Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1921-12-28
The Miracle
By THOMAS E. CLARKE
%. 1920. Western Newspaper union.)

20. 1920. Western Newspaper Lnion.)
Alan was sad and disheartened the
night the girl came. Her coming was
! the miracle which changed his gloom
! to sunshine, but Alan did not know
| that this was TO be. He only knew
that he was far from his accustomed
world, In little sort of cabin place
out on the edge of wood, with fer
tile soil and rows Of growing trees be-
fore him. He knew that the ambitious
dream Of his life was shattered by
what he termed his fathers fatuous
foolishness, and disgust was mingled
with Alan's disappointment. Why iD
the name Of all that was sensible had
his father chosen to remarry In the
late years Of his life, girl younger
than his own son1 x
The loss Of Alan's good mother was
still an aching pain to him; that his
father should have been SO soon con-
soled was incomprehensible. There
had been heated words over the aft
fair, and the two had parted, angrily.
From the forest days Of Alan's coli
lece course it was understood that
Dad" SO competently able. would
finance Alan's plan Of unique tree
nursery, which would undoubtedly re-
! pay itself In short time. With this
! purpose in view Alan pursued his
chosen study, and the purpose at last
became almost a realization.
Then Alan's encouraging mother
died, and the young man spent more
time in the cottage on the far away
land Of his own reserve, But while
| Alan stayed on his lands he made
fresh and hopeful plans for the en-
largement OF his work, and brown and
happy in the new interest, hurried
home to gain his fathers co-opera-
ton; his reception was forbidding.
Alan wondered, then the truth came
out-Dad was going to be married. He
had decided, he said, to make certain
generous settlements upon his prospec-
tive bride.
In fact, Alan now established, must
expect to carry in the future his own
venture. This Alan had borne sensi-
bly, but when he learned OF the youth
and exactions of the new stepmother-
4 to-be, his indignation and contempt
found expression in bitter cutting
words. which separated father and son.
Alan had spent respondent days IN the
4 little hut near the wood.
Then into all this perplexity and
Encouragement. came the girl. She ar
rived at the time of the evening lamp,
and frankly begged for food. A sand
wich, she said, or glass OF milk
would do. The hired car which had
brought her from the station had brok-
en- down up the road She was travel
ing on to the village. She was sell
ing garden seeds.
Alan smiled indulgently into the APP
pealing eyes, and eagerly granted the
request.
sYou come from the countryv he
asked, as she sat in his tiny porch
with her bread and milk, "and you
hope to make fortune with your
flower seeds
| It was the girls time to smile, her
white teeth flashed at him from be-
tween red lips.
"Why, am a regular saleswoman,"
she explained, II cover many towns
sometimes advise them how to plant
their gardens. So support myself
She was naively interested In his
tiny forest, and together, while the car
was being slowly repaired. they ex-
changed information regarding their
work and future views. while Alan
found that he could help Miss Virginia
Dare to find Worthwhile customers
down in the town, and Miss Dare pref
tily begged to be allowed to come out
to the tree nurseries again.
It would be necessary for her TO re-
main several days in the locality. She
came again, and sat on the porch while
; Alan rested.
"Ginny,'' as she had called herself.
came from her desolated southern
home to earn her own livelihood from
her knowledge of flowers. "The earn
ing had grown most discouraging,'
Ginny said, "But--" she turned her
dark eyes upon Alan.
"Why did you come away hereT'
she asked abruptly, and Alan told her.
The girl was silent for some time
after that. Then Alan saw tears were
on her cheeks. "Ginny darling" ne
cried and the love that had found
him, spoke In his voice.
"Don't!" she gasped, don't say
what you are going to say until
have told you. am the girl your
father was going to marry. The one
who promised to sell herself for mon
ey. The striving had become SO hard.
1t seemed that was bewildered, not
knowing where to turn. Then ne
came, and was kind, and made me an
offer of marriage. To me that Offer
meant-just home. When ! told him
so. honestly, he insisted on those set
| Elements which you thought so mer-
cenary. Later, when questioned him
about you, he told the truth and =
awakened to sense Of my own In
Justice to you both-I left him then
forever. and came up here to learn
to know you. and to beg You to 60
back. You must 20 now alone Your
father will forgive"
| "But am not going alone" Alan
cried happily. his arms casped her
"a Al