White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1930-03-28
The Crippled Lady Of Peribonka

The millions cannot lose. They are
allpowerful next to the Lord Jehovah.
They get you and hold you. and you
cannot break away. My father has
never got away from them for. days
play in his life. And they've got me.
hate them, but that doesn't help.
No matter where go they follow me,
haunt me, tie me hand and foot,
grimace at me, and mock me. Some
times have had terrible thought.
l would like to see those millions
shrivel up and die. l would like to
feel the necessities of life with my
naked hands. I would like to feel the
Joy of knowing that had to work or
60 hungry. What thrill that must
give one!"
He turned toward Derwent again,
trying to stem the tide of his emo.
ton with smile.
pardon me. It's a gloomy day and
feel like raying. But | did love that
glorious river before we cut 1t into
ribbons. If my father would head his
millions the other way and save such
/
| I'd be quite happy. AS 1t Is, suppose
must carry on until the id things
| finished"
"You owe yourself IN apology" Der.
went demonstrated, pocketing his pipe.
"The engineers and your fathers
money are making the Job success, OF
course. But do you ever think OF
morale? That's big thing. mighty
big thing And It is what you nave
kept alive in the camps up and down
the river for the last three years
You're too serious, you don't laugh
enough, you don't join much In our
parties and excitements, but people
like you. That is what pulls the trick.
Even the old heads, the engineers who
worked in Egypt and Panama. love to
be with you. There isn't Jealous
man in the workings. To have made
that condition possible Is an achieve.
ment which makes you the most valu
able human asset in the organization"
ut is good of you to say that" ac-
knowledged Paul Funny why
should feel so strangely out of humor
today. think Carla's mother Is get
ting on my nerves. Have you seen her
recently?"
"This morning"
"And you still insist there is no
hope?'
positively. had Doctor Thled.
mere come up from Quebec, as you re-
quested. He gives her even less time
than l. Doctor Rollins agrees with
him. It can't be more than three or
four months, think. Mrs. Ilaldan
knows she is going to die and talks to
us very calmly about 1t. She isn't
afraid. The thought OF 1t doesn't seem
to cast shadow over her motherly
sweetness. She Is keeping herself
that way for Carla's sake If ii were
not for Carla the thing wouldn't be
such a tragedy"
II know. It's Carla," said Paul.
Sudden sickness and death, like my
own mothers isn't so terrible. But
seeing it coming, waiting for It,
counting the days and weeks-must he
horrible. Carla is losing everything
she has when her mother goes. Ful
wondering what she will do"
$50 on working among the children
she told my wife that yesterday.
When the company's school closes here
size will find another cannot un.
derstand her-quite. She Is lOvlier
than Ilebe and 80 lovable that hnt
the men | know worship her. Yet she
favors one no more than another She
is twenty FIVE. Lucy-Belle says The!
like each other and have had theiI
conflences. Lucy Belle says there is
one, which makes 1t impossible for
t'arla to love any other man or marry
Carln told her that"
Paul looked out of the window
again, with his back to Derwent
"What rotter l am to blow up as
l did q few minutes ago." he ex
claimed "But l was thinking Of Carls
, aud the obstinacy of life. Mine ha.
heen one way. Carla's another. wal
born rich; she came over an immi
grant baby. l did nothing but grow
up; she fought with the pertinacity Of
her race for an education after hel
father lied, got 1t, and has been fight
ing for her own and her mothers ex
tstence ever since. I'm q man She's
woman. stand here and syinpa
thize with myself and curse my incl
for being what am while she bears
:: up like soldier under her burdens
saw her this morning. 1t was wet
soggy. gloomy, but she smiled. The
sadness of all the world Is back Of
that smile, but 1t doesn't spoil 1t.
sweetness or its cheer. She make.
me feel how small am and nov
inconsequential all this work is dowr
!, in the pit. would give all this dow
here-if II were mine to give-could
save her mother for herl"
Derwent put on his raincont.
I'VE all feel that way about II
And-we're helpless. Lucy-Belle want,
you to come over to supper. vii
your"
"Thanks. Tell Lucy-Belle she is al
angel to think of me SO often. II
] come"