! thinking about you" Regarding her
he was transported anew by her :ove-
liness And 1t wasn't only her ex.
ternnl lovellness that he adored, 1t was
what she had of sympathy, and kind
ness, and sweetness of disposition. J.
; very womnnly girl she was . moi
flaming character to blaze and die
but steady and enduring soul .
such as he craved =.
She turned her head away.
, Il t-oS var nj ynu this tpfrp