The northwestern bulletin., 1923-06-16
The Sacrifice They
Made
By MARION A. cHILSoN

csSsSsSSsScssssssSSSsSscsSsSsS
GO. ls2s. By Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate
II was dusk when Doris Royacs
dropped her book into her lap and
gazed steadfastly across the water
Her thoughts went back to the day
when she, with little Dick, had left
home In bitter anger and had taken
refuge here, In answer to Cousin
Beth's invitation to spend few weeks
with her at her cottage on Lake Fair
view. The quarrel had been over q
trihing matter, but Of the whole epf.
sode one utterance stood out clearly,
the answer her husband had given to
her hysterical statement that he no
longer loved her.
Love, real love. is gained only by
sacrifice" were the words that repeat
ed themselves over and over In the
girls troubled brain and puzzled her
strangely.
Another thing troubled Doris. Little
Dick had always been his fathers con-
stant companion, and in his estimation
no one else was quite so great as dad
dy. The two idolized each other. and
now that they were separated the little
fellow begged constantly for his ia
ther. 1t hurt Doris to refuse him,
since he was not very well and never
had been during his short life Of four
years. Often something within her
whispered for the boys sake, II none
other, to forgive and forget. But in
the end her pride always conquered.
Although the days at Fairview were
full Of young people. gayety and fun,
they passed slowly for Doris. Some
thing was lacking. and she, knowing
where this something was and that her
happiness depended upon 1t, could not
reach out and grasp it. although II lay
just beyond her reach.
Two weeks passed when, one after
noon, Doris, with the same heavy
heart put little Dick to sleep in his
crib and then lay down herself. She
awoke about two hours later and arose
quickly, as she had slept longer than
she had intended. Glancing toward
the crib, she was astonished to see that
II was empty. Rushing downstairs, she
gave q hurried survey Of the rooms
Her face went white as she noticed
that the screen door was unlatched.
Beth had forgotten II before going to
her rooms
A quick thought came to her. Twice
before little Dick had started to find
his daddy. Sudden panic seized her as
she noticed black thunder clouds gath
ering. Hastily she awoke Beth and to-
gether they made q more careful
search. Beth telephoned to the neigh
boring cottages, but nothing had been
seen Of the runaway. Meanwhile the
thunder rumbled and the storm drew
closer.
Men from all around gathered and
the little party began their search.
Doris, wrapped In q raincoat like the
men, went with them, as nothing could
persuade her to remain at home. Her
face was deathly white and her eyes
were like Goals but with the others
she pushed onward. The storm broke
with torrents Of rain, vivid lightning
and crashes Of thunder. Still the search
continued. Doris trembled, but clung
close to Beth and could not be forced
to turn back. It was late when the
storm let up and the moon broke
through the black clouds. Slowly Doris
became her own calm self, but the fear
and pain in her heart were almost un-
bearable.
Midnight passed and they had al
most decided to give up the search
when Doris heard a slight noise and
some way managed to slip away from
the others unnoticed. Her heart gave
leap as she spied, q short distance
ahead Of her, man half standing,
holding a little figure In his arms.
They were In the shadow Of q large
tree and the mans back was towards
her, 80 that she could not see his face
As she approached them she bent over
the little face.
"Oh, Dickie," she faltered. "Oh,
darlingl Is-he-hurtr She asked
this Of the man. who had now risen to
his feet.
Before he could speak, Dickie threw
out his little arms. Mother" the lit
tie voice was soft and unsteady /;
mother, I've found my daddy" The
baby eyes closed, and he snuggled
closer to the mans breast.
MY Doris, could you ever forgive
me% The man put out his arms and
drew her to him.
"Oh, Jack. you don't know how I've
wanted your
"Not any more than I've wanted
you, my little GIRL" he whispered, az
he kissed her quivering lips.
1t was nearly morning when. at last,
Dickie lay in his little bed. while the
doctor said one word, pneumonia" |"
and shook his head doubtfully.
1t was during these hours, while
Dickie slept, that Jack Royace found
q minute to explain. Finding life at
home torture without his wife and
child, he had hired cottage and, with
a friend, had gone there for their va.
cation without the least knowledge OF
his wife's whereabouts. Upon the pre-.
ceding afternoon, while walking alone
. he had taken shelter from the storm In