Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1894-07-27

raReu uOCJOl. Odthctiuo OloSh
is no lenger a child oil mine, and
her foot shall never cross my
threshold again. The fool--tc
throw herself away on a puppy
like that"
1t was in vain to try to appease
him. Mrs. Crane saw that she
was only adding fuel to the flames
80 she quietly arose aud retired to
her room, with feeling of rellef as
to Cathie's salty. knowing that
she would soon hear from her, aud
that even If her husband persisted
in holding his wrath against the
young people, she would find a
way to see her birdliug again.
The doctor did not drive to the
city the following day, and conse'
quently did not get his mail until
evening when his man brought it,
There was a letter for "mothcr'
with the envelope directed in
Cathie's well.known writing, whic b
the doctor, after glance, threw
into the waste basket standing near
without opening. And with his
Q, ebrows knit, and his hat drawn
over his eyes, he went ont on the
verandI TO read the evening pa
per.
He had sat there but a few mo.
ments Wien Mrs. Graeme heard a
groan, aud looking out IN th G OIL
coming twilight she saw the paper
had fallen from her husbands
hands, and be seemel like one
turned TO stone.
"Whafs the matteIp she asked,
Fastening to his side.
TIe looked up at her in a dumb,
helpless sort of way, and pointed
to The paper. Picking it up, she
ran her eyes hastily over its col
umrs, aud caught the names OF
Catherine Graeme and Rextord
Bayliss as among the killed in a
railroad wre ok of the day before.
Oh, the wonderful courage OF
woman! She bent over her husband
and kissed him with a face winter
than the dead.
"Oh, fathel" WAS all she said,
and together, arm in arm, they en-
tered their daikened home.
81 must 60 at once, mother," he
whispered, "aud-and bring her
back
Then he soUbed aloud, but the
heart of the mother was mercifully
numb, and she began to help to
prepare for the sOrro wful journey.
"Nlay God forgIve!' he moaned,
as his wife left him for a moment,
"Oh, CAthie, little Oathie, only to
see you again as l saw you last"
AS he espoke, the sweet fragrance
of apple blossoms came through
the open window, and with it a
greater longing for the sweet girl
who had played beneath the trees.
"There is a letter IN the basket
yonder, mother" the doctor groan-
ed, "frOm our dear CAthie. Read
It."
With the strange caimness born
only Of woe, the poor mother
reached down into the basket and
brought up tie letter. There we're
only four struggling, tear.stained
lines, telling her parents how well
she loved them, but that she loved
Rex too, and she hoped they would
forgive her.
They did not hear the gate latch
click softly. They we're too heart
broken and absorbed for that,
Neither did they hear the light
tread cf footsteps nor see the two
pairs oil eyes looking in npOn them,
awed by the grief stricken faces
before them.
The hall door stood opan wide,
and in another moment Cathie
Bayllss. alive and well, was in her
mothers arms, and Rex. stood
boxing on longingly. But old Dr.
Graeme was not forgiving unless
wholly 80, and with tears IN his
eyes he grasped the young mans
hand and said broksnly:
"PardOn me. Rex, my boy. Thank
God-thank Godw and sank into
bis chair completely overcome,
while Oathie turned from her
mother and threw her arms about
his neck.
"Dear father" she mnrmured,
ct was all q mistake. We saw
our names in the paper and came
back at once, risklng all to prove
that Wa were still in the flesh
1t was terrible wreck, but we
were merciful!y spared to return tt
you"
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