The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-11-17

had selZed the opportunity to draw
Helen to one side. They were talking
earnestly as they entered
"It seems providential that Wills
first station should bring his mother
back to the old home. Here and now at
least she should be safe from all shock,
especially with your care to guard her,
Mrs Daunton. She said to me only
yesterday: Helen came to me only q
little over q year ago, but think have
needed her for years She is dear to me,
almost as my own daughter.
"God bless her for those words, 4" said
Helen, deeply moved. II came to her
as dependent. but she has taught me
a new definition of motherhood.
motherhood has it's sorrowful mean
ing for Mrs. Farrar," said Leale grave
ly, his handsome dark eyes fixed upon
her face. elias she never spoken to you
about Royle, her eldest SOM"
She has sometimes mentioned him, "
said Helen, with great constraint. "But
she can hardly bear to speak Of him,
and know the bitter sorrow he brought
to every one who loved him, but, she
added quickly, as though eager to
change the subject, ''how cozy and
warm and Christmasy it looks and
smells! Ishall have another new defini-
tion-what Christmas means. We learn
many definitions, do we not, as life goes
on, and sometimes fate is good to us and
lets us learn the happiest last"
And you have learned sad one of
Christmas?"
II? A very sad one. My own baby
died in my arms ON Christmas eve.'
| la a.
sweet face, deep emotion in his own,
but at the moment Ellis entered, follow
ed closely by Ormsby. She bowed In
evident constraint at sight of the couple
already there and looked as though she
would gladly have turned about again.
After her came Will and Kitty and
other young people Of the post, all eager
and intent on inspecting tho prepara-
tions being made, all full. of compli-
ments to Rorke for the success attending
his labors, all full Of admiration Of the
portrait, which they grouped about and
admired, while Ellis hung her fathers
saber underneath. And then once again
the whole party, chatting merrily, went
drifting out into the crisp air and glo-
rious sunshine, leaving, glowering after
them from the doorway Of the little
room that opened Off the main hall, the
i'll favored, i'll liked soldier Graice.
Two minutes later, and no one could
explain how it started or what was it's
exciting cause, with hardly q spoken
word or premonitory symptom, two men
were clinched in furious struggle-o
heavy, burly, powerful and gifted with
almost demoniao strength, had hurled
the other down. That other, 1.-the,
sinewy, pantherlike in every motion,
writhed from underneath his huge an
tagonist and had sprung to his feet,
while tho first, more slowly, hcaved
himself upward, and then, like mad
dened bull, dashed at his foe.
Springing lightly to one side, Crow
Knife, for it was he, whipped from its
sheath a glittering blade and poised it
high in air, and Graice, even in his
blind fury, saw and hesitated. There
was rush of the workmep to the spot,
but Captain Leale was first Of all. Clear
and cold and stern his voice was heard
drop that knife! Drop that knife, I
say!' and slowly, reluctantly, though
his eyes were blazing with hate and
rage, the Indian turned toward the man
he had learned to trust, to honor and to
obey, and the knife fell Gathering to
the floor Graice made lunge as
though to grab it, and Rorke's ready
foot tripped and felled him. Then,
with both hands, the Irishman grabbed
him by the collar and dragged him,
dazed and scowling, to his feet.
'There are ladies coming, sir" was
the warning Of one of the men.
"Take that man out and cool him
off, F" said Leale, still calmly, to the COR
poral. "I'll hear the story later. Quiet
now, one and all, :" he added, as the
group dispersed. cit is Mrs. Farrar. -
They met at the very doorway, tho
fair, radiant woman, closely followed
by her daughter, the dazed, hulking
soldier, led or rather driven forth by
Corporal Rorke, and instantly change,
swift and fearsoms, shot across the
sweet, pathetic face One glance was
all, and then, pale as death, she totter-
ed feebly forward. Ellis sprang to her
side in sudden alarm. Mother, dear
est, what is wrong? How you tremble!"
For moment she could not speak
ut is folly; it is weakness!" she falter-
ed. "But that face-that dreadful facel
The look in those eyes-thc awful gilt
ter that only liquor klndlcs have not
seen that look since-oh, whenever 1
see it say. God pity, pity his mother.
And then Helen Daunton came has
tily in and helped to lead the agitated
woman to q seat, and there she knelt be-
side her and soothed and comforted and
cooed to her as women Groom over a tired
child, and Leale lowered helpfully
about, grave, strong and gentle, and it
was on his arm she leaned, with Helen
ut her side, when finally she stood to
look at her husbands portrait. And lit
tie by little she grew calm and the fiut-
tering at her heart ceased to distress
her, and Ellis, turning reluctantly away
at tho bidding Of her garrison friends,
left her mother to the ministrations of
the woman whom with every hour,
moro and more, she learned to look up
on as a rival, and thon, saying that he
would call for them in q few minutes
- ,.,,n .,,n@J J5a