The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-06-11

little lad so utterly wearied that he
gave his message with Spartan calm
ness. "Gramma's Grounded in the
WELL"
Half an hour later Merwin was seated
by his father in the buggy retracing his
afternoons journey. His explanations
had been vague and unsatisfactory but
their melancholy burden, -Gramma is
needed For ounce Harry Higgins acted
with energy.
who absolutely refused TO be left behind.
was fed and wrapped for the night drive
and he had started for home almost as
quickly as another man.
But the horse was not TO be hurried out
OF his usual habits. and the nine-mile
drive gave time for a novel experience
For perhaps the first time in his reniem-
brance Henry Higgins felt keen emotion
He had been lowed laZily along the mar
row canal of life. through boyhood.
through youth. through eourtship.
through marriage His wife was not a
woman To arouse passionate affection
His deepest love had been his mothers:
hers had been the hand upon the helm.
and now he knew il: knew II as he faced
the long stretch of years without her
care and her counsel: knew IL as he &C
knowledged that this awful thing was his
own fault.
Il meant 10 have fixed that curb
ought to have done it," said itself over in
his mind. and in steady accompaniment
fioated from the far wood. "My-poor
-poor-wil." The frog concert still
droned suggestively in the marsh.
The moon came up and stared straight
i'm their faces with that uncanny look she
wears when her horns point toward the
west and familiar objects began 10 ap-
pear. wearing unfamiliar nighttime
forms. MOmently Henry began To look for
the messenger. who should be on the way.
or perhaps they knew that Merwin had
gone TO tell him. sun unmet. they drove
into the home yard and around to the
back door.
The house was dark except for light
in the kitchen. which sent Sianting rays
through the lilac bush by the window
and over toward the dark mouth OF the
well. at which they glanced Shudderingly-
Neither moved; to get out. go TO the door
and ask the dreaded question seemed i'm
possible. Suddenly the horse raised his
head. looked toward the barn and whin-
MED. At the sound the kitchen door flew
open. revealing the homely. familiar in
terror and on the threshold. SilhOuetted
against It's dim brightness, 5000 Gran1mL
higgins. She peered out into the dark
ness anXiOuSlN. That you. MerWlnY she
asked. Henry Higgins moved then, out
of the buggy and up TO her side at two
steps. What you been up TO. mother,
givin us such a scare as this;
why. nothir', Henry. nOthin', | shld
think twas a scare. I jus Went up to the
cherry tree to look for the children and
stopped on the way TO cut some pie-Piant.
and when ! got back the whole neighbour
hood WAS here with ropes an tacklinSS,
cleaning out the well. was awful
ashamed To make such Il fuss. / didn't
know an oil woman like me was so much
account.
Mervin had followed his father and was
gazing at his grandmother with the awed
expression of one who sees Il visitor from
another world. Henry turned toward him.
You young rascal he said but there he
stopped: his heart was too light at tho
sudden lifting of the last hours burden
10 let him scOld. He turned back to his
mother and did something he had not
done in twenty years, he stopped and
kissed her
She Redeemed with confusion like girl.
There, therel go an put out the horse
and I'll cut you piece o pie and make u
cup o tea, you'll need somethin' to eat
before YOU go to bed
on his return to the house Henry
stopDed beside the we'll and looked down
into it, IN build curb to this well to-
morrow" he said aloud. " Mess, he
added heSitatingly. Il have to go back 10
Pettipaug TO tell LOiZy and the rest
Twelve months slipped by. and Mrs
Peckham and Miss Dayton were driving
home through the summer twilight after
making a few calls.
AS they passed the Higgins place Mrs.
Peckham leaned around the carriage top
and looked into the yard DO see,
Miss Dayton" she exclaimed That baby
of Henrys big enough to walk II 5 got
out door an 5 travelling straight for that
we'll An l declare, they amt got no curb
to il vet.