The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-05-03

TURN Win tue. his lS u case tOT tu'
law Of God. This belongs to q highe
court"
The officer hesitated: Mr.. Hardy step
ped nearer his son.
George" he said as II forgetting for
q moment that the officer was present
did you know that Clara and BesS
and Will were in the accident lasi
night?"
George turned pale and tremblingly
replied: mo. father. Were they hurt :
Was Bess"-
The boy seemed moved as bis father
had not yet seen him.
mo: they were not-that Is. Bess
was not hurt at all. But VIII was Sc
verely bruised. and Clara still lies In
state Of stupOr or uncOnsciousness
and we do not know what the end will
be. ! was on my way just now to get
some needed articles from the doctors
house. You must come back with me
The law has no hold on you"
Maybe the law hasn't any hold on
him, but Michael Finnerty has. don't
Just like the idea. mister man. of let
ting the boy 60 yet" replied the stub
born and unusually dutiful officer.
Mr.. Hardy began to appeal to the
mans love Of his own children. 1t did
not seem to move him In the least until
he mentioned the fact that 1t was
cruelty to keep the suffering girl at
home waiting for her fathers return.
Finnerty finally loosened his hold on
George and said slowly and painfully:
"And II lose me job I'll be knowing
who was to blame for 1t. always
told Michael Finnerty that he was too
soft hearted to 60 on the force!"
You won't suffer. officer. Many
thanks! Come. George"
And father and son moved Off to
gether. while the defender Of the law
stood irresolute, watching them dlsap.
pear through the storm and muttering
to himself: I'm soft hearted fool.
ought to "a been born female hos,
pital nurse, had"
During that walk home. after Mr..
Hardy had gone around by the doc
tors with George. not a word was ex.
changed. The storm was increasing.
The two walked along In silence. but
when George walked into the hall at
home he turned and saw look on his
fathers face that smote him to the
heart, for he was not yet a hardened
soul. -tt
Mr. Hardy had lived years In that
experience. No one could tell how his
heart had been tortured by what he
had endured that night. hut the mark
Of II was stamped physically on his
face. and he knew that he would bear
It to his grave.
Mrs. Hardy came running down
stairs as the two came in, and az
George turned and faced her she held
out her arms, crying:
my boy! My boy! We have been
10 anxious about your
What, not one word of reproach, OF
rebuke, Of question as to what he had
been doing all this time that the family
had been suffering! No; not one word.
All. mother love! 1t is the most won.
derful thing ON earth, next to the love
Of God for the sinner. 1t Is even that,
for 1t is the love Of God expressing It,
self through the mother, who Is the
temple of the loving God.
George dashed away tear and then.
going up to his mother. laid his cheek
against hers, and she folded her arms
about him and cried n little and asked
no questions, and after q moments ST.
lence he stammered out few words
of sorrow at having caused her pain,
and she joyfully accepted his broken
explanation Of how he had not known
Of the accident to Clara and the others.
1t was true he had gone out the even
ing before. fully intending to 60 down
to the scene Of the accident; but, com.
ing across some Of his old companions,
he had gone off with them and spent
the night In a disgraceful carouse and
throughout the day had been under the
influence of liquor more or less, dimly
conscious that O great disaster had
happened down the road. but moi
sober enough to realize its details OF
its possible connection with those OF
bis own home.
The sudden meeting with his father
had startled him out Of the drowsy in
toxication he had fallen into as the
day progressed. Now, as he felt bis
mothers arms around him and realized
q little what the family had been call
ed upon to endure. he felt the shame
and disgrace Of his own conduct.
Mr.. Hardy went up stairs and con
suited with the doctor, who wondered
at bis protracted absence. There was
no change in Clara yet. She lay in 9
condition which could not be called 9
trance nor sleep. She did not seen
to be In any great pain, but she wa:
unconscious of all outside conditions.
After q little talk with his mother
George came up and inquired aftel
Bess and VIII. They were both sleep
Ing, and after the doctor had gone ou
the father and mother and son sa
down together In the room where Glars
lay.
Mr.. Hardy did not say a word t
~ a. - A.