The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1897-04-16

sweep round the curve Of the line. I
wanted badly TO run away, but
couldn't OF course. there are seldom
many passengers for Glemsiord this
time there was but one. caught
glimpse OF his face az the window OF
q carriage where he sat alone. and my
heart seemed to stop beating. A mo.
ment later he stood before me. II was
Harberton. He was exactly as ! re-
memhered him. There was nothing in
his appearance or manper to account
for the dread In me We exchanged
greetings. but no word passed between
US. We trayersed the leafy lanes as
in a dream but they and myself were
yislonary-he alone was real. And all |
the time the memory Of the telegram |
| had omitted TO send kept recurring |
to my half-paralyzed brain.
Il knew II could not be Harberton,
yet felt convinced II was none other.
Dull wonder whether or not mother
would see as | did ran through my
mind; but | was in reality too stupe.
fed to be capable OF anything like con.
secutiye thought.
"The path we trod lay through the
orchard into the rose garden. wherein
the low windows OF my mothers sum
mer parlor opened. As we entered the
garden she saw us-saw hlm!-and
, waved her thin hand In welcome. And
. Harberton. or what l took to be Har-
b berton. who tlll then had done nothing
Z but make me dread his presence,
4 waved In return courteously, almost
D.. gayly.
a Il can tell you how that day passed.
| II seemed like long drawn out night
q mare. kept saying 10 myself: I am
d asleep. ! shall awake soon Harber-
a ton sat In my mothers COOL darkened
room. talking OF me. as | gathered
IA while pacing restlessly within and
Is without. or smoking in a chair outside
a. the window She seemed 10 speak an1'
o. iously about my future suppose. like
Al most only sons reared by mothers.
II had been rather wild-and be appeared
y. 20 rcasuro her. She was quite soothed
m and happy In his company. / moved
IN about. would go 20 the stables tc
el speak 20 the men or wander aimlcssy
about. but there was ever that awful
- sense Of an being an Illusion. / fan
,r cled / must be- mad. and feared "a,
a sound OF my own voice.
ne 1T was a perfect day. stlll and balml
M the air being heavy with the fra
a. GRANGE Of the roses-hut TO me
an seemed endless. Sull Il came to
nd close at last. In the cleaning Harder
10. ton babe mother farewell. She blesse
we him as they parted. standin
civ dumbly by. and be holding her han
ing said. gently. with his old, soft draw
rvs i shall return soon
ing "Harberton left as be came. throue
the byways carpeted with moss. az
red ovcrhung with briar roses. stlll hol
a ing no speech with me. who follow'
n I dog like. Midway down the lane q
llfe evening haze caught radiance from
Inn shaft OF the sunset. and into the Clio
/, OF Il he passed alone. For a moment
20 dared not enter. When | ala he "
lme gone
mite well. In a short time ! was able
laugh at the occurrence as absui
Their Mother seemed to feel happy In sol
!, ,o sort Of delusion. didn't care to I'll
mn. Guile. She never asked me TO send
her Harberton again. She always sal
busv when II Is time he will come
ould "she got more fragile daily. c
night she looked so ethereal that. 70
-, ing to leave her. | sent the nurse
bed. and stald In her room. All y
hushod. and / must have dozed on
be- reused by mothers voice. say
gladly: "Oh. you have come
fNH me. That Is 20 good Of YOU
I THE light OF the harvest moon nl
N the room. eclipsing the feeble 81
Of the night light
.i Mother had raised herself 10 a
ting position and was looking up q
| erly. ioymlly. her thin hands cxtenJ
Bending over her. ! saw distinctly
NIT figure Of Ilarberton. Starting forw.
y I rushed towards her, but betor
4 could reach her side she had sunk b
inert Harberton had vanished
the moonlight revealed only her q
face lying peacefully smiling on
pillows.
That's lot OF years ago now,
hlns'' I've never been able 10 reduce Il
IT common-sensc. Can you. OLD chap.
sa'u Black and White.