Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-12-09
PERSEVERANCE'S PLUCK.
By EDITH SESSIONS TUPPER.

by the Author
her excited manner vanished, She stood
for q few moments gazing thoughtfully
upon the ground, then spoke again more
gently:
''NO, cannot leave mother alone.
She is too frail. She would worry and
mourn about me. Who knows? 1t might
kill her. Poor. dear, tired out mother,
my duty is to stay with you"
Perseverauce's better self had gotten
the victory. She went on, fulfilled her
task. and an hour later entered the
kitchen. her pail trimming over with
fat green pods.
"Waal. thought ye never was com.
in with them peas, remarked her Aunt
Cynthy. Eye do take yer time about
everything"
Perseverance was about to answer her
aunt hastily when she saw her mother
lift her face from her work with that
troubled. protesting expression that al
ways flashed upon it when Perseverance
and Cynthy had words So the girl bit
her lips and walked over to her mother,
bending to kiss the meek face
How do you feel today, mother?'
she gently asked.
mot SO we'll, DEAR" was the low re-
ply.
Between yer gruntin an the
girls airs it's mighty little help I get, "
snapped Cynthy as she turned the dough
nuts kissing in the hot lard.
Again an angry answer rose to Perse.
verance's lips, and again her mother's
imploring face repressed it. Persever-
ance went about her duties, performing
them in perfunctory fashion, and the
long. hot, drowsy summer afternoon
wore to q close.
That night in the quiet of their cham
Der the mother put her feeble arms
about her daughter and laid her wan
cheek on the brown head and said sadly
Il know all. daughter I know the
struggle through which you are pass
ing. My bird wants to try its wings
But, oh, darling, wait little. 1t will
not be long. And try and be patient
with poor Cynthy. Remember she is
your aunt. What would have become of
us when your father died if she had not
given US homer
But. mother, such a homer'
Yes, yes. dear. / know. l have
boped that some day you and could
have little home Of our own. But it
will never be- l am growing weaker
every day. My summons will come
soon. shall have home But, oh, NV
child, what will become of you? You
will go away, know-to the city-you
so innocent, SO ignorant of the world
But mother can trust you, dear. Nv
girl will keep her heart pure and her
hands clean A cough that racked
the slender frame interrupted the SEN
tence
Mother, don't talk that way. You
make me feel terribly. Surely you are
no worse. dear
Daughter, said the sick woman
earnestly, Il am living in the shadow
of the valley. At any hour may be
called to enter it. But the detachable
mountains are beyond, 1 am sure, and
from them shall look back if am per.
mitted to see where my little girl is"
One week later Perseverance heard
the clods fall upon the coffin of her
mother. Dry eyed and white faced, she
listened to the words, Il heard a voice
from heaven say, Write, Blessed are
the dead who die in the Lord, for they
cease from their labors. - And that
was all the consolation poor Persever-
ance could find, that her worn, weary
mother was at rest.
AS soon as possible after the funeral
Perseverance told her aunt OF her inten-
ton to set out for herself. Cynthy was
rather relieved than otherwise to have
her so. Her dead sister in law and her
child had been great burden to Mrs.
Pendieton, and she was not sorry to
have that responsibility slip from her
shoulders.
Perseverance lost no time in calling
at Farmer Deans fer the address of
Mrs. Nerplanck, New York woman who
had boarded there two summers since,
and who had taken a kindly interest in
her and had asked her if ever she came
to New YORK 20 look her up.
Twas an all fired queer name the
place she lived" said Mrs. Dean.
Nigh as can remember, twas some
thin like God Have Mercy street. /
hain't looked it up seuce she went away.
cause didn't s'pose I'd ever have no
use for it. Lemme see. Now, where did
put that drafted thing: Oh, now I re-
member. in the family Bible, of
eQQrse" and reaching down the Don.