The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1922-07-13
IN Already
y 49,
&. isz.. b. Mcclure Newspaper Syndie4t.
ey MARTHA PRoUTY


once felt that we knew each other very
well. though there was no one near
TO put US through conventional PAGES
We walked TO the village postoftice
that first day for a mall three days
delayed. NOrah was a woodman's
daughter. and hermit who lived In
the woods. and the customs that
trouble many people. keeping them too
busy TO allow them happiness. did not
so much as enter our heads.
Throughout the winter / met Norah
10 times-I knew this because / had
made a notch In the chestnut tree at
my door on my return from each OF
these pllgrlmages into Already. | was
quite willing TO go on making nOtches
forever II NOrah and the gods would
be kind. But Norah was sweet and
joyous, something OF tease and some
thing OF a fraud. and made my task
difficult | was her victim, and she
knew il. and the squirrels knew IL, and
every bird that came TO be fed at her
feet. but il did not help matters that
the information should be general
1t made Norah cross 10 have been
caught mapping while spring stole upon
US, and though could have told her
from signs to be found deep In the
heart OF the woods. still liked to
make Norah pout.
what are you doing" ] inquired
one monIng as leaned over the fence
that separated the clearing from the
woodpath.. Norah. In a big Bingham
apron, kneeling on the warm brown
earth-Norah with an anxious pucker
on her brows and a rich red dyeing her
cheeks-was vigorously applying vari-
Gus implements TO the task of max
ing a garden.
Cant you seer" she inquired MY
pansies and mignonette are going to
be late this season. / can't think what
was on my mind-how time files y
Doesn't IT," / assented warmly,
while | wondered IL as poor a worm
as my humble self had been the cause
Of Norahs belated gardening. ! had
made her walk six miles a day for her
health, as / explained ii. and / had
made her go Swimming the ground on
skating. too, when there
was skating to be had. and again to
see the fallen giant Of the forest that
a winter storm had uprooted at last.
Every day | had sought some path
that should keep us side by side. even
hand In hand. so 1t is no wonder that
Norah thought OF time as something
with wings
an three long months / surely should
have seen you more often. for i could
swear that II is but three days ago l
met YOU" said conyersationally.
and now / must go away" i burst
out suddenly. determined that Norah
should show surprise.
"Away-where-w she stam-
mered, and l had the pleasure Of
watching danger signals lavishly dis
played. Il thought you loved the
woods and the country and that you
meant to live In Already forever. !
believe you are fraud"
"rm afraid. | am. Norah." / ac-
knowledged shamelessiy. But | am
strong and well now; I've gained new
health here among the pines. The
city dust has been blown from my
eyes. city noises have been banished
from my brain. I'm healed. and
have no excuse for lingering. So
have come today to ask you II you'll
Il hesitated and watched her mar
rowly-~help me pack. a man Is SO
clumsy at those things"
"Nowrr asked Norah. rising swiftly
For Norah was staunch and true. and
a thoroughbred when ii came to tax
ing a blow squarely and bearing ~
stOutly.
We hustled through the woOdpath
though Norah would now and again
stop TO admire a FUZZY frond Of new
fernery and to pick a spray Of the fra
grant arbutus-
We sat down az my humble door
step while Norah quaffed deeply from
the tin dipper brought her from the
spring. A pair Of robins were build
Ing a nest I'm my chestnut tree Moral
watched them. absorbed.
There Is a great physician, ] TAI
tered. "who has told me time and
time again. once for each notch on
the chestnut tree. that to be truly
strong and able 70 Withstand all bat
ties. III need the tonic he prepares
FOR the heart II i he alone who
knows the formuia-and one other
but I'm afraid the other VIII fail me-
some day
-Fan you Why. nobody could b
so cruel Nornh cried cut. with per
plexity and trouble staring from hei
lovely eyes. why did you never tel
me your heart was veaks l am 81
sorry. and ! would be 50 glad to help
-.But suppose the other were you
Nornh. and the strengthening tomb
Iove7 The great physician Is he whs
~A ~ 40 -