The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1921-05-12

tine sense restrained her. For disGac-
ton she plunged into the task of pre-
pairing breakfast
At length they came down. Beulah
saw them on the stairs. and knew that
the gulf was bridged.
ALLAN is better" her mother said,
when she saw the girl. He has asked
for you And the next minute Beu-
lah was on her knees by the white
bed, caresSing the locks that would fall
over the pale forehead.
How, did l ger here Beulah?' he
whispered. How did we all get here?
What has happened?'
You have been hurt, Allan" she
said. You have been badly hurt, but
you are going to get well again. When
you are stronger we will talk about it,
but at present you must lie still and
rest
Lie still and rest" he repeated.
How good it is to lie still and rest!"
Later in the day the pain in his
wound began TO give much discomfort,
but he was able TO swallow some pOr-
ridge with pure cream, and his breath
came easily. His father stayed about
the house. coming every little while
TO look in upon son and daughter, and
as Adams great constitution gave eV-
idence of winning the fight a deep hap
piness came upon John Harris. He
was able TO sleep for a short time,
and in the afternoon suggested Il walk
with his wife. Beulah saw that they
were arm in arm as they disappeared
in the trees by the river.
81 haven't told you all yet" Harris
said to her. Il have done even worse
than you suppose. but in some way it
doesn't seem so bad today. Last night
1 was in Gethsemane."
1t was strange to hear a word sug-
gestive of religion from his lips. Har-
ris had not renowned religion; he had
merely been too busy for it. But this
word showed that his mind had been
travelling back over old tracks.
''And today we are in OIivet." she
answered, tenderly. What matters if
if everything's all right?"
'If only Allan" he faltered.
ALLAN will get we'll" she said.
when he could withstand the first
shock he will get well. OF course, he
must have attention, but he is in the
right place for that"
1.-The Arthurs are wonderful people,"
ne ventured, after a pause. Mary, 4
they have found something that we
missed"
but we have found il now, John.
We are going to take time to live. That
is where we made our mistake
There was another pause, broken
only by the rustic of leaves and the
rushing of the river.
"Beulah was right" he said at last.
"Beulah is a wonderful girl, and a
beautiful"
"She will not be wanting to go back
home with u.s." said the mother.
$50 much the better. Mary, Mary,
we have no home to go back tor
She looked at him with a sudden
puzzled, half-frightened expression.
mo home, John? No home? You
don't mean that?'
He nodded and turned his face
away Il said hadn't told you ALL"
he managed at length. II sold
the farm"
She was sitting on a fallen log, very
trim, and gray, and small, but she
seemed suddenly to become smaller
and grayer still.
sold the old farm" she repeated,
Yes, sold the old farm" he said !
again, as if finding some delight in |
gOading himself with the repetition. 81 |
thought I saw a chance to make a lot |
of money if only 1 had some ready |
cash to turn in my hand, and sold it, |
I thought 1 would be rich and then l I
would be happy. But they took the
money last night. They found out |
about it some way, and took it, and |
nearly killed our boy. Mary, you /
worked hard all your life, and today |
you have nothing. I brought you to |
this"
She saw it all, and for the moment |
her heart shrank within her. But she
saw, too, the futility of it all. She
might have upbraided him; she might
have returned in part the sorrows he
had forced upon her, for he was
now and could not strike
back. But she rose and stretched her
arms toward him.
ITO Be Continued)
Iarned n 9 Wi1s CouE..t