The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1897-06-18


amos, my son, I was in the hospltal
for more than a year, and most Of that
time | was like woman in a Dream
| was told that for months didn't
know soul about me, and it was never
expected | should rise from my bed.
But the Lord was good to me, and l got
well slowly-oh, so slowly, Amos! For
"a long time could not remember what
had taken place. but little by little II
came back to me. Then was told that
when | was taken to the hospital they
did not know who was, and that there
was nothing in my pocket by which
they could have found out my name.
They suspected, they said, that l mad
sailors for my relations, for l talked
great deal about the sea; but that was
all they could discover. No one came
Ito see me all the time was in the hos
pital, and when | was strong enough
they let me go home. When got PACK
to the cottage found neighbor living
in it, who thought that was dead, as
believed you to be before tonight, my
dear son. The neighbors had heard
nothing of the accident, and they all
believed me to be dead; and they came
about me, now that l was risen from
the grave, as it might be, and those VINO
were hardest upon me before maze IL
up to me in kindness. Then | heard
that had lost my son-that the ship
he was in had foundered, and that not
a soul in her had been saved. l heard
more, my son-shall l tell it?"
Tell it," l said, steeling my voice.
Don't blame me, Amos, and bear 1t
like brave man, for my sake, dear. l
asked after Mabel, and the first thing 1
heard was that she had a baby. Go
and bring her. | said to the neighbors
who were about me-'go and bring her
and my sons child to me. Tell her am
living, and am yearning to embrace
them both They looked at one another,
and gradually the story came out.
Shortly after the news of the loss OF the
Blue Jacket with all hands reached the
,neighborhood, Mabel and her mother
went away"
tchild?"
"They left England altogether, for
Australia; and since then nothing has
been heard of them"
CONSERVATION at this startling news
struck ME dumb for a time, and my
mother was too frightened to break the
silence. This night, which in my eager
anticipation was to have been filled
with joy had brought desolation and
despair to my heart.
Have you anything more to say?" I
asked family, when could muster
strength to speak. l had to repeat the
question before my mother replied, and
then the words fell like drops of poison
from her lips.
amos, Mabel did not go alone"
you have already told me so. Her
mother and my child were with her. My
childr l stretched forth my arms in an
agony of disappointment.
Some one else was with her, my
SON"
"Who?"
Mr.. bruce. your enemy.
I shook her from me roughly, and
stood upon the threshold of the room.
The snow floated in, but did not heed
1t heard my mothers step behind me.
stop where you are!' l cried, fierce
ly. Don't approach close to me, nor
look into my tace You have hardened
my heart toward you. 1t is for me to
speak now, and for you to listen. You
believe that my wife is unfaithful to
me. You, my mother, have said so to
me-to my face. 1t is lie! Do you
hear me? 1t is lie!"
My vehemence shook her to the soul.
"You made me speak" she faltered,
"as though l were on my death-bed. /
have obeyed you, my son-I have
obeyed you. Oh, Amos, my heart is
breaking"
"And mine is filled with joy and hap
uiness at what you have told me-" /
retorted. "a loving mother you have
proved yourself to me on this bitter
Christmas night!
"Amos, Amosr she cried, in an
agony OF SrleI. II is uOL my IduII. 1
know what you must suffer. l would
not dare to tell you what the neighbors
said of her"
"You would not dare" 1 said, "for
I should not stop to hear. 1t needs no
telling; you yourself have made me ac-
Quainted with the ISLANDERS their false
tongues spoke respecting me. Well, you
knew them to be liars, but you were
willing enough to listen to them after
ward, when their tune was changed.
But what does it matter what lot of
gossiping, tittle-tattling women say
about a man? He is strong to bear it,
and can laugh at them for their pains.
And you! well. you could defend me in
my absence, but you could find no word
in defense of her who is dearer to me
than my life-than hundred lives, II 1
had them! You hater her from the mo-
ment spoke to you of my love for her.
Why did you do so? You threw doubts
then upon her goodness, as you have
thrown doubts this night upon her pur-
ity. II you had done what you should