White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1930-07-18
CHAPTER XII-Con.inued

prlQe IN the Clean, Wnlte nOSplIaI ne
had built for the company. and now
he blessed it. Derwens told him what
1t had meant for Carla. They had X
rayed her and had made the eStraordi
nary discovery that :nere was not
broken bone in her body. But some
thing had happened to her back. and
she was paralyzed from her waist
down. Temporarily, he believed
Knowing what Paul would have done
under the circumstances, he had sent
to Quebec and Montreal for exper.
assistance, to consult with the com
pany staff.
Carla was propped up against a
mass of pillows In her snowy bed
when Paul arrived. Everything was
white about her. except the rich dark
ness of her hair-the room. the bed
her lacy gown, her face. Like that.
with two silky braids streaming over
her shoulders, she might have been q
child, one who had been long time
sick, with an exquisite, fragile beauty
about her. He had not expected to
find her SO like lily-petaled flower
whose soul breath might carry away
He seated himself beside her. and
she let her hand creep over the cover
let to him. 1t was helplessy weak
Her fingers were only feathery pres
sure about his.
"Please don't scold me, Paul." she
said family, trying tc smile "You
see, was right. If the rocks had
buried you could never have got
you out and brought you home.
Gould II"
He did not answer but held her
hand so closely that joyous little
melody of content came for moment
In her throat. II am glad was
afraid you would be angry with me-
Now know shall get well quickly T.
1t seemed difficult for them TO find
things to say. Paul. fighting, with the
grimly set lines of an indian in mis-
face, was holding back what he
wanted to tell her. Carla knew. A
little more and she would have cried.
her own weakness letting down the
thing which both we're valiantly max
ing an effort to hold between them
He told her about the specialists who
were on their way, and that their own
staff had no doubt but that she would
very soon be on her feet again. He
tried to talk without strain in his
voice, yet he could feel the falseness
and pretense OF his effort when he
wanted to take her In his arms and
kiss her pale, sweet face.
Carla knew this, too
At last, when 1t was time for him
to leave her, she said: "When are
you going homer"
II don't know" he replied.
ut must be soon" she urged II
want 1t that way. You must start to
day-or tomorrow. Only that will
make me we'll. Claire wants you
Please-read this"
She gave. him a crumpled yellow slip
of paper. 1t was telegram, crushed,
as If she had been holding II long
time before he came. He smOothed
1t out and read the words which his
wife had sent her. The message was
almost identical With the one he had
received, giving him the impression
that ,laire, in the stress of her emo
ton, had been able to find but sin
gle thought for them both
II am so happy" 1t said. "Send
Paul to me as quickly as you can
Only God knows how glad 1 am"
"She has faith in me-" said Carla
"She asks me to send you TO her.
What privilege that is. Paul. for one
woman to give anotherl No matter
how hard try can never be as won,
derful as Claire The world does not
hold many women like her She loves
you. She wants you When will you
60 to her?'
"You said-tomorrow."
"Yes, tomorrow"
He rose, and stood looking down at
her.
Il will CO." he said. But some
time will come for you, Carla May
be not now, not in this life, hut some
time. May ! continue to dream that?"
1T is not a dream" she said 1T
Is faith. am giving you up for
little while, that Is all Sometime, 10
another life, these tests which God put
upon us will return you TO me-"
When he looked back at her from
the door she was smiling. her eyes
filled with tears
He tried to readjGst himself be
tween the time Of this last visit with
Carla and his departure for home
His effort was an honest one. u strus
gle to fit himself to certain demands
which be accepted as necessary and
inevitable. He was sure OF himself
as he returned to Claire. IL was al
most an exultant sureness. which left
upon him no sign Of spiritual or
physical torment He was possessed
now by memories which blessed even
as they burned 1t was as 1t some
where In him were o little song.
pnrt of himself, which said: ~ have
anti