Morris tribune., 1902-06-21

letter asked for instructions and urge
an immediate return with view to
personal uperintendence of the es
tates. A letter, too, from a distan
cousin of her husband urged her immc
date return for many reasons, Blu
chiefly on account Of the old mother
who had been left alone, with non
nearer of kin than himself to care 70
her and cheer her old age.
With these two came another lette
from her mother-in-laW herself. Tn
grabbed, trembling characters wer
even more eloquent than the word
with which the letter closed:
II have lost my boy, and now m!
| husband 1s gone, and am lonely wo
man. have many servants and some
friends, but none near to me, none 81
near and dear as my dead sons wife
My days are not to be many. Come tt
me, my daughter. want you anC
Lewis child"
Must go?" she asked, with white
lips.
"Do you know her we'll p l asked.
81 saw her only once or twice." she
answered, "but she has been very good
to me-"
"She can hardly need you. She has
friends. And surely you are needed
here"
She looked at me eagerly.
''Do you think sop she said.
ASK any man in the camp-ShaW,
Nixon, young Winton, Geordie. Ask
Craig" 1 replied.
Eyes, he will tell me-" she said.
Even as she spoke Craig came up the
steps. l passed into my studio and
went on with my work, for my days at
Black Rock were getting few, and
many sketches remained to be filed in.
Through my open door saw Mrs
Mavor lay her letters before Mr.. Craig,
saying, 81 have a call too" They
thought not of me.
He went through the papers, careful
~ laying them down without a word
while she waited anxiously, almost i'm
patiently, for him to speak.
"Well," she asked, using his own
words to her, should 1 go?'
81 do not know" he replied. 'That
is for you to decide. You know all the
circumstances"
1.-THE letters tell ALL"
Her tone carried a feeling Of disap-
pointment. He did not appear to care.
1.-THE estates are large?" he asked.
Eyes, large enough-twelve thousand
year."
"And has your mother-in-law any
one with herr"
"She has friends, but, as she says.
none near of kin. Her nephew looks
after the works-iron works, you know.
He has shares in them"
"She is evidently very lonely" he an
swered gravely.
what shall do" she asked, and !
knew she was waiting to hear him
urge her to stay, but he did not see or
at least gave no heed.
81 cannot say" he repeated quietly.
"There are many things to consider.
The estates'-
''The estates seem to trouble you"
she replied almost fretfully.
He looked up in surprise. l wonder
ed at his slowness.
Eyes, the Estates" he went on, land |
tenants, l suppose; your mother-ln-laW.
your little Marjories future, your own |
FUTURE"
The estates are in capable hands, | |
should suppose" she urged, land my |
future depends upon what l choose my
work to be-"
But one cannot shift ones responsi.
bilities," he replied gravely. "These
these tenants, have come to
you, and with them come duties"
81 do not want them" she cried.
'"That life has great possibilities of
good,' he said kindly.
81 had thought that perhaps there
was work for me here" she suggested
timidly.
"Great work." he fastened to say.
"You have done great work, but you
will do that wherever you go. The
only question is where your work lies
"You think l should CO." she said
and a little bitterly.
Cd1uOI Ulu yOu stay, lie ais " SA GU |
steadily.
"How can goT' she cried, appealing
o him. "Must go?"
How he could resist that appeal
gould not understand. His face was
cold and hard and his voice was al
most harsh as he replied:
eff it is right, you will go, you must
co."
Then she burst forth:
II cannot go. shall stay here. Ny
work is here. My heart is here. How
an go? You thought it worth your
while to stay here and work. Why
hould not II"
The momentary CLEAN in his eyes
lied out, and again he said coldly:
This work was clearly mine. I am
leeded here"
eyes, yesv' she cried, her voice full
# pain. "You are needed, but there is
10 need of me-"
"Stop! Stop!' he said sharply. "You
must not say so.'
81 will say it. must say it, she
ried, her voice. vibrating with the in
enSity of her feeling 81 know Won do