The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1920-08-05

sweeping truth. Summer warmth
raced full through her body. Her
arms grew round, and she breathed
more deeply. The cosmfc life and
beauty that were herself, Mary Lev
1ngtOn, blossOmed now.
In September, when the yellow
grasshOppers danced zigzag across the
-scorched grass, and the sun ripened
the apples in the orchard around
Dowagiac, Mary began to breathe for
two. An overwhelming devotion pos
Sessed John Levington-his sacrament
The flood of his desire seemed to have
reached the sea, and he lost himself
In alteration. He asked for nothing,
trying only to serve, to smooth the
way for his beloved and the coming
of her child.
sometimes she would say to him
"John, 1 almost believe I feel his pres
ence, our ACKNOWLEDGEMENT so
friendly and brave. His personality
And John would nod quickly, timid-
~, without speaking, for the miracle
was beyond his understanding. and the
path of the gentle newcomer was not
all clear to him. A thousand lovely
gifts he had in mind for Mary and
her guest, but he could not buy them
There was the lOwly but important
matter of coal to burn. first to be pur-
chased. His department in the fac
tory had filled the warehouses, and
the men were laid of. There were
many cold sitting-rooms in Dowagiae,
chi or
John was no better provided than his
comrades. The grocer had q way of
asking for payment. courteous Sab
bath-hOund that he was, until he got
it; but his wagon stopped no more in
front OF the Le-ington's John cut
down q shade-tree for fuel to keep
Mary warm, and the neighbors were
good to her until he got out Of Jail,
where he went because unable to pay
the fine. Then he approached her
parents.
The new butler remembered instruc-
tons and carried them out
There is no one to receive you,
sir"
ST am out of work, and my wife
needs some things. I thought per-
haps-"
''You have been in jail, SIR"
yes" said John. "Will you let me
have a word with Mrs. MARTINI
mo, sir"
''But my wife is in need OF so many
things and baby is coming. I'm not
asking for myself. If you won't let
me come in, you'll tell Mrs. Martin
for me7''
A buzzer sounded withiL the house.
"Good-day, sir" The butler had
turned to answer the summons.
you'll take the message?" cried
John. The door clicked shut In his
face.
Before taking the train for Dowa
giac, he sent a short letter to Mary's
father.
In the little stove town again, he
trod through the fresh snow. The
chimney of his cottage was crested
white, and no smoke was there. Mary
was in her room. She had gone to
bed to keep warm. Clustered about
her, wrapped in shawls, were the
neighbOr women, huskily commiserat
ing. They turned accusing eyes upoT
join as he entered Somehow theI
had learned Of his writing, and he was
condemned. He permitted ''thfs pooI
young thing, In that condition" tt
| suffer want. One especially soile6
lady had been coming twice every day
to see If Mary might not be gettins
worse. In truth. Mary was. JohI
knew 1t. He banished the harpfe:
| from the ROOM Even the patent hap
piness in Mary's eyes seemed to re
| proach him, and he went out into tn.
snow, fearing the gods OF the SLATED
skies.
The city poormaster called, ant
corn meal followed his visit. Their,
was no sign from the city mansion.
Winter broke, and even the COLI
was no longer decent white. tn,
world was bedraggIed and sodden
John Levington's dreams had wither
ed, and any memory was pain.
For the young mother April was ap
proach to a new country, gray. mys
teriCus beyond any words, and in Ma,
its subtle boundary was reached.
Dowagiac's city council took a hans
| In the matter. having passed a resoiJ
ton that luck was against one Johl
Lexington and his wit The dirt
A-eman who 1welt next door cam
/ oftener, until her visits left a trai
through the house. John could no
scrub it away. Mary went to tn