The Delawarean. [volume] (Dover, Del.) 1859-1927, 1900-04-14
Robert Hardy's
Seven Days.
C0ntinued trom lSi.eth Paqe

Continued from Si.tth Page
------------.-5----4
Hardy haa gone around Dy tue uoc
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 a look on his
fathers face that smote him to the
heart, for he was not vet 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 1t was stamped physically on his
face, and he knew that lie 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.
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! MOI not one word.
All, mother love. 1t is the most won
derful thing on earth, next to the love
of God for the sinner. IT. 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 mother. laid his cheek
I've L.
about him and cried 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 joyfu!ly 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 20 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 ana
throughout the day had been under the
influence of liquor more or less. dimly
conscious that q 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 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 yet She lay in 4
condition which could not be called a
trance nor a sleep. She did mol seem
to be In any great pain, but She was
unconscious Of an outside conditions.
After d little talk with his mother
George came Up ana inquired after
Bess ana Will They We're 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 word to
George about the incident of the even.
ing. The shame of ii was>too great
vet. When men Of Mr. Hardys self
contained, repressed, proud nature are
panied, it is with an intense inward
fire Of passion Chat cannot bear to
break out into words.
George had sense enough 10 offer to
relieve Ills parents o. HE burden Of
watching during Tho night, ana during
the EXCHANGE uf Watchers along toward
morning, rs Mrs Hardy slipped into
the room y relieve lie boy, she found
him kneeling down 1T a couch with
his face buried lib the cushions size
raised her Face ID Thanksgiving I'd Goa
and went safslT out
The morning 9a&ncd cray WITH snow
which still wbirlad h wraa;hs about
the sorroWlng homes VI Barton. but
Robert Hardy Thought 81 the ulorcful
covering il would make tor thc gaast-
ly piles of ruin down undcr the bridge
and along tile banks OF the river.
lie said to himself, This is my
fourth day How can best spend f.?
What shall / de- HE kneeled and
prayed and rose somewhat refreshed.
The forenoon went rapidly BY aud
before he know il noon was near. The
time had passed in watching Clara,
visiting with Bess and win aud doing
some necessary work for the company
in his little Office down stairs He did
not feel like saying anything to George
yet
James Cayton had been in. ana the
first thing lie had mentioned had been
his own act in tic meeting the night
6sa@ySngI