Show 4 A vl A CHAPTER XIV continued 19 there was a desk by the south window a desk that any antique dealer who knew his business would give much for it looked to james discerning eyes like something brought over from england ages ago A beautiful antique and sure enough here was the photograph no wonder his small namesake recognized him this picture was taken when nora went to college here was her husband too an enlargement made from a snap shot don was just starting for a climb his rucksack slung over one shoulder recalling the wheelchair wheel chair james lambert winced and laying the picture down as if it hurt him lifted another the children of course his grandchildren I 1 A thrill of pride stirred in the old mans heart here was his namesake an older boy and baby iris A flower newer indeed she seemed to resemble faintly that other iris whom james had loved so dearly that he could forgive the unforgivable and still think of her with tenderness after all these years he was glad that nora had not forgotten her mother when neds first daughter had arrived and he ventured to suggest the name of iris corinne had been appalled what cau call her baby after a woman woma n who had deserted one child and had another by her loverl lover james smiled tolerantly at this old memory best not go back to it after all corinne was a good woman a good housekeeper and always invited him to sunday dinner iberl 1 if she were inclined to be uncharitable to the erring well time was already fixing that time and a boy she had spoiled with too much money and too little work he wondered mildly amused at the idea what corinne would think of this big room she would undoubtedly spot the packing boxes and the shabby chair no such detail ever escaped her and the family photographs photograPh sl 1 her father inlaw i in nl law could hear her say photographs Photograph st Is it possible that noras not aware that photographs of that sort are taboo save in in a bedroom why father lambert it simply donel done the old man laughed softly at this vivid picture often enough he had felt annoyed at Corinne but now she seem to matter not in the least he believed there was something soothing about this room it was so friendly as if it bid you to be comfortable one felt instinctively that those who lived here loved one another and were happy together the shabby upholstery of the old chair the worn hangings hannings hang ings at the windows were of no consequence A healing sense of peace pervaded everything this was a home all ah that was the explanation james reflected stable or palace this was a real home suddenly his head lifted his heart quickened A door had opened closed again softly light footsteps sounded were coming nearer he wanted to turn must turn to face the door but found he could not and then a dear remembered voice broke in upon him you wished to see me I 1 am mrs mason jimsy says you are a friend of why rather father I 1 it was then james turned stretched out his arms he was holding her close his little nora it took him back to that long gone tragic day when he had first held her comforted her and all unknowing comforted himself A sense of that same comfort flowed through him now healing the e wound of those ten years without her and though she wept as she had wept that other time all that her father found to say was nora nora youve leen been a long time coming daddy she told him when at last she could find words and looking down into her upturned face ja james mes saw a quick pang of regret stabbing his heart all that those years had done to leonora something hed loved and hoped to see again was gone yet meeting her tear wet eyes the old man knew that his daughters girlhood beauty had not vanished it had only changed changed into something more to be desired more beautiful youve been a long time coming she said again and james responded spon ded 1 ive been a stubborn old idiot rny my darling when you stopped writing I 1 told myself that ceased to care grown tired of a father who had tailed failed you and yet I 1 worried nora watched for your letters hoped she drew him to the old pew by the fire her hands those hard brown hands james r scarcely car cely recognized trembled a little how could I 1 write she asked as they sat down together we netted help too badly dont you tee see you told me father he stopped her with an impatient gesture that she remembered oh you repeat at it were you really foolish enough to think I 1 meant that threat and how was I 1 to know you needed help dear when you did not tell me I 1 dream how things had gone with you not for a minute but the papers Fa father therl noras eyes widened with surprise the story was there for all the world to read 1 I thought come when you knew how don was injured I 1 thought forgive us I 1 lay in bed after our little girl was born so frightfully worried about don too weak to go to him and every time a bell would ring id think perhaps father 1 he leave me to face all this alone hell come heu hell see that don has everything ery thing he needs he will take care of us and and you come father not that it matters now youre here at last but listen james interrupted his voice shaking 1 I was sick dear child down with pneumonia at the time of that catastrophe I 1 never read those papers not one of them it was no longer front page stuff when I 1 recovered to be sure ned saw something that made him suspicious but the name was mi sprinted and he want to worry me about it then you must forgive him nora the boy was going through troubles of 55 sk enaw M X 1 av ler a 7 remembering