The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1920-10-07

fashion for mercy. for compromise
But the girl was obdurate.
Il am showing you more mercy thar
you deserye-you 10 whom mercy wa.
ever a sign OF weakness. OF vaclllatIon
There Is gulf between us. Uncle
Seth-a gulf which for long time
! have dimly sensed and which, be
cause Of my recent discoveries, has
widened until II can no longer ne
bndged"
He wrung his hands in desperation
and slid 10 his knees before her: with
hypocrftical endearments he strove "a
take her hand. but she drew away from
him. Don't touch me-" she cried
sharply and with breaking Qote in
her voice. .You planned 10 kill Bryce
Cardigan And for that--and that
alone-I shall never forgive you"
She fed from the office leaving him
cringing and groveIling on the floor.
There will be no directors meeting.
Mr.. Sexton" she Informed the mana.
ger as she passed through the general
office. ut is postponed"
That trying interview had wreneheG
Shirley's soul 10 degree that left her
faint and weak. She al once sci out
on long drive. IN the hope that be-
fore she turned homeward again she
might regain something OF her Gus.
tomary composurc
Presently the asphaltum- paved
street gave way 10 n dirt road and
terminated abruptly NJ the boundaries
Of q deld that sloped gently aipward
IA field studded with huge black red
wood stuinps showing dismaIly
through coronets Of young redwoods
that grew riotously around the base
OF the departed parent trees. From
the fringe OF the thicket thus formed.
the terminus OF an old skldroad
showed and slgnboard, freshly paint
ed. pointed the way to the Valley OF
the Giants.
Shirley had not Intended to come
here. but now that she had arrived
]
she wanted to come. Parking her car
by the side OF the road. she alightcd
and proceeded up the old skid. now
newly planked and with the encroach-
ing forestratiOn cut away so that the
daylight might enter from above. On
over the gentle divide she went and
down toward the amphitheater where
the primeyal giants grew. And as
she approached it. the sound that Is
silence in the redwoods-the thunder.
Gus dlapason OF the centuries--wove
its spell upon her; quickly, impercept.
IDLY there faded from her mind the
memory OF that groveIling Thing she
had left behind In the mill-office. and
10 its place there came a subtle peace.
feeling OF awe. OF wonder-such a
feeling, indeed. as must come 70 one
In the realization that man is distant
but God Is near.
A cluster OF Wild orchids pendent
from the great fungus-covered roots
OF giant challenged her attention
She gathered them Farther on. in
I spot where a shaft Of sunlight fell,
,he plucked an srmful OF golden Cal.
tfornia poppies and flaming rhododen-
dren. and with her delicate burden
she came al length to the giant-guard-
ed clearing where the halo OF sunlight
fell upon the grave OF Bryce Cardi.
gan's mother. There were red roses
on IA csUple ~ dozen. st least. ana
these she iearranz,.1 in order to make
room for her oan Offering.
Poor dear" she murmured aud
lbly God didn't spare you Tor much
did her"
voice deep. resonant. kindly.
spoke : few feet sway. "who Is itv'
Shirley. startled. turned swiftly.
Sealed acroSs the little amphltheater
IL q lumberjack's casy-ehsir fashioned
from an old barrel John Cardigan sat.
bis sishtless gaze bent upon her. Who
Is ity b. repeated
shirley Sumner" she answered. .
you do not know me. SIR. Cardigan
-No, replied ne. Il DO not That
i maine have heard. however You
~ seth PennlnEtou's niece. Is some
1ne VITA y0HT
= am quite alone Mr.. CarGlEan.
And shy did you come here aionef"
be Qner5ed
IL wanted % think.-
"Yog mean you wsnted 70 think
,learly. my dear. An. yeS this i the 4
aiace Tor thoughts Tie vas silent
] momeut Theu. You were think. 4
ns aioud. Miss shirley Sumnei I
lesri yen You said: Poor dear
SOD didnt spare you for much hap
linsss. DID her Thea you knew
boat her being here
Yes. sir. Sone ten years ago. i