Show the crippled lad y of Peri P banka clr a by jaa oliver olive r cur wood borvice Sor vIce c 1929 doubled doran co inc STORY FROM THE START introducing some of the pen ole ola 0 of the pretty little french canadian village of Perl bonka particularly the crippled lady idol ot of the simple inhabitants paul kirke Is a descendant of 0 sister ot of molly brant sleter of 0 joseph brant great indian achl ahlet f he fie has inherited many andlen indian characteristics his father Is a powerful new york rork paul marries claire claere durand daughter or of his fathers partner ile he Is lo in charge chares of engineering work near Perl bonka pauls wife its Is in europe she dislikes I 1 the woods CHAPTER ill continued 5 behind her courage was a smoldering depth of pain paul thought she looked like an angel as she sat opposite him with the be desk between them like an exquisite white faced nun he had see in the ursuline Ursul lne convent in quebec yes sue Is a wonderful woman he said thinking only vaguely of his wife AU ali women are wonderful and nd especially mothers ile he knew she had come to talk to him about her mother carla did not flinch when he brought tier her mission home to her in this way she bowed her head bead a little then her eyes came back to him with a misty glow in them 1 I 1 dont like to add to your worries she said but it seems necessary 1 dont want to go to any other but you I 1 think you will help me a little if my life could save your mother I 1 would give it sald said paul his ells words brae through her calm for or a moment 1 I have come to ask it you will take me over to Peri Verl bonka tomorrow and help me arrange tor for a little plot of ground she said tightening her hands in III her lap ily bly mother loves Peri Perl bonka in so many ways it has reminded her of the village where she was born and from which my ta fa ther brought her to america we have dreamed of living flying there some day for I 1 love it too loo now that mother Is going to die she wants to be burled buried there tomorrow I 1 want to arrange for a place in the cemetery as near the river as possible she told we me today just where she would like to rest in a little corner that was overgrown with wll wild honeysuckle honey ackle when we were there last she Is so eager caper to get it so happy and smiling and unafraid in planning for it so wonderful such a mother crother that last night I 1 asked god to let me die and go with her looking into her bravely clear and tearless eyes paul felt himself tor for a moment unable to answer her then he be said we will go tomorrow carlo carla but it will be a long time before anything happens it may be it wont happen at all doctors are not infallible sometimes carla smiled at him film tier her took of gratitude transfigured trans figured her face thank you she said gently it gives me greater courage to know that thai you are hoping for me like that my mother says the doctors are wrong that Is why I 1 want to go to perl peri bonka tomorrow mother AlLi lher wants to be with me as ai long as she can but she insists that th the e time Is very short much shorter than the doctors have said bald you believe that 1 I must carla was looking beyond him as if to in the distance were a vision which it would be impossible for him to see 1 I try not to believe but bill it con canies conies ies over me and holds me it lust just tear fear 1 I am going to write tor for ulsa miss wixom to come and take charge of the children said paul you must be with your mother without interruption carla drew herself together with a little shock please dont I 1 must have the work the pleasure the inspiration of the children mother wants it that way too 90 she alts in her window and I 1 can see her from the schoolhouse and we wave our hands bands at each other every little while Nl ille she can see the children and they are always thinking about her even during hours they dont forget you see they are as much mothers as mine and we cannot turn them over to miss bliss wixom mother alother and I 1 need them you wont send for miss aisom until it Is necessary 1 no As she rose from her ber chair sh took the picture of pauls wife from the desk and stood looking at it with wibb her back turned to the light coming through the window thus paul could see them both the profile of carla her cut features tea fea the grace and beauty eau y 0 of her er and md and his big wife smil ing up at hei bet out oat of the picture alter after a moment carla smiled gently in return when hen Is she comin coming homer home she asked 1 I d dont oret know anuw she keep me in touch with her plans plan sometime before christmas I 1 think ue he wondered why the note of bitterness bittern tern ter ness persisted in coming coining into his voice ce when he spoke of his wife it annoyed him Us ue tried to keep it back yet let it would come out she likes to surprise rne nie lie le added walking around the end of his desk to stand beside carla when the time comes I 1 will pet get a telegram from her saying she la is on board ship or in new york home paul she said last time when are you coming to see me I 1 wish she loved children as you love them all women love childrel ch lUrer replied carla mysteriously no she ive wanted a lot of them coys boys mostly claire could be such a wonderful mother she will be some day sale sala carla 1 I saw the pain painting ting of 0 it in tier her face when she was liere here and I 1 see it now shining in her elesin eyes in this picture she has a soul as deep as the sea mr kirke and she must love children chil dreal 1 she replaced the picture on the desk nd paul helped her again with her raincoat may I 1 go with you he asked t like the children I 1 love your mother oil oh V 1 the word escaped tier her lips and the eagerness of it made his heart tingle sly you on mean that you too are not saying tt it just to be good to me you love my mother yes next nest to my own mother abo has been away aay from me so BO long ue he could not understand what he zsa we will go tomorrow carla but it will be a long time before any thing happens saw in her face it was as it if a flame had bad suddenly thrown a glow upon it they went out into rain and on the narrow cinder path carlas arm touched Il auls A soothing and pleasurable sensation the g gentle pressure of it and he glanced down at her head near his bis shoulder imprisoned in its hood ile he could see the silken mesh ot of her ber long lashes gathering the rain mist A few minutes later the mother bother welcomed him from her chair near the window from which she could see carlas school carla had bad taken his hat and coat A new spirit had entered the house bouse with tier her slie she was smiling kissed her mother chirruped chirrup ed a few notes to a bird in a cage as she went tor for i 2 moment into the kitchen what a magnificent tight 1 the cottage was filled with birds and flowers out where carla had gone a canary ans singing A cat was purring on 00 a at ar mra alra feet in ID a small grate a fire was vias burning contentment and happiness ano and not tile the shadow ot of death seemed triumphant about him TO BE CONTINUED |