Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1920-03-10
Joys COMING
BY MILDRED WHITE.

through the window of his crude office
In the wood. His mother had distin.
guished him by this name, from the
frail Tom, who was his father. Now
that both were gone. the faithful son
awakened bitterly to sense Of his
own loneliness. With the CHEEKY
mother awaiting him each evening in
the neat cottage home, this busy life
among rough lumbermen had seemed
neither proftless nor dull. Big Tom
dreaded poignantly his evenings. He
wondered. IL he might not arrange ia
leave the work here, and 60 to q moro
companionable field In the city. But
whoms could he trust to carry on his
great interests, which had grown to
remarkable success? No, the life which
he had been obliged to take up when
his fathers declining health made
work no longer possible, must still DO
the life which. would hold his fretting
spirit. And as he gazed with somber
eyes through the opening between the
trees, he beheld an unbelievable thing
q girls figure advancing rapidly to-
ward him.
The girl, dropping her suit case be
fore the Office door, and sounding Z
tentative knock answered the question.
To Toms astonished stare. she gave
a wistful smile. III you please
asked the wonder-girl, will you direct
me to q hotel or boarding houssf''
she added at his evident glance Of
dismay. II left the train at the last
stop, and have walked, searching upon
my way. The place II less populated
than i thought"
Come In" said Big Tom, cordially.
Before this girls difadence his sef.
consciousness vanished. ~
..Why did you Gomez Tom asked
abruptly.
The girls crystal clear eyes mst
his frankly. II came to hide away
frsm Z man." she replied, Aand ! LEFT
the train at the most isolated spst ]
could And. hoped. impatiently she
brushed the tears from her fringed
lidA-Ato ind work here. etenesra-
ply perhaps. and support myself"
Big Tom whistled. ''You know ysur
own business Of course" he said; 'but
don't ven think you'd better 60 hack.
Surely there 10 some other way"
'.This is the only way" the dri a.
swered decidedly.
III it's the only way" he said brisk.
". sand yeu are determined in II, why.
you may become my typist, this min.
ute, I'll be almighty relieved to md
one. Even In this wilderness I'm busy
man. And there's my mothers cot
tage, all ready for you to keep house
in. It will be pleasant to think Of
you there, sort Of keeping things 50.
ing"
.And your asked the giri breath
lessly, where will you bef''
'..'Why, right here" Mr.. Tom replied
II bunk here now half the time"
So the plan worked ont like 4 happy
fairy tale, and the new arrangement
of affairs ran smoothly, % affairs were
wont to run. with Big Toms planning.
The girl babe him call her 10Y :" BE
cause she had put her sorrows behind
her" she said.
His love for her grew to sort Of
reverence. In Joy, was personifsd al
the beauty and truth and purity Of
the book women whom Tom had wor-
shipped; almost the only women
that he had cared to know. And ey-
cry day. little Joy, singing about her
neat cottage. or over the books in the
cabin office, grew more and more into
the very spirit Of her name. It was
then that Rawlings Of the city end of
the business came out to the forests
to consult personally with Tom Here
ford. And when Rawlings faced Toms
little stenographer he stammered in
what he was saying and left the room
perturbed. Big Toms
eyes noted joys sudden pal
Tor, and when Rawlings had gone she
came to him with a gesture of resig-
nation. II will have to leave you, Big
rom." she said YEARLY.
cravings is not the man you are
hiding from?" he asked sharply.
Joy shook her head. "He will send
he other man to find me-" she told
lin.
Suddenly, she was sobbing
"You don't understand, Tom DEAR"
The cried, "the man ran away from,
vas my promised husband"
Instantly his arms released her, ac-
'usingly his eyes held hers.
Listen" the girl went on, II was
or years secretary to a wealthy WON
n who loved and trusted me- Before
he died, she begged ME to marry her |
My son, that I might guard her for
une and convert him from reckless
less to wisdom. / agreed, only when |
thought that he loved me. He was
einningly attractive In young girls
yes, and ! also thought-Ohl Tom
low could / ever have thought-tha
cared for him: we agreed before
witnesses that we should be married
IS soon as the requirements Of the
will were adjusted.
Dazedly Big Tom turned to answer
he telephone. When he replaced the
'eceiver, he swung about and held
ut his arms.
"Joy Of my life" cried Tom exultant-
', "you don't have to go back. You
re not going back. until you 60, as
ny wife. That was Rawlings; he
allied to say that the man you ran
way from Is married and already he
'as taken steps to secure his meth
RS money"
"He can have It ALL" SAID Joy