what I 1 had to face alone he be kept on fighting his own at that time serio serious us troubles ou I 1 dare say he forgot everything else dont blame him any more than you can help dear we all do the wrong thing at times and once in a great while thank god were given the opportunity to make amends last night you see ned realized that I 1 was troubled id been talking with martha she had been crying when I 1 went up to see her birthday gifts crying because e of you for the first time in all these years nora we talked about you and in her own kind carefully respectful way she showed me myself told me the truth that I 1 had long suspected 1 I went down at last and sat on the old davenport where you and I 1 so often threshed things out together trying to think how I 1 could find you dear and I 1 should have found you nora if been at the north pole then ned came in he had heard news of you it matter how he wanted to come himself but I 1 refused to let him I 1 was so hungry for a sight of you vou for you are my little girl darling nothing has altered that nor ever can when I 1 think what youve been through tell me p he broke off abruptly how did you manage what kept you going who helped you when you needed help so desperately pera tely said nora a faraway far away look cree creeping into her eyes A woman in south africa father the sort of woman were supposed to pass by on the other side its too long a story to go into now but she gave me a diamond it was very beautiful so beautiful that though it was saving us I 1 wept a little when 1 gave it dupill up nora paused thoughtfully a moment then went on you see father things were very bad indeed all we had saved had gone into this home there were only a few hundred dollars in the bank when we started west but we worrying there was plenty to see me through my confinement and more was promised we had never felt so sure about the future so lighthearted and then the avalanche for weeks the doctors thought don would not live for months he could not leave the hospital he lay on one of a long long row of narrow beds nothing to hear but sounds of sickness and clamor of city streets nothing to see but four bare walls and he so loves beauty only to think about it tore my heart in n t two w 0 and the pain grinding ance unceasing asin wearing away his splendid strength as water wears away the st stones ones upon a beach I 1 think all that he wanted then was to die father to end the struggle but remembering what I 1 had to face alone he kept on fighting it was very terrible I 1 even run in to cheer him at odd times for he was in a ward I 1 buy him a single flower for the money was going melting away so fast it frightened me yet how could I 1 leave the babies to earn more even if I 1 had known some way to do it constance venable who would have shared her last crust with us was far away I 1 had no one to turn to I 1 sold some of the trinkets given me but could not get halt half their real value and what they brought only staved off the inevitable for a little while and then one night when I 1 was counting the endless hours it came to me like an inspiration that my diamond was worth money real money it saw us through dad kept us going brought us back home when don was able to be moved such a joy to be where he can watch the sea and feel the wind on his face almost from the first minute he started gaining hes writing again now a book but the work goes slowly you see there is still much pain and his nerves arent steady but he tries so hard to get the better of them dad hes so courageous her voice died down as if tears threatened again and james said his own voice husky with emotion see here nora I 1 realize that you can forgive me a great deal because you understand you know that though I 1 was too stubborn to admit it I 1 have always loved you missed you unspeakably but how will your husband regard me now in his eyes I 1 have betrayed a trust let you bear burdens too heavy for your shoulders can he forgive too or in just a moment broke in nora softly one hand thrown out in an expressive gesture III 11 II I 1 think well know james raised his eyes the curtains at the door had parted and standing before them his hair blown bark back in the familiar way stood don his boys beside him his baby daughter clinging to one hand even that first quick glance told much to noras father he saw that the once straight shoulders sagged a little as if the effort to stand erect was now too great he saw that the windblown wind blown hair was white above the temples the eyes seemed deeper set the cheekbones higher but he saw also that the lines on dons thin tanned face were born of suffering not self pity and that his head still lifted buoyantly as of old the word so singularly fitting sprang into james lamberts mind as he arose un conque redl that was don mason never again could office walls imprison him he had got beyond them there was a silence then don said gently well sir only two words but to the old man they were a challenge and he be met it generously though his eyes smiled his voice was wholly serious 1 I lay down my sword the e enemy ne surrenders to the better man and then don laughed a laugh that seemed to bring the clean gay spirit of adventure into the room impulsively he started forward but stopped remembering while james saw with quick c compassion om that one foot dragged the enemy don echoed 1 I think not sir he glanced down meeting the puzz puzzled led young faces that were lifted to him children he said attention salute your grandsire the old king has come homel THE END |