The Ocala evening star., 1921-06-25
THE DEBT
BY MILDRED WHITE.
G. lsal. western Newspaper Unlon. }

7 wondered IN QetdcNeQ sort or way.
+ IL any other girl had ever been placed
4 in like forlOrn situation. Here was
the very bed she lay on. sold beneath
I her, as was this great home which
/ still gave her shelter. She wondered.
too, indifferentlyr what somebody was
/ going TO do about ii all. OF course,
she, herself, could do nothing.
When your spine is injured so that
/ you cannot move without assistance,
/ when you have been stricken help
| less. you are at least removed from
/ responsibility. Linnet supposed that
/ her heart had been numbed in the au-
/ tOmobile accident. If not, why should
she feel SO little?
/ Surely dire tragedy had descended
upon her in the sudden loss of father
and bone and protection, following
| the stunning misfortune OF her own
terrible accident Was it that her
heart merely refused TO suffer more?
She turned her face wearily, a man
stood in the doorway. Instantly Lin
net realized his identity.
you" she asked family, ARE the
new owner OF Grayson house? The
/ man TO whom father owed money
almost all his money!"
/ The visitor who was young and
kindly grave, drew nearer. His eyes
as he looked down upon the girls
fiOwerlike face, grew soft with SYM
pathy.
Yes, Linnet," he answered. using
her fathers name for her, Il am John
| Bruce. You must often have heard
of me. My loan TO your father in
his pressing need was the loan of a
friend. / would have dispensed with
! payment But your fathers honor
forced him TO make a will +; though |
might now refuse to collect my
claim, ! cannot ignore willed prop
| erty. The house is bequeathed TO
me and all else that James GraySOn
possessed; and personal request
added, with which, l hope to comply.
the charge TO be made permanent,
through marriage"
/ The crippled girls face flushed,
she put out white protesting hands.
"Poor father" she whispered, "he
could not help hut think of me. But
| you must not think for a minute that
/" her voice - piled off helplessly.
'T do hope, Linz Fet." the young man
said earnestly. "tf&t you will believe
me to be more tl:hn willing TO fulfill
my charge. l loved your father.
81 would give to you every comfort
that he could beStow. Already | have
sent for a famous surgeon that you
may try his skill. If you would rather
not see me at all / shall not even
trouble you by my presence. l am
busy man busily occupied. Your old
housekeeper may continue to attend
TO your needs. And if" he hastily
added at the growing pallor of her
facp-"yOu prefer to remain merely
as my hOnOred guest, that also may
be arranged, Linnet." 1t came about
so, very naturally.
The fretting thought of dependence
ceased 10 trouble the invalid as she
became aware of how small a matter
was this charity TO her fathers trust
ed friend. And secretly and joyous
ly, as weeks passed, her new hope
grew. The great surgeon had given
her right TO hope.
John Bruce was astOnished at the
change in her. Day by day he grew
more glad, infected by her spirit. For
Linnet had not forbidden his visits,
welcoming them instead.
He brought her silk robe the color
of a blue sky, and when she pro-
Pressed to a sitting posture on the
touch. her henefactOr brought soft
blue slippers 10 match the robe. His
pleasure in the giving. equaled Lin
nets Iiea~tr surprise. Nor again
did John Bruce press the question of
her fathers wish. Legally, Ire had
made Linuet'S possessions again her
own.
They t..'ErG. she and the tri-
umpEant surgeon. TO keep the mar
vclouS news of their success until the
girl was fully able to carry out her
pan. Size could walk now easily and
una sisted the length of the long
rooms devoted TO her use.
When she was quite ready 10 re-
Ifevc her generous friend of the bur
.
10 go, dressed in street costume to
Johns study. and make her announce
ment there Also. she thoughtfully
prepared a pretty speech Of gratitude.
Some way when Linnet considered
her plan there was not in 1t that
satisfaction which she had at first
pictured. However, she carried II
through.
John Bruce was amazed, Of course,
! so stupendously amazed that he quite
neglected to rejoice with the restored
one. The hand clasp that he gave her
was a perfunctory hand clasp. his kind
ewes expressed no pleased admiration
as they rested on the unaccustomed
suit.
Linnet slipped away, her eyes filled
with tears. Then, from the doorway
she saw him, his head bowed sudden
ly on folded arms, his strong mans
} shoulders shaken by Stified sObs
I When after time John Bruce lifted
} his face, il was small blue-robed fig
\ ure who stood in the doorway. Soft
blue slippers came padding toward
Z him. Linnet. u dearly familiar, yet
} srrongly-transformed. Linnet crept con
\ fidcntly 10 his arms. 'I did not know
} she explained simply. that you also
cared. John dear"