Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1888-01-17
can see ih. 10 your face. {"

Terry rose slowly 10 hi, feet. dlssed,
sullsn expression on hi. handsome face
lie stood ia the doorway, gazing ol, in
70 the l,mbent moonlight. listening la
tsn,ly =. clock on sneishborins .,eepls
elimsd out twelve strokes
Twelve oelOek"-hs spoke rapidly,
.hhs wished TO cad the Interview.
81 mus, be going"
"rsuy
Rllh stood looking after the refreshing
figure, as |, sped down the path. fear,
disappointment, sbd anguish dspie'sd on
her white face.
"God help all mothers Who false son
like ihs, 7" she mufmurs. with dry, tear.
les eyes, a. sc ,i,. down 10 her lonely
vigil. fof ia,,ire, tell, her be will come
back.
Fer ono, IN her lie Ruth could not
pray. No word, could describe the Bit
isrns. Of her feeling. True. rsuy.
.ilsre; 10 the pas, years had been omi-
noa. Of nssl,e;, although her loving
mother. hear, had Away. some excuse
for his n,glisehee.
he had been q tender. obedish, ,os
daung ti. oyhoOd, despite biz proud.
inispsrdsni manner, 20 Others Ambi-
iioa.. rsfnsd. wi,s beyond hi' years. bow
could he degenerate into this coarse. un-
feeling creature Al, how. indeed ,
uhls,, the vies.born dsprAvi,y Of the
man bad swallowed up all tender IN.
.,inei, Raih's soul ro.e up in rebel.
lion ag.in,, the God whom she had al.
vay. relied on. and. like Rachel noun.
ing for her children AID woaId no, be
eomfottd. she ,,i aud moarasd for tic
son iha, va. worse than dead.
Morning came a. lsns,h-Ady, brsA,h-
less morning. with biA,,y Ky aseksd
With ragged. white clouds. and dallsd a.
were Raih's senses. she wAs conscious Of
some gre., stir ia Hampton. Too list
les, to feel curious. bat rather With the
hope of seeing Teuy coming uP the
street. she slksd down the lily.bordsf.
sd path and leaning ag.ias, the gate un.
eon,cioa, ihs, The objse, Of h'f ,hough''
had stolen through the ,hfubbefy And en-.
tered the house Ia the tear.
A rough. bois,erog', ,houiias crowd
'grsed up the street AID halted before
Rl,h. who's, white face. 'ouoHfal brown
eye, aad gray hair vas sld Pieiurc-i
mute appeal 70 the hardest heart.
Excuse u. ma'am. bat we've track
ed = thief 10 this hoa,s.' said a msn.
kecping back the hoo,ing crowd.
"a thief" echoed Ruth There IL
no oas here bui my,sli.
Maybe -; Bat the creates, 'eognirsl
unhaus disappeared Amons these ba'h;'.
He. been Robin Aad ,hievin' around
here fjr moaih,. Las, nigh, he robbed
the company cihee and lsfs ,h7 night
wAiehman bali murdered. Conc. boys.
quis, nov. AID destroy no,hing; hls
through tho bg,he, and surround the
house"
In le,, time ihaa IL take, 10 tell Il.
RaiA'. grounds wsr, sfsciually sel'eh;d.
and the crowd had clostd IA around the
cottage. thu, cg,iing od every Ivenas Of
s.eape. Ra,h hsd never been eiei,Able.
bat a, she hurried into the porch she wa'
,hakins like an aspen, iOf gfea, fear
had taken possession Of hsr-a fear that
wa, too fllly realized, =, T,ry, battles.
eoA,le,,, hi, handsome face crimson with
Al, race iof lie. dashed on, Of the open
door anl attempted 70 fo'es biz way -
tie gate. only 70 Be beaten back and pin.
ionsd 10 the earth by strong men. Who
turned hsai,.,ick a, Ruth Rsaburn' -.
oalrsd cry q "Tsfy Terry "
"Bli no, yolr Teuy. mother. erisd
the ,enlert,i Of mAnly voices, n Aplif
Of strong arm, eneirslsd Ru,h, who gar.
al wildly into the face Of the ae" e1msf.
"My father. ,oa, mother. bl' not
your"
n. kissed the faded face lovingly.
Ruth could no, comprehend IL all. yet u
.lo~ly dawnsd on her d,zsd mind that
her .on-,hs real Terry. VA, holiins her
TO hi, breast. Yes, this fres-'he exact
eoan,srpn, Of the unhappy mans the
hoo,ing crowd WAS bearing Avay-"n
un.ullisd by evil habits OF $40, Aad Ruth
fsl, /, va. the face Of good, honest
mAn.
"whai doe, ,hi. al mean s,'Psi
Ruth. "who i, ,hA, man
"Ja,, whl, | said, mother Tsny-
the real Teuy-sroked the gray hair
,sndsrly. my fathers 500, but not
yours. lie was born five years after you
came TO Hlmp,oo-;he .On Of the low
creature whose history !, uhf. for your
pure care. lie Is notorious character,
and when heard he had bsen tracked TO
this nsishborhood. hurried home to pre-
ven, him fois,ins himself on yol as your
son. Ihave been abroad for years, moth
er; lived for ATT alone; have grown rich
and famous. And weary Of the world
Heneeforih. will live for you-noihins
earthly shall come between rs IN the fu-
iure."
And ia the grsa, love Of her Arii', 'on, /,
ltd and lmou. though he was, Ruth