The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1899-08-10

tor more than a year, and most OF That
time l was like a woman in a dream.
I was told that for months 1 didn't
know a soul about me, and it was never
expected I should rise from my bed.
But the Lord was good to me, and l got
well slowly-oh, so slowly, Amos! For
q long time l could not remember what
had taken place, but little by little it
came back to me. Then / was told that
when l Was taken to the hospital they
did not know who I was, and that there
was nothing in my pocket by which
they could have found out my name.
They suspected, they said, that I had
sailors for my relations, for I talked a
great deal about the sea; but that was
all they could discover. No one came
to see me all the time l was in the hos
pital, and when 1 was strong enough
they let me go home. When l got back
to the cottage l found a neighbor living
in it, who thought that 1 was dead, as
I 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 hat I was risen from
the grave, as it might be, and those who
were hardest upon me before made it
up to me in kindness. Then I heard
that l 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 I tell it?"
Tell it," 1 said, steeling my voice.
Don't blame me, Amos, and bear it
like a brave man, for my sake, dear. l
asked after Mabel, and the first thing !
heard was that she had a baby. 60
and bring her, 1 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 n another,
and gradually the story came out.
Shortly after the news of the loss of the
Bile Jacket with all hands reached the
ne~ighboshood, Mabel and her mother
went away"
where to? Where is my wife and
child?"
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?" ]
asked family, when 1 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.''
"Ycu have already told ne so. Her
mother and my child were with her. My
child!" l stretched forth my arms in an
agony of disappointment.
Some n else was with her, my
SON.
"Who?"
MI. bruce, your enemy"
The words might have conveyed a
doubtful meaning to my senses, but the
tone in which they were uttered al
S"SA Az Twin " u "J
believed Mabel to be false to me
/ shook her from me roughly, and
stood upon the threshold of the room
The snow hoated in, but l did not heed
it. l heard my mothers step behind me
Stop where you are" l cried, fierce.
ly. Don't approach close to me, mol
look into my face! You have hardened
my heart toward you. 1t is for me tt
speak now, and for you to listen. You
believe that my wife is unfaithful tt
me. You, my mother, have said so t.
me-to my face. 1t is a lie! Do yol
hear me? 1t is a lie!"
Ny vehemence shook her to the soul
You made me speak," she faltered
"as though l were IN my d~eath-bed.
have obeyed you, my son-I hav,
Obeyed you. Oh, Amos, my heart i
breaking!'
"And mine is filled with Joy and hap
uiness at what you have told me-"
retorted. "a loving mother you hay
proved yourself to me on this bite
Christmas night!
"Amos, Amos!" she cried. in a,
agony of grief. at is not my fault.
know what you must suffer. 1 woul
not dare to tell you what the neighbor
said of her"