Purple Springs | Page 7

would not talk like this
on this day--of all days.
"Don't spoil a good day, ma, with sad talk. Look out at the Spring sun
there, and the cattle, even the wild ones from the range, with their sides
steaming and then nosing around so happy now, for getting all about
the bad times they had even as late as last evening. There's no use
telling them there's cold days coming--they wouldn't believe now--and
anyway they'll know soon enough. Isn't it best to let every one have
their sunny day--without a cloud on it."
Before her mother could form an answer, the one long and two short
rings came on the phone. Pearl's heart turned over in its bounding joy.

It had come--she knew it had come.
She took down the receiver:
"Hello," she said, in a thin voice.
"Pearl," said the voice, deep, mellow, eager. She thought she had
remembered what his voice was like, but she hadn't. It was a hundred
times sweeter than it had been in her memory.
"Yes," she said, holding the receiver so tightly her knuckles went white
with the pressure.
"What day is it, Pearl," he said, with the laugh in his voice, the
bantering laugh that made his patients love him.
"O I know" she said--"I know."
"You haven't forgotten what we said?"
"Not a word of it."
His voice came nearer, though he spoke lower.
"The train is not in yet, it is stuck out in the hills, but likely to get out
any minute. Dr. Brander is on it, coming out from the city to operate
for me in a very serious case, I'm not sure when I can get out--but you'll
wait for me--won't you, Pearl?"
She put her red young lips close to the transmitter.
"For a thousand years!" she said.
"Well, it won't be that long," he said, with his happy laugh.
Pearl knew exactly how his brows were lifted, and his eyes wide
opened.
"But it's great to have as good a margin, Pearl--and listen--" his voice

fell again until it seemed to whisper in her ear--"did you happen to
notice what sort of a day it is?"
"Well," said Pearl, "I am not surprised. Didn't I tell you it would be?"
"You told me!" he said.
Then it was that from Pearlie Watson's young heart there opened up a
shining path straight up into heaven, and every inch of that radiant
highway was bright with the gleam of angel's wings, and as she stood
there leaning against the wall, her eyes dazzled with the glory of it, it
seemed as if all the sweet songs that lovers have ever sung, and all the
tender words they have ever spoken came marching, gaily marching
down the shining high way, right into her heart.
Outside the sun gleamed and beat on the melting snow, which sent
back quivery vibrations that smote the eyeballs like fire. The cattle
shook the water from their sun-dazzled eyes, and turned their heads
away from it, but it climbed steadily higher until it stood right over
them, and blazing down upon the snowy world, defied old man Winter
to his face.
Pearl was never quite sure about it in after years. But that day she did
not doubt her eyes, that star dust danced in the waves of sunshine; that
the gray snow birds played crack the whip outside the window; that the
willow hedge, palpitating in the sunshine, beat time with its silvery
branches to the music that lilted through her heart; that the blue in the
sky was bluer than it had been, and the sunshine more golden than it
ever was in the highest noon in highest June.
She was quite sure it was so, for every spot of color within doors was
glorified too. The roses in the cushions on the lounge glowed like a fire
in the heart of a green wood; the cat's eyes gleamed like olivines, but of
course Pearl knew from the way he rubbed his head against her
shoulder as she sat on the lounge beside him, and from the way he
blinked at her--he knew, having no doubt in some occult cat-way,
listened in on the phone! There was no mistaking his swaggering air of
importance--he was in on it! and gave much credit to himself for

having brought it all about.
The old dog, being just a plain, honest-hearted, loving dog, only knew
that Pearl was very happy over something. He did not probe the
cause--if it pleased her--it was enough.
At four o'clock there came another message--which set Pearl's heart
dancing, and spotted her cheeks with a glowing color--the operation
was over--apparently successful--and they were driving back to town.
The other train might be late too, so it would be impossible for him