Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-04-10
"can me Buck" he commanded


sharply.
81 don't want you TO 20 Buck" she
repeated meekly. II shall feel guilty.
driving you out Of tne position"
Then marry me and I'll stay"
But suppose I don't love you the
way you deserve"
Supposed Supposed" Buck osilvy
cried. You're no longer certain of
yourself. How dare you deny your
love for me2 Eth? MORA, I'll risk IT,"
Her eyes turned TO him timidly. and
for the first time he saw in their
smoky depths lambent flame. II
don't know" she quavered. "and it's
a big responsibility in case"
ooh. the devil take the case!" he
cried rapturously. and took her hands
in his. do improve with age, dear
Mora ?" he asked with boyish eager
ness; then, before she could answer.
he swept on, a tornado of love and
pleading. And presently MORA was In
his arms, and he was kissing her,
and she was crying softly because
wen, she admired Mr.. Buck Ogilvy;
more, she respected him and was
genuinely fond of him. She wondered
and she wondered a quiet Joy thrill
ed her in the knowledge that II did
rot seem at all impossible for her to
grow, in time, ahsurdly fond of this
wholesome red rascal.
"Oh. Buck. dear" she whispered,
II don't know, I'm sure, but perhaps
I've loved YOU little bit for long
time"
I'm perfectly wild over You. You're
the most wonderful woman l ever
heard OF. Old rosy cheeks," And he
pinched them just to see the color
come and 60
John Cardigan was seated in his
mmberjack's easy chair as his son ep-
preached. His hat lay on the litter
of brown twigs beside him; his chin
was sunk on his breast. and his head
was held a little TO one side in a lis
tening attitude; vagrant little
breeze rustled gently a lock of his
fine, long white hair Bryce stopped
over the old man "rd shook him
gently by the shoulder.
WAKE up. partner" he called
Cheerfully. But John Cardigan did
not wake and again his son shook
him. Still receiving no response,
Bryce lifted the leonine old head and
FaZed into his fathers face. John
Cardigan" he cried sharply. Wake
up, old pail
The old eyes opened and John Car
dlgan smiled up at his boy. Good
SON." he whispered. good SON" He
closed his sightless eyes again as if
the mere effort Of holding them open
wearied him. I've been sitting here
waiting" he went on in the same
gentle whisper. NO. not waiting for
you. boy waiting
His head fell over on his sons
shoulder: his hand went cropping for
Bryce's. Listen" he continued. Cant
you hear 1.-THE Silence? I'll wait for
you here, my son. Mother and will
fancied. I'm tired-I want rest. Look
after old Mac and Moira-and Bill
Dandy. who lost his leg at Camp Sew
en- last fall-and Tom Ellington's
children-and-all the others. son.
You know, Bryce. They're your re-
sponsibilities. Sorry I can't wait to
see the San Hedrin opened up. but
I've lived my life and loved my love.
All, yes, I've been happy-so happy
just doing things-and-dr
here among my Giants-and-"
He sighed gently. Good son." he
whispered again; his big body re-
Taxed, and the great heart of the Ar
gonaut was still. Bryce held him I'M
til the realization came to him that
his father was no mOre-that like a
watch, the winding of which has been
neglected, he had gradually slowed up
and stopped.
"Goodby, old John partner" he
murmured. you've escaped into the
light at last. Wen 90 home together
now, but We'll come back again"
And with his fathers body in his
strong arms he departed from the
little amphitheater. walking lightly
"ith the heavy burden down the old
skid road TO the waiting automobile.
And two days later John Cardigan
returned to rest forever with his
lost mate among the giants, himself
at last an ininitesimal portion of
that tremendous silence that is the
diapasOn OF the ages.
When the funeral was over Shirley
ard Bryce fingered until they found
themselves alone beside the freshly
turned earth. Thru a rift in the
great branches two hundred feet
q Dove q patch of cprulesn Sky
showed family; the sunlight fell
Ike broad golden shaft over the
blossom laden grave and from the
brown trunk of an adjacent tree a
gray squirrel. j descendant. perhaps.
OF the gray squirrel that had been
wont to rob Bryce's pockets of pine
nuts twenty years before, chirped at
them inquiringly.
He was a giant among men,"
said Bryce presently. What a fit
ting place for him to lie," He
passed his arm around his wife's
shoulders and drew her to him. You
made it possible. sweetheart"
She gazed up at him in alteration.
Ard presently they left the Valley of
the Giants to face the world to-
sether, strong in their faith to live
their lives and love their loves, to
dream their dreams and perchance
when life should be done with and
TIE hour of rest at hand, to sur
feroer, sustained and comforted by
the knowledge that those dreams had
come true.