The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-06-01

And Norah never demurred. 1t was
the simple truth.
Eric was now six years old, tall, thin,
delicate, with his fathers handsome
features aud black hair.
Z" hope to goodness Digby won't be-
gin to poster u.s." cried Major Armi-
| stead one evening. He was an old
Norah looked up quickly.
at isn't seven years"
"They don't serve their full time if
they behave themselves. In prison
Digby would behave himself"
HE will not trouble us, father"
81 don't know. Scamp enough for
anything. He may thin you will take
him back"
81 shall never do that" she replied.
" After what passed between US ne
knows ] shall not"
81 hope not, Norah. ] hope not, for
Eric's sake. Is that Eric coughing ?"
he asked presently.
After listening attentively fora few
moments Norah laid aside her work
and ran upstairs, where he still slept
beside her W bed. The child wax
feverish. Next day a doctor was called
in, and now began a period OF intense
anxiety, till one night the end seemed
imminent.
Major Armistead did not undress at
regular intervals he looked into the
room, and Norah shook her head de-
s~pondently. When the morning sun
broke through the clouds at ten
O'clock, all the blinds in the little house
were drawn down, aud the light had
gone out of Norah's life.
A few days later she stood with her
father-white-haired and bowed now
beside the open grave. The gray
| nln,1S hnnr lnu nn1 fha rntnha, ,yinl
blew chilly across the cemetery.
Henceforth she spent MANY hours
there, always alone, since the dis
tance was too great for Major Armi-
stead to walk. She always pictured
Eric's grave as a kind Of bed, and him
self asleep, as she often used to watch
him.
should like to put up a handsome
tomb" said the old u 1T isn't
much, but it's all [ can do for the little
chap. | feel must do something"
1T we could make some other
children happy" Norah suggested.
That is what should like to endOw
a cot in u children's hospital"
Major Armistead entered into the
scheme with immense enthusiasm.
"Of course" he said presently,
"you must remember that you won't
have much to live on when | am gone,
dear"
THAT does not matter" she an
swered. Nothing OF that kind mat
ters now. Nothing matters in an
empty world. There is nothing left TO
live for"
- will write to Ormond street and
inquire how much it would cost" said
Major Armistead. We will call it
Eric's cot"
T,yp 3,ys Lotto, r,;,r 10 ,ho oo-o
terry in the afternoon. Norah came t. a
sudden staudstill q few yards from the
grave; then hiding herself behind
some headstones, watched the shabby
looking man who stood bare-headed at
it's foot. In spite of his black beard
and moustache, in spite of his white,
haggard, dissipated face, she ~recogniz.
ed him on the instant.
After standing there q few minutes
he covered his face with his hands. and
presently, stopping, broke off one OF
the faded flowers from the solitary
cross Norah had placed there.
Having stayed until he went away,
. she also left the cemetery, but on
reaching home said nothing to her
father. All the rest of the afternoon
she busted herself in various ways, her
father glancing at her from time tC
time, wondering what transformed and
lllumlneu ner race.
Despite her troubles, she was q
beautiful woman. Her figure had
developed, and albeit sad and grave
!, her face had retained all its former
charm. Tonight it eemed to Major
. Armistead like the face of au angel.
At eight o'clock the postman brought
a letter, but when he would have
broken the seal, she came 4 his chair
resting a hand on his arm.
From the hospital, Norah."
Father" she said,, I'll have
thought OF another way"
t We'll, let us see"
IT saw Digby this morning." she
faltered.
"Ah, [ knew the scoundrel wouldn't
leave US alone !" cried Major Armi.
stead.
He did not see me. He was stand.
ing by the grave. Before he went
away he stopped and--and broke off a
piece of stephanotis. He is in very
low water"
He deserves to be !"
Yes, he deserves to be. But IL
am afraid he is by way of sinking
; lower. He looks utterly broken-de'
graded. He can have no hope in life
nothing to help him upward-n
Pshaw ~ cried Major Armistead
"A man like Digby is bound to sink.
Nothing can save hir :"
That is a terrible saying" she re.
turned. II think there is one thing
that might, only one--a woman's love.'
"Norah " her father exclaimed.
y you're not going to play the fool
All nonsense! You know you don't
love the man"
IL don't know"
You never WEI t to sec him. You
never wrote. You haven't had u kind
word Tor him all these years. To tell
you the truth. I've wondered some
times. OF course, he deserves all he
got, only some women are such fools"
Was | too wise 2" she asked.
Since Eric's death feel differently
about many things. am not certain
about myself. L see what he has fallen
to, but he is still Il young man-clever
on, might there not be some chance
for him if. But | doubt nv own
strength. | am not sure | can do it.
AS | watched him at the grave the
thought flashed npuD me. We talk of
a memorial for Eric Could ANYTHING
be better than to save Eric's father,
body and soul ?"
late !" WV
All, but is it's it ever? If there
we're not O germ of good In him, would
o have com to the grave: You
ont know that the cot at tho hospi.
al will actually save 81 child,s ,jfe. vot