The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-02-13
By Carrie Elizabeth Logan .

will call Hazel, and send her for the
doctor at once"
But even in her extremity Mrs. Love-
joy stretched out a OBTAINING hand.
please, Ruth, don't brighten her."
she said. Couldn't you go yourself?
I'll stay quietly here till you come
back"
MY dear, I think Hazel will want to
go, and, anyway, I'm sure it is best to
tell her"
Then, as Ruth started toward the
parlor door, something which she al
ways says was an inspiration flashed
into her mind. The boldness OF it ter
rified her for a moment and made her
pause, but only for a moment. Then,
with a calm face but a little sick feel
ing at her heart, she walked through
the hall n into the parlor. She paused
only long enough to bow to the caller,
and hen said quietly:
Hazel, our poor servan has fallen
On the stairs and hurt herself badly.
Can you go for the s%oetor?"
For a second after she had uttered
the terrible words, Ruth felt afraid of
the issue. If Hazel should fail-if the
tanker Of thouehtlessness had eaten too
deep-she knew hat she should never
forgive either herself or her niece.
But the girl. as the meaning of her
aunt's words made itself plain to her,
rose to her feet, and over her face, to
the very roots of her hair, poured a
flood of crimson which quickly gave
place to a deadly pallor.
1T is my mother" she said, with a
dignity which no one had ever noticed
in her before. Let me go at once"
Their h turned to her visitor,
wholly Indifferent as to the impression
she might make, anxious only to atone
for her previous cowardice.
II know you will excuse me, Mr.. Ben
nett" she said. 1T is my mother who
has fallen. My aunt is Furnishing me
very justly for not having told you, as
I should. that the lady who opened the
door for you this afternoon was not our
servant, but my mother. We have no
servant"
People had often said thai Mr.. Ben