Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-05-07

train home-thie was no such strsin
as they had planned it. But it had
proved to be a frightful strain Leav-
ing Jim. and then catching that heart
rending glimpse OF the changed War
ren-Warren looking like a hurt
cniid who must bear a punishment
without understa nding it.
Oh, what are we thinking about,
to act in this crazy manner" Rachae
asked herself desperately. He loves
me, and 1--we always loved him
Other people ray misjudge him. hut
know! He's Mortified and shamed
and sorry, He's suffering as much ar
am. What fools-what utter fools
we arc!" ''
And suddenly-it was nearly -
O'Clock now, Inc they were Wilma
few, minutes of Clark's Hill-sbo
stopped crying, and began to plan a
letter that should end the whole ter
rible episode.
Your stop Quaker Bridge" asked
the conductor, coming in, and begin
ming to shift the seats briskly on
their iron pivots, AZ one who Expect
ed q large crowd to accompany him
on the run back.
"clark's Hills" Rachael said, no.
elcing tnat she was alone in the train.
., pont Know as we can get over
the Bar the ma said cheerilr.
"Looks~a as If we were going TO try
IT.: Rachael answered with. Il. equal
aplemb as the train ran through
Quaker Bridge without. stopping. and
went on with only slightly, decreased
speed. And a. moment later she be-
gan to gather her possessions to-
sether, and the conductor remarked
Here we are! But h
surely is raining" he added. well.
we've only got to run back as far az
the car barn-that's seawal-tonish,.
Ny folks live there"
Rachael did not mind the rain. She
would be at home in five minutes.
one climbed into a closed surrey,
smelling strongly of leather and
horses, and asked the driver pleas,
antly how early the rain had COM
menced. He evidently did not hear
ner. at all events made no. nswer
II she did not speak again.
where's my Derry" Rachael's
vo1ce rang strong and happy through
the house. "Mary--Mary!". she add
ed, stopping, rather puzzled, in the
nall. h Is he?"
How did it come to her. hv. rh.+
degrees? How does such news telI
l.seli' from the first littl4 chill, that ia
not quite fear, to.the full Numbering
avalanche OF utter horroIa Raahaoi
never remembered afterward. ne,,er
Tried to remember. The re-
NAMED the blacklist of ali her life. r.
was not the subtly changed atmos.
Pnere OF the house. not Nfary's tear
swollen face. as she appeared, silent.
al the top of the stairs; not Mi1lie.
"no came ashen-faced and painting
from the kitchen; not the sudden
weary little moan that floated SOFTLY
these things. n
ing. She needed not to know ,,or ~
why. Her furs fell where she stood
fher hat was gone, she had flown mn.
/, stars as swiftly as light. She knew
the door, she knew what she. would
see. she went down on her knees
beside him. ~
Hen little gallant. reckless, shout.
ing Derry! Her warm. beautiful bow
changed in these few hours to this
crushed and moaning little being. this
crueiiy crumpled and tortured little
wreck OF all that had been CAV n
sound and confident babyhood!
" IN thai first moment at his side II
nao seemed to Rachael that she must
dle' too Of sheer agony Of spirit. She
put her beautiful head down against
me brown little limp hand upo1.
%nicn a rusty stain was drying, and
enc could have walled aloud in the
oitter rebellion of her soul. Not Der
ry, MOI Derry so small and tnnocen,
and confding4her own child. her
own flesh and blood, the fibre Of her
being! Trusting them. obeyins them.
and betrayed-brought to this! -
Al her first look she had thought
Q child dead: now, as she drew back
from him. and. caught her. self-control
with a qutvering breath, and wruny
ner hands together in desperate effort
TO mole back a. scream. she found it
ln..her heart to wish he were. His
ilttle race was black from great
oruise that spread from temple to
|cnun, his mouth cut and swollen. his
Eyes nan shut. His body was doubled
Nnere u Jay, a Ereat bubble of blood
moved with his breath. He breaShed
lightly and family, with an occasinn,,
deep gasp that invariably brought III.
, long Notwithstanding moan. They
nao taken on part Of his clothes. his
snoes and stockings. but he still vor,,
MS Holland suit, and the dark blne
WOODEN coat had only been partly re-
y moved. &c
Rachael. ashen-faced,, rose from
ner knees. and faced Mary and>Mtllie.
/, with bitter tears the. story was tnId,
he had been playing, as usual. In the
oarn, and Mary had been swinrin
him. Not high. nothing like as MIR
as Jimmie went. And Millie am AIT
!. TO cay that thar dinner was re.dy
and al OF = sudden he called out tl1s ,
ne could swing without holding an
and put both hts hands. up in tho air
, And then Mary n~ him fall. the
board OF the swing falling, too. and
: striking him as he fell. and his facs
: dashing against the old .natll-vrhraI
t tlfat stood by, the door. And he had
not spoken since. 49,
! His arm had hung down lodse LII.
I las Mary carried him in, and Mriie
! Y for the doctor. But Doctnr
: Feet wouldn't be back until seyen
and the girls had dared do no mors
;, than wash of his face a little and ~,
Q to make him comfortable. IT wisb
the Lord had called me before w
: DAY came" said. Mary. me. that
? |would have died for him-for any Of
!: II know that. Mary" Rachael .a,d
II woul have happened as easily
with ms. We all know what Won h.va
: pesn 20 the boys, Mary. Hut Won
!. mustn't cry 70 hard. I need von :
am COINS to drive him into towra
: 81 my God. In this storm >" A.
claimed Mile. "a
. !, There's nothing else to do" RI.
! chaei said. He may die on TIM aa"
= put his mother will do what 90
l9oouldnst have Doctor peat. kinS :.