Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1895-01-31

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him slightly stirred He thought It
was the Donne, and would not turn he
did not wish her to see his dimmed
eyes. 1t was more than o minute be-
fore he looked up and saw, standing
quietly on the other side OF the oilin,
the orphaned girl, the girl whom he
adored like lover, and yet seemed to
cherish already with the p otecting
tenderness OF husband who has been
married many years.
Perfectly pallid, dead-white almost,
from the contrast between her black
dress and fair hair, Silence stood and
looked at him; merely looking, not
holding out her hand both her hands
we're resting on the coffin, She spoke
In q whisper.
"You are come to see her once again?
That is kind. She always liked you.
Is she not beautiful? But she Is gone,
you see! She has gone away and left
me all alone
One sob just one, no more. Nothing
in his life had ever touched Roderick
like the strong self-command by which
this frail girl in her utmost agony con-
trolled its express on, and, recollecting
herself, summoned all her courage,
dignity-the sacred dignity Of sorrow,
which asks no help, no consolation,
"You must forgive me- my grief is
new. Are these your flowers? Thank
J on; they are very sweet
And taking them from him, she be-
gan arranging them in the folds of the
shroud, gently and carefully as If she
were dressing baby, then drew the
kerchief once more over the dead face.
NOW you must go away"
II will, he answered. first words
he had uttered, "Only, just once y
Tenderly removing the face-cloth
again, Roderick stopped and pressed
his lips upon the marble brow Of this
dead mother, only making q solemn
vow-would that all men made the
same, and kept it, to other dead and
living mothers! Something of its pur-
port must have been betrayed in his
look, for when his eyes met those of
the girl opposite she slightly started,
and faint smile sulfuse1 her cheek.
Fading, it left her deadly pale; she
rather than walked, though
alone, refusing all help, into the next
room.
There she sat down, Roderick stand
ing beside her, The door was open
between, he could see the foot of the
coffin and Its white dra cry. Though
now, for the first time, he was alone
with his chosen love, knowing well,
and having an instinct that she must
know, too, that she was his love, and
ever would be, there was so great an
awe upon him that he could not speak
one word not even of the commonest
consolation or sympathy. And, though
he could have fallen on his knees be-
fore her and kissed her very feet, he
dared not touch even the tips OF her
poor little pallid fingers, so strangely
idle, their occupation gone.
what am to do without my moth
err" Silence said at last, with piteous
appeal not TO him or to nybody, except
perhaps that One to whom alone the
orphan can always ago.
Roderick could bear it no longer;
his manhood wholly deserted him, He
turned away his head and wept. The
two sat there, ever so long, sobbing
like children; and like children--how
it came about he h'rdly knew-hold-
ing one another hands. That was all!
No more, indeed, was possible, but it
seemed to comfort her. Very soon she
rose from her chair, quite herself-her
quiet, & ave self, robed in all the dig
nifty of sorrow"
"Thank you; you have been very
kind in coming to-day and in wishing
to come this afternoon, as hope you
will"
Roderick had forgotten all about
the telegram and his mother avery
thing in the world except Silence Jar
dine.
He drew the paper out of his pocket
and laid it before her Read this. |
got it half an hour ago. Say, what
must | do?"
Silence read, slowly, and putting her
hand once or twice over her forehead,
as if trying hard to understand things,
then looked up at him with omLas-
sionate eyes.
"Your mother ill? am so sorry for
you. " Then, after minutes pause;
" You will go--and at once?"
"Yes, at once.
Both spoke in whispers still, as if
conscious of some sacred presence close
beside them, He was, at least, feeling
this as If soft dead hand were laid
on his wildly beating heart, and sealing
his pa sionate lips, else he could not
possibly have controlled himself as he
did.
81 feel 1 ought to 60 But my
mother may be better soon. She is
very seldom ailing. AS s on as ever 1
can, shall come back again to Neu-
chatel to you. You believe that"
"l es" One little word, uttered soft
ly, with bent head and, after an in
slant, repeated, "Yes."
Roderick felt his brain almost whirl-
ing with the strong Constraint he put
upon himself.
zone thing more you shall decide, +"
he said. "The train starts this after
noon at the very hour 1 ought to be-
you know where. Shall | delay my
iou ney--just for one day?"
Not for an hour" Silence answered,
almost p Assionately. Remember, you
never can have but one mother. Go
to her at once"
And so he went, without another
word, scarcely another look, he dared
not trust him self to either.
The two or three minutes he stayed
were occupi in explaining to Sophie
Reynier about the telegram, his moth
er's illness, his compe led journey, and
h 10 N pntt no