New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-05


street and walked along almost In silence 10 the
hotel
Mrs Gerry took her few belongings. She re-
fused to allow her daughter to order carriage.
She said there was no need of such expense
They went In a trolley car to corner nea, 'he
station. Mrs. Gerry always AFRAID IN a
trolley car, but she had never mentioned tnat
fear to any one. She was keenly aware OF her
ignorance concerning all that pertaireu 10 the
motive power Of these vehicles, ana sne was
deeply thankful when she was on the SIDEWALK
again. go ,-s
But the moment Of parting with her daugh-
ter was one of anguish Ito her. she couid NOT
reason herself out OF this suffering, try as she
would. 1t was always so when she lett Saiome.
She had to undergo that wrenching or the
heart. For years she had tried to scnooi her-
self against this, and all her eNdeavors had Deen
frutless She often wondered at unls' h anu st ha
her entire lack of success. She argued that sne
ought to be able - do what was reasonable
II reasonable to feel only moderate sor-
row at leaving Salome, who was coming 10 her
But there was nothing moderate In this long
ing to take the child In her arms and hold her
fast.
II wish twas so you saw a good deal of Mrs.
Bradford" said Mrs Gerry, as the two stood
waiting for the gate to open that the pas
sengers might take their places in the train.
80 do l." was the answer.
Then SalOme put her hand down ana round
her mothers hand. which was hanging by her
side.
Are you worrying, mother?" in a tremulous
idea how good Randolph ISL
Mrs Gerry smiled.
II know that; I'm not worrying about Ran
dOlph's not being good"
ITS about me- then? But you needn't. There
goes the gate l want TO see you seated
Salome fingered, standing in the aisle by her
mother. She bent over her and assured her
again that there was nothing to worry about.
You ought to be content since I'm so happy"
she repeated. But l shall be happier when 1t
Is warm weather, and l am out in the country
all the time with YOU"
"Salome" said Mrs. Gerry, you think too
much Of happiness"
"Oh no." the answer. with assurance;
I'm right about some things mother Let us
think of the long. hot summer days which are
coming. and that we shall be together. And in
the fall we shall go South. l like to dream
about that"
Don't stay here any longer" said the elder
woman. anxously; you'll get carried Off"
People were hurrying in Salome kissed her
mother. She left the car and stood outside
by the window. looking up at her until the
train started. Mrs. Gerry gazed at the slender
figure with the radiant face until she could see
It no longer Then she sat upright pressed her
lips closely together. and maintained her posi-
ton until she left the car at her own station.
She was walking toward the public carriage
which met this train to take passengers into
her neighbOrhoOd, when some one close 10 her
said
Good evening. Mrs. Gerry. are you going
home?'
1t was Walter Redd.
as that you Walter? Yes. I'm going right
home"
do let me take you then; my horse and
Mrs Gerry would rather have gone by her
SELF but presently she was sitting beside him in
the buggy.
marked after a few moments of silence.
Redd never voluntarily spoke OF Salome to
any save her mother.
Yes I got worried somehow, and l couldn't
wait till the time for her to come out"
Mrs Gerry was more outspoken with Walter
than with any one whom she saw among her
Il hope she's WE'LL" stihiy.
"Oh, yes; and happy. Walter" Here little
hesitation. I'm sure we ought to be 'hanfiui
' q know it. If lin only last. But If 1t de-
Redd did not finish his sentence. He had
never forgiven Moore for what ne believed was
his desertion Of Salome in FLORIDA
walter you judge Moore all wrong.
can't explain but you do"
you needn't try to blind me about that fel-
low" he replied. with a kind Of cold savage
ness 81 was taken in by him at hrst' ou,
YOU can't pull the wool over my eyes a secohu
time. / know what he's done. Didnt I've
leave Salome? Then didn't he get engaged 10
that other girl? Then didn't he come PACK
here and tilt the other girl. and so marry Saloine
out of hand? 1t beats me that you can STAND
"You don't understand" said Mrs. Gerry.
NO that's a fact, l don't understand. but
one thing I'm mighty sure or, ana ,hat II '"at
40
he really is He's got something about MN
that makes folks like him. I know that very
wcll But I'm not going to talk OF him any
more tonight. l don't know when I've men,
'X When he helped Mrs. Gerry from the car
rage in front OF the dark little house on me
ledge where she still lived ne $1,000 uy n,od dis
horse instead Of entering the buggy immedi-
ately. r,,, 10 s,onnod She
waited beside him. Mrs. Gerry want you 10
vo,,'d think well of me than airy other woman
know. except one. Some way l am mgseI
any more. don't care for anything really
didn't know was so weak
do try to overcome this a..
Mrs. Gerry looked at the TALL strong figure
beside her She repeated her words WIN an
almost tender emphasis.
You needn't think I'm whining round TO
other people" he exclaimed with some iicrcc-
ness 'And know you mean well when you
tell me to overcome it. Only can't 90 IL.
Yes YOU can; but 1t will take time"
'Itll take all my life. Is she coming out here
for the summer"
Then I'll clear out won't run the risk of
meeting her. That's more than l could en-
dure."
"Oh, III let that; I'll do something. Well,
good night" -
He put his foot on the step Ihcn ne turheu
back.
shake hands with me. Mrs. Gerry. I'm
always ever 50 much better for seeing you. You
brace me up. Good night"
He wrung the woman's hand. lie jumped
into the carriage and drove away.
Mrs. Gerry went into the empty house she
fumbled through the kitchen to the shelf where
the lamps stood and lighted one: Then she sat
down and looked around the solitary room
ITS no use trying to find out why things are
So" she was thinking. And 1T isn't neces-
sary for us to know. either We can Just i've
along one day at time; and have faith In
Him-have faith in Him.s
Her face relaxed from its setness she re-
peated that phrase for the phrase meant some
thing to her.
She had taken off her gloves and was slowly
smoothing them as they lay on her knee. She
was glad she had come home tonight. She
could not stay at the hotel with Salome: and
the child was so happy she did not need her. III
she had needed her---here the womans face
melted still more.
"Salome Is living her life now. she was
thinking "Ive lived mine. I'm getting old.
I'm not for myself any more. I'm just Salomes
mother now. And the child loves me so much.
That's the sweetness there is left for me. There
never was child in the world that made love