The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1901-12-15

tafed I added impIor1ngIy, For the ot-oE-tHe
son | might have had like you"
Away he Sped and minute later | was heating cof-
fee and bandying jests. Did not Neds life depend
my tact?
him. | had him safely hidden in cave l knew OF on
Alcatraz, which then Government reserve, but
nobody lived there. My landlady was used to er-
ratio ways, for constantly hired her boat for
bles, able to across at night with mufAed
oars carrying the necessary provisions It is blessing
sometimes to be eccentric All went well till the night
fort and knew he must be nursed at all risks.
stopped to weigh consequences My landlady,
hand was as deaf as a post and took nv chances In
the still night the blinking down like hundred
eyes, half led half carried my semconscious darling
the boat rowed and contrved with the strength
of loves terror, to get him up my attic
Oh, the horror of that time when trembled for his
lfe and did dare to con6de in living soul For
tunately Ned was quiet patient and attracted
tice; / good nurse, too, and able to supply him
with convalcscent necessares when the crisis
passed But his mind gained strength his body lost,
and dawn, after restless sleep, he reused and
looked at me Mother" he said 81 don't think shall
be here long and you have been good to past words
before go should like you to hear my story.
And then he laid his dear head my shoulder and
told how he had loved and sinned for the h-ored Elr
he had known from childhood; how she had vowed
she would remain faithful to him, sharing his poverty
and loneliness and how she Instead ne re-
ceived letter saying she had pledged her word to
rich man; the shock turned him silly and he went to
the bad right off, "a1 for bit of girl, mother.
You misjudged her" said bitterly; She was faith
He put up his thin hand "Her own father i was
who wrote to me; there could be no mistake. But It
was unmanly to ruin my life for her-only you see,
loved her
NV eyes were streaming could bear IT no longer.
Slipping away l off spectacles, front and pr1rn
shawl let down my hair and knelt beside him with
great throbs at my throat. Med, l said softly, my
Ned, don't you know me: e.. ~.
He looked at me with slow, sweet smile. Of course
| know you, little mother you look ever so much
nicer that way and something in your voice always
reminds me of Daphne" Then he wandered talking OF
the old days n
Mechanically went to the glass and understood. My
hair from constant covering turning gray; my ar
cal wrinkles were permanent colOred spectacles nad
contracted my eyes. 1 really what PRETENDED 10
be without trace of Ned's sxteen-yea Daphne .
That night he died, and even Dame Fearless aualed
before her task for had kept his-secret IN HE would
keep it in death the unnatural stiffness OF that attic
pressed my lips to the dear eyes that had not recog
nized me and took my leave of love and youth linen
silently in the darkness. did that which pray no
other woman may have to do. Hour after hour Ia
,ored digging resting place for the one to whom
had given nv youth. Thanks to unnatural strength
brought down my still burden, laid It IN the shallow
Grave and above my darling planted the holly WHICH
recalled home The dawn found me dabbhng roots ana
bulbs into the newly turned soil and distant pei
reused from my weeping Suddenly l TeInf 1n
hered the day-t was Neds first Christmas IN the BE-
vcnd Perhaps he already knew how well had loved
him