, 1889-12-05

gOlden blossoms swung ABOUT tne door
SO the white cottage, that had sheltered
her In the years of her joy and of her
sorrow, was sold, and with the amount
added to their slender means, mother
and son started westward for the dry,
and as they hoped, health-restoring air
of Minnesota.
A single yellow rose, dried and with
cred, was the only memcnto she bore
away 70 serve as link between Eliza.
would sometimes glistcn in the blue
oyes which were fast losing their
brilliancy, for she was growing old but
tears were checked as she thought,
"What matter If my Percy may only
grow well and strong again2"
They had happened to stop at this
little frontier town, more by chance
than by any reason, and Pcrcy had
taught school all through the long sum.
mer while his mother opcned'a small
store to exc out their slender means At
first they had thought the dry, pure
air beneficial TO the young man, but the
cold, harsh winds of carly fall had tried
him severely; and now that winter was
actually upon them he had grown
could but look on, while trying to say
words of cheer, but with pain at her
heart like death itself.
The wind howled and shricked about
the little building, tiinging icy wrcaths
of snow against the panes and making
the oil lamp in the window flare and
fiutter, and now and again the latch
would rattle loudly, at which the old cat
looked sleepily up, from, the rug, as If to
see IL customer should enter, while the
widow would start and almost drop u
stitch in her knitting.
II must be nervous tonight" she ex-
claimed, but II Is no wonder, the wind
howls so" Then, drawing her black
knitted cape closer about her shoulders,
she passed out from her place behind
the counter and opening the door
looked out.
Except where her own light threw
warm reflections through the red cur
tains, no light or object was visible
up the scattering village street, while
the snow and ice-laden blast rushed by
with IL velocity that almost took away
her breath.
"Who ever saw such a night?" she
exclaimed, closing the door and straight
ening her black lace cap upon her head.
There certainly won't be any one IN
to- night, so | may us well get tea.'
Then carefully closing the dampers of
the glowing stove and moving the lamp
farther from the window, with methodi-
Cul precision she turned and lifted some
bright.colored chintH curtains that
hung over an arch and passed into
"a back room. where q lamp
was already lighted, making cheer
full scene, as 1t brought into view
stand of scarlet geranlums, large easy
chair with bright red cushions and II
w ide lounge with the same upholstering.
Shelves piled with books and bric-a-braC
hung against the wall, while here and
there a pink-lined shell suggested
thoughts of the old home beside the sea.
A table covered by a snowy cloth, already
laid for, tea, stood beside the brightly
polished cooking stove. After replcn-
ishing the fire she turned and, drawing
back a curtain, revealed an alcoye with
u bed, on which man was lying
wrapped in loose dressing gown.
Percy, dear are you awakep Shall
we have supper now2" said his mother.
The young man turned his head as
she spoke, revealing tlnely.cut face
that must have been handsome in
his checks were only partially concealed
by a stubble of auburn beard which
covered his k,ce; curling brown hair lay
disordcred over high, white forehead,
while the dark blue eyes CLEANED with
unnatural brilliancy from their hollow
sockets.
II don't think care for anything to.
night, lac answered. 81 am not at all
oh yes, dear, you must try to eat d
little; you can't expect to get strong If
you don't eat, said his mother with a
little, forced snile.
:" am afraid can notI Xpect that any
way, mother. | have not been asleep,
but lying here trying to give it up.
"W hat do You meanT' she quickly
asked.
Don't be frightened" answered
Percy. at may not be serious just yet,
but | think ] may as well let the dream
of getting bettergo. had another spell
this afternoon he said slowly, and
reaching out he held up blood-stained
handkerchief to her view.
Percy, my boy, my only boy, can
not let you go, she exclaimed, wildly
falling on her knees by the bedside.
"Hush, mother, don't feel like that;
it makes it all the hard er, said the man
in a smothered voice, which the
mother-love hearing crushed down
the sorrow in her own heart
and rising she smoothcd out
his pillow, pressed her lips to his damp
forehead, and turned away to busy her
self preparing the meal She knew she
could not eat and the only sign that
escaped her was the tear that would
now and then roll silently down her
wrinklcd cheek.
While the wind tore and beat at the
easement, unnoticed by her, now the
evening wore on, the silence only bro
ken by the ticking OF the clock; the
gray-haired woman sitting by the fire
motionlcss, save for her busy fingers as
the needles flashed in and out through
the scarlet yarn of little stocking TO be
placed in the store for sale, In and out,
over and under flew the shining steels,
but the knitter was AS unconscious Of
them as the steam that moves the ma.
chincry Her eyes were fixed upon the
fire before her her mind on scenes far
away from the little room, with its tick
ing clock, cracking fire and storm
lashcd window panes; only when the
fire burned low, she noiselessly rcplen-
,shcd it, or if the uneasy sleeper on the
bed stirred or his labored breathing
changed, turn of her head or pause
of the busy needles showed that she was
keenly alive to each sound.
So the long night passed and morning
came; morning that one only knew rs
such, as the white, whirling waste of
snow and ice without became visible.
No ray of sunshine penetrated the bill
lows of flying snow. Clearing the frosty
pane, tie watcher peered eagerly forth,
but not an object met her gaze, only the
snow. Wave after wave wave after
wave, more impenetrable than the waves
OF the sea, they rolled by. If lulling u
moment it was only to rise higher and
tiercer, with u tiendish shrek, as il
rushed madly on. half sutfocatimg
feeling came over her as she looked on.
Was she alone, alone with her sorrow?
WAS there no other living thing outside
that little room2" she thought wildly.
AS the hours wore on she felt that she
must go out to find help. Perhaps even
vet there might be help for her dying
son. In the afternoon She started, but
the wind almost took her off her feet,