Arizona state miner., 1927-04-09
The Soul of a
Butterfly
.@ - - i. - ~ n - ~
By MARTHA M. WILLIAMS
(Copyright.)

running WIZ mere IN the SCrooCS OF the
tiny dead-alive village? Tallish, slight
yet softly rounded, 1.-the as a willow
wand, she was wholly unbelievable,
notwithstanding he knew her name,
pedigree, and estate in life, rather bet
ter than he did his own. She was
Cousin James daughter-poor, simple
Cousin Jane who had married, almost
with force and the strong hand, hus-
band so good at great many things,
he was no sort of good at making a
living. A master fiddler, magic dancer,
prince of camp-hunters, also of camp
cooks, fun of life, and laughter, and
stories that no one else could tell, he
had accepted graciously the post of
life's playmate, leaving it to his wife
to make the family living. Celesta,
their one child, adored him-yet had
something over to spare for the ugly,
patient mother.
She stood midway the muddy, un-
paved street, smiling impishly, yet
wistfully, at Penield and saying:
"This way, cousin. You're lookin' for
Castle CRANKY? This way-round the
corner"
"Sure I'm your cousin? How dye
know it?" Penfield asked
"Why-it's as plain as-the nose
on your face. The Penfield nose can't
be counterfeited-it's distinguished,
1 know, but thank the Lord haven't
got it. Now I'm not asking what
brings you here. l can see your fiiv-
yer for myself-but / want to know
what made you let it bring your"
won't tell you--not till you tell me
something" Penf1eld said soberly.
Dye know, Cousin Jane, your moth
er is in pretty bad way? In fact
she's got to 60 away for while. The
family'll see to that-keeping her COM
Portable, and letting her have rest"
"Deary me! When were the family
made our guardians?" Celesta flung at
him.
Penf1eld gave her stern look, say
ing: 1.-THE day Providence permitted
us all to be born of the same blood.
We're going to save her-she must go
somewhere-maybe to Arizona, before
this thing gets too bad"
"What-what is it?" Celesta whis-
pered, her face suddenly gray.
Tuberculosis !" Penfeld said brutal
ly. "Plus overwOrk and the dregs of
flu. Lucky came on just now-going
back West in ten days. Cousin Jane
is going with NELL see that she is
well cared for. But If she worries
there's not much hope of her getting
well-so it's got to be settled right
now, what you can do-and where
you'd rather do it."
"No need to ask that! If nanny
goes-I go. If she needs nursin'-Pm
the nurse can do most for her." Ce-
lesta began steadily, but tears were
gathering on the heavy lashes over
her violet eyes.
Penfeld stared at her. "Reckon
you don't know the risk" he said.
Chances are that, slim as you are
good wind could blow you clean
away-you'd die-even before Cousin
Jane"
"T-I-hope sol" Celesta cried with
big bursting sobs choking utterance.
When they checked little she whim-
pered: Does my mammy-know?"
mot yet--and she mustn't-not till
she's lot better" Penfield tried hard
to put comfort in his tone.
''She won't go without mel" Celesta
breathed rather than said.
She'll have to--it's life or death"
"But you shan't go West Under
stand-you shan't," cried Penf1eld.
She went, she stayed. faithful, fear
less even when the thread Of hope
wore through. Patient, tireless, ten
der, she stood or sat or lay beside her
mother, day after day, night on night.
Nursing wore on her terribly. PEN
6eld watched her with steadily grow
ing wonder. He had heard OF her
ish, liar reckless coquette. Even
darker things had been hlnted-but
never since seeing ter had he let him
SELF remember them, He wanted only
what he saw-the woman, true, tender,
brave to reckleasnN8s, thus returning
many fold the love iavlshed on her
from her cradle. Her beauty had
faded-it might never come back. In
deed often looking at the wrath Of
her early self. his heart nisgave him
she might sacrifice her life In this
gallant, hopeless dght. He besought
her to have help-nurses day and
night, or hospital care-never mind
the cost She withstood him stolidly,
saying in a toneiess voice: Eve
we're costing you 90 much already
I know-Im keeping books-for her.
And I've promised-tf live longest
to see that you-that the family is
paid in full. We may be thriftless-
we Granbys-but we are not sponges
nor beggars. She couldn't rest, even
in her grave, unless she thought I'd
clear the debt"
"You-you have more than cleared
it-just being Yourself" Penfeld said
huSkiIV "T love VOT-hattar than NV