The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-06-05
NUMBER 45.

home he turned and saw a look on his
fathers face that smote him to the
heart, for he was not yet a 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
or 1t was stamped physically on his
face and he knew that he would beslt
It to his grave
Mrs. Hardy came running down
stairs as the two came In, ana as
George turned and faced her she heId
out her arms, crying:
"My boy! My boy! We have been
so 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 it is the love of God expressing it.
self through the mother, who is the
temple Of the loving God
George dashed away q tear and then,
going up to his mother, laid his cheek
against hers, and she folded her arms
about him and cried a little and asked
no questions, and after q 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 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 great disaster had
happened down the road, but not
sober enough to reaiize its details or
It's possible connection with those Of
his 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 his
mothers arms around him and realized
a 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 his protracted absence. There was
no change In Clara vet. She lay In q
condition which could not be called q
trance nor a sleep. She did not seem
to be in any great pain, but she was
unconscious of all outside conditions.
After a little talk with his mother
George came up and inquired after
Bess and Win. 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 Q 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
panied, 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
watching during the night, and during
the exchange of watchers along toward
morning, 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-
ly piles of ruin down under the bridge
and along the banks Of the river.
He said to himself: This b my
} fourth day. How can l best spend IT :
! What shall | DOR He kneeled and
prayed and rose somewhat refreshed.
The forenoon went rapidly BY, and
!. before he knew 1t noon was near. The
: time had passed in watching Clara,
visiting with Bess and VIII and doing
some necessary work for the company
in his little office down stairs. He did
not feel like saying anything to George
yet.
! James Caxton had been In, and the
. first thing he had mentioned had been
his own act In the meeting the night