The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1924-12-26


molten lead. wrinklinc softly into opal
escent gray and blue and silver.
"Welll" Gibbs said briefly. That's
all
/ In the long silence Lizzie slipped
out and buried the glimmer # her
white gown in wide porch chair.
IF this Isn't Heaven J" she breathed.
contentedly. A moment later Tommy's
little twilight concert began. They
could see a pool OF warm red light
about the piano. in the big sitting
room. and EIlen's bent dark head and
the little dark head over her shoulder.
There will be splendid moon to-
night" Gibbs told them.
He and Ellen watched 1t together,
hours later, when Tommy was long In
| bed, and when Lizzie and Joe had
stumbled away, as happily tired and
just as sleepy us Tommy. the child.
was.
Then Ellen sat In her favorite seat,
low hassock beside his couch, so that
her arms lightly rested against him,
| and their fingers were laced They
had no light, and could look across
the low, broad rail OF the porch,
straight into the sleeping garden, and
down the sloping sides of the little
canyon to the sea.
EFT In Arcadia ego" Ellen said.
We've had more than one Already,
Ellen.' her husband an61ntered. NH
this has seemed to me not rs. -
feet, somehow. because II II not to-
last"
He heard the quick rise of her
breast. and felt faint tightening of
her fingers.
1T has seemed right, somehow. to
spend this year with you and Tommy,
here-hasnt IT been a perfect year!"
Il won't allow you to talk so, Gibbs"
she said. determinedly, but unsteadlly.
Gust this oncel" he answered. and
she could tell by his tone that he was
smiling. His wonderful smile-the
smile he had given little snubbed FL
len Latimer, when he drove her to
New York In his carl
mo formal goodbys," Gibbs said.
mot that For If you don't know
what you are to me. Ellen. what I've
felt as you poured all your goodness
and sweetness and faith over me"
With sudden movement she laid
her face against his hand, and he felt
that her eyes were wet
Gibbs please"
"Well. / won't. But there's one
thing When Tommy's older, tell
him the truth. There's time In
boys life when II makes a lasting Inn
preston on him to realize that you
you can't play with fire. You pay.
one way or another I'm paying this
way. There's too much else for man
to do, Ellen--too many things need
changing for any sane man. or any
woman, to go right on into the thirties
with the egotism of the teens. And
that brings me to the other thing.
Some day. If you feel like IT, wish
you'd do something for some kid who
has gotten himself in wrong with the
authorities-I don't know exactly how
Il wonder. now lying here. how l could
ever have lived in a big city. and not
realized that there are fellows who
haven't anything like my natural ad-
vantages, and who get up against mis-
understandings and misinterpreta-
tons"
Il thought" Ellen said steadily.
that when you are better, If we ever
go back. I'd go to Mary Cutter, be-
cause she is interested in all that sort
of thing and just follow the cases In
some court. One couldn't do much,
of course But there would always be
something. a visit to a mother. or per
haps word here or there"
What little saint you are. Ellen,
Just little inspired saint. that's all !"
Gibbs exclaimed. That's just what
mean The law is all right. Of course.
IT must be what 1t is. But tell you.
Ellen, that It's enough TO drive the de- |
cency and the good out of any man.
The GOODNESS. the careessness, the
smells. and dirt"
you must forget all about It," she
said you never did anything to de-
serve prison experience-it was all !
a horrible inisfakei"
ut was a mistake from a human
Gibbs conceded thought
fully. but don't know about my
record in a higher tribunal. won
der how many of the fellows serving I
life terms now ever had an angel for
a mother. and a saint for wife.
clothes and friends and warm food
from the hour they were born, al
ways money to buy prestige and serv-
Ice and preference Ellen. If had i
my life 10 live over again, do yo;;
know what think II would he? Ac.
,ording to the principle thai until ev-
cry other man had II. | didn't want
I. and until every other child had IL.
7 didn't want my son to have it-what-
ever II was. travel, clothes, education
oys, everything"
II suppose THAT'S loving your neigh
,or as yourself" added Ellens thought
'ul voice.
"Well. you go 10 old George. and he
md Mary Cutter will help you find the