The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-05-16

The boy seemed moved as hlJ father
| had not yet seen him.
| mo: they were not--that Il RpsS
was not hurt ct all But VIII was SO.
verely bruised. and Clara stiil lies IN
Il 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 bnck with me.
The law has no hold on you.'i
Maybe the law hasn't AMY hold on
him, but Michael Flnnerty hns. don't
Just like the idea mister nban, OF let
| ting the boy go yet" replle5 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.
Fnncrty finally loosened his hold on
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 too
soft hearted TO so on the forcew
"fou won't suffer, officer. Many
thanks. Come, George"
And father and son moved Off to.
gcthcr, while the defender of the law
| stood irresolute, watching them disap-
pear through the storm and mutterjng
to himself: Pm Il soft hearted fool.
l ought TO n been bdrn female hos
pitnl nurse. had"
During that walk Hlome. after Mr..
HaTdN mad gone ar8nd b. the doc
'oT WIN George. M n word was ex-
changed Inc Stor was increasing.
Inc TWO Waikcd Alf&t in silence, but
"hch George walk l'nto the hall at
home he turned ano w II look on his
1a'herS lace that Ate him to the
heart, for he was ~ IN n hardened
soul
Mr.. Hardy had gears In that
experience. NO o. l tell how his
heart had been by what no
had endured thai - hut tho mari,
OF II WAS S,aml Iscally on his
| face, and he kncI n he would bpor =
It to his grave.
MIS- fiardE .jsj running down
stairs as the anne in. and as
George turned .rd her she held
| out her arms
MY boy. We have been
30 anxious abUj -
what, not of Pd Il of rcpronch, of
reDuNc, or Qut Vas 10 what he had
Dceh uolhS al t.;8{ me that the family
hau neon sun 2<5$4 No; not one word.
Ah. mother is the most won
dcrINl lhng ~ Oh. next to the love
j.
OF 'ou Tor f&j jnrr. 1t Is even that,
FOR ii Is The ,f God expressing it.
Scli lhr"UE mother, who Is the
temple of u '';57 Ing God.
george Ga iEszt ja way Il tear and then,
going up tI mother, laid his cheek
against hej III she folded her arms
about hIle s Tica q littlc auh rskeh
no QucStl0E nj after n moments ST.
lence lie j jhcrcd out n few words
or sorrow ,aving caused her pain
ana she lly accepted his broken
eXplanat how he had lot known
or the ac t TO Clara and the others
1t was E1tA3 3he had gone out the even
ing DefofE billy intending TO go down
TO the sexa of the accident; but, com
ing across sbmc Of his old companions
he had gont off with them and spent
the night lR n disgraccful carousc and
throughout the day had been under the
lnfucnce off liquor moro or less, dimly
consci bus that great disaster had
happehed ; down the road, but moi
sober enough to realize its details oil
| Its pPssll lie connection with those OF
his oEn home
lhG sudden meeting with his father
| had Startled him out of the drowsy in
| toxifatidn he had fallen into as The
day progressed. Now, us he 4elt his
other'S arms around him and realized
II title what the family had been call
| cd gnpon to endure, he felt the shame
and disgrace of his own conducd.
lGr. Hardy went up stairs and con
| suited with the doctor, who wondered
Mt his protracted absence. There was
| nY change in Clara yet. She lay in 8
condition which could not be called {
trance nor a sleep. She did not seen
ttk be In any great pain, but she was
Unconscious OF all outside conditions.
After n little talk with his mother
| 'Eeorge came up and inquired aftel
| Y6ess and VIII. They were both sleep
Ing, and after the doctor had gone ou
Nhc father and mother and son sa
Hdown together in the room where Glars
Hlay.
W Mr. Hardy did not say word t.
III George about the incident OF the even
ing The shame of it was too grea
b yet When men Of Mr.. unrdy's sci
contained, reprcssed, proud nature ar
panied, II Is with an intense inwart
Nss OF passion that cannot bear t,
ak out into words.
N sc had sense enough to offer t,
Frelle@ his parents of the burden o
watHl ing during the night, and during
theA exchange OF watchers along towart
mo- ming, as Mrs. Hardy slipped int
lh2 room to relieve the boy, she fount
hlWl kueelinS down at couch witt
NJ face buried in the cushions. Sh
n sed her face in thanksgiving to Go,
id went softly out.
8The morning dawned gray with snoy
Which still whirled in wreaths abou
ghe Borrowing homes Of Barton, bu
ARobert Hardy thought Of the mercifu
Hcovering It would make for the ghast
n ly pilHs OF ruin down under the bridg
ana along the banks of the river.
fle said to himself: "rhis Is m
fourth day. How can / best spend It
what shall | do" He kneelcd ali