The herald., 1894-05-06

plexity. He thought as he walked along
Of the i'll matched team Ulysses drove,
Of Apollo's magnificent coursers, of tho
snowy Paphian doves that bore Venus
through tie blue ether, and the more
of these classical stecds and drivers he
recalled the moro homogeneous and alb
surd his own position seemed He felt
that he was better fitted to teach my
thology than to drive males And yet it
would break his mothers heart if he
left her. She had said no would not
need to stay long. He shrank from spec
ulating on her death, but if she were to
live 10 years, for instance? What high
hopes and aspirations might he not for
get, what vile habits Of thought and
speech and manner might he not acquire
in 10 years?
At 8 o'clock he gave up the lines to
one of the men, who walked and drove
till IL. Then, as their working force
was not sufficient for an all night jour
ney, the men moved the boat on the heel
path side and put the mules into their
quarters, there TO rest till daybreak The
two lanterns fore and aft, which would
serve to reveal the boats presence to
captains whe pushed on throughout the
night, were attended to, and the two
men turned into their hunks. Jenny and
her mistress had long since retired, and
only Joe was left awake. He paced up
and down the deck in the starlight, try
ing to come to y resolution. Should he
go--and kill his mother? Should he stay
and kill his own pride and ambition
and bright prospects? Finally all his
learning seemed to resolve itself into
the memory of Captain Lawrenoe's no,
bio words, Don't give up the shipl'
And at last he said aloud, 81 will not, "
and the long struggle was ended The
canal life, with its small, slow gains
its homely duties, would be his while
his mother needed him.
He went straight to her bedside. She
heard him and reached out q hand
through the darkness to clasp his.
Mother, 1 have decided-I'll stay
and help you, he said, bending to kiss
her withered cheek. To his surprise it
was wet with tears. "What, you're cry
ing-you haven't been awake all these
hours?"
II couldn't sleer, Joe, but 1 will
now. Thank You, my boy. You'll never
be sorry. Good night, Joe. -
Good night, mother" he said ten
derby, and then, tired out, he sought his
bunk and fell soundly asleep
An hour or two afterward he found
himself sitting up in bed, tearing the
clothing from his throat and gasping for
breath. In moment he discovered that
the cabin was full Of a dense smoke.
HuITying on some garments, he dashed
out and saw that the whole after part
of the boat was in flames, past all chance
of saving The lantern had exploded,
and the ignited oil had scattered far and
wide He loudly called Jenny and the
men, and taking his mother in his
strong young arms carried her On shore.
Then he went back for a quantity Of
bedding, folded it capefully round her
and put her gently down on the ground,
her head against tree. Jenny sprang
ashore. Joe helped the two men to re-
lease the mules, quivering with terror,
and i'll few minutes men and mules
were safely off the boat. Then Joe,
though it was Drawing death to do it,
rushed back through the binding, sting
ing smoke into his mothers cabin and
h-,e,-esl.+ esstr+l4a old lae.--.,,y,-r1t-...>
the little chest full Of relies. He car
ried them to where she sat motionless
against the tree.
Here they are, mother - all the
things you care forl' he cried
''All but the boat itself, Joe-nobody
kin save that, kin they?' She looked
at him with helpless appeal.
Nobody, mother" he said sadly.
Indeed the poar craft was already from
stem to stern one sheet of fame. The
Wandering Willie would never wander
more. "But we can build another. %
She shook her head and made no an
swer Anything like the tragic despair
of her set face Joe had never seen.
"'Tain't asked Of you to stay, Joe.
But you'd madesnp your mind to any
how. You was willin. I'm glad O. that "
So was Joe; SO would he always be.
"The insurance, Joe-it's all right
It's all yours, she said quietly.
A strange fear crept over him. He
knelt by her and rested her head on his
shoulder and covered her closer from
the chill night air with loverlike ten
derness. The fields stretched wide and
black around them-the solemn stars
shone dimly above.
"Willit Jest bttrn to the waters edge,
Joe, or Wilt sinaa''
II don't know, mother, ''said Joe hus-
kily. The.tea1s were running down his
checks, but her eyes were quite dry.
81 jest couldn't bear-to see it sink
clean out o. stght-furever-Joe!'' she
whispered.
A slight shiver ran over her Her
head lay little heavier on Joe's shout
der. He looked into her face and saw
that he was motherless. Julia Ditto
Young in Romance.
Miss Pharcs Appointed.
II, tha hi rucaut1U rasSed nv tha Leg