The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1921-04-29
THE DEBT
BY MILDRED WHITE.

nOpeleSSly toward WINDOW. she
wondered, in detached sort Of way,
If any other girl had ever been placed
In like forlorn situation. Here was
the very bed she lay on, sold beneath
her, as was this great home which
still gave her shelter. She wondered,
too. indifferently, what somebody was
going to do about it 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 home and protection, following
the stunning misfortune of her own
terrible accident. Was 1t that her
heart merely refused to suffer more?
She turned her face YEARLY, 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
flowerlike 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. 1 would have dispensed with
payment. But your fathers honor
forced him to make will; though /
might now refuse to collect my
claim, I cannot ignore willed prop
erty. The house is bequeathed to
me and all else that James Grayson
possessed; and personal request
added, with which, hope to comply.
That request, the care Of yourself /;
the charge to be made permanent,
| through marriage.
The crippled girls face flushed,
she put out white protesting hands.
'Poor father" she whispered, she
! could not help but think Of me. But
you must not think for minute that
+" her voice trailed off helplessly.
ST do hope, Linnet," the young man
said earnestly, shat you will believe
me to be more than willing to fulfill
my charge. I loved your father.
'I would give to you every comfort
that he could bestow. Already l have
sent for a famous surgeon that you
may try his skill. If you would rather
not see me at all, l 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
face-"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 to trouble the invalid as she
became aware of how small 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
t.. har hxy
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-
crossed to sitting posture on the
couch, her benefactor brought soft
blue slippers to match the robe. His
pleasure in the giving, equaled Lin
nets pleased surprise. Nor again
did John Bruce press the question of
her fathers wish. Legally, he had
made Linnet's possessions again her
own.
They decided, she and the tri-
umphant surgeon, to keep the mar
velous news of their success until the
girl was fully able to carry out her
plan. She could walk now easily and
unassisted, the length of the long
rooms devoted to her use.
When she was quite ready to re-
lieve her generous friend of the bur-
den imposed upon him. she intended
to 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 it that
satisfaction which she had at first
pictured. However. she carried it
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
eyes expressed no pleased admiration
as they rested on the unaccustomed
suit.
Linnet slipped away, her eyes filed
with tears. Then, from the doorway
she saw him, his head bowed sudden
ly on folded arms, his strong mans
shoulders shaken by stif1ed sobs.
When after a time John Bruce lifted
his face, it was small blue-robed fig
ure who stood in the doorway. Soft
blue slippers came padding toward
him. Linnet, dearly familiar, yet
ongly-transformed Linnet crept con-