Middletown transcript., 1900-06-16

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| vtreTy bruised. auG cara sti;i .:>s ::
= state cf Stuilor or unconscin!Snrss
and we do not know what the cGd vii
be- | was On my way just now to gr
| some needed articles from the doctor
house You must come back with me
The law has no hold on you."
Maybe the law hasn't any hold OF
him. but Michael Finnerty has. don
| just like the idea, mister man, of let
ting the boy go yet" replied the stub
born and unusually dutifuI officer.
Mr. Hardy began to appeal to The
mans love of his own children. 1t di,
not seem to move him in the least unit
! he mentioned the fact that II WI,
cruelty to keep the suffering girl a
home waiting for her fathers return
Finnerty finally loosened his hold OF
George and said slowly and painfully:
"And if | lose me job I'll be knowing
who was to blame for it. | always
told Michael Finnerty that he was tee
soft hearted to go 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 dfsap
pear through the storm and mutterine
to himself: 'I'm a soft hearted fool
l ought to "a been born female hos
pital nurse, l had"
During that walk home, after MI
Hardy had gone around by the doc
tors with George, not word was eX
changed The storm was increasing
The two walked along in silence, but
when George walked into the hall n
home he turned and saw look on his
fathers face that smote him to the
heart, for be was not yet hardened
soul.
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, but the mark
of it was stamped physically on his
face, and he knew that he would bear
1t to his grave.
Mrs. Hardy came running down
stairs as the two came in, and as
George turned and faced her she held
out her arms, crying:
''My boy! My boy! We have been
so anxious about you'll?
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 it 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 mcther. laid his cheek
against hers, and she folded Lcr arms
about him and cried q little and asked
no questions, and after a moments ST.
lence he stammered out a 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 go 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 disgraceful carouse and
throughout the day had been under the
influence Of liquor more CT less, dimly
conscious that great disaster had
happened down the road, but not
sober enough to realize its details or
its possible connection with those Of
his own home.
The sudden meeting with us father
had startled him out of the G-owsy in.
toxication he had fallen ito as the
day progressed. Now, as lie felt Ills
mothers arms around him ani realized
a little what the family Lad Eccn call
ed upon to endure, lie felt the shame
and disgrace of his own conduct.
Mr.. Hardy went up stairs and con-
suited with the doctor, who wondered
st his protracted absence. There was
no change in Clara yet. She lay in a
condition which could not be called a
trance nor sleep. She did not seem
to be in any great pain, but she was
unconscious of all outside conditions.
After q little talk with his mother
George came up and inquired after
Bess and VIII. They were both Sleep
Ing, and after the doctor had gone out
the father and mother and son sat
down together in the room where Clara
lay.
Mr.. Hardy did not say a word to
George about the incident Of the even
ing. The shame Of it was too great
yet. When men of Mr.. Hardy's self
contained, repressed, proud nature are
palned. 1t is with an intense inward
fire of passion that cannot bear to
break out into words.
George had sense enough to offer to |
relieve his parents Of the burden of |
during the night, and during |
the exchange of watchers along toward |
as Mrs. Hardy slipped into |
the room to relieve the boy, she found |
him kneeling down at a couch with |
his face buried in the cushions. She
raised her face in thanksgiving to God
and went softly out.
The morning dawned gray with snow
which still whirled In wreaths about
The sorrowing homes of Barton, but
Robert Hardy thought Of the merciful
covering it would make for the ghast-
y piles Of ruin down under the bridge
md along the banks of the river.
He said to himself: "This Is nv
'ourth day. How can / best spend it?
What shall ! doYl He kneeled and
prayed and rose somewhat refreshed.
The forenoon went rapidly by, and
before he knew it noon was near. The
ime had passed in watching Clara,
visiting with Bess and WIN and doing
ome necessary work for the company
n his little office down stairs. He did
lot feel like saying anything to George
ret.
James Caxton had been In, and the
lrst thing he had mentioned had been
lis own act in the meeting the night
efore. Mr.. Hardy thanked God for
!, and q PRAYER went ont .of his heart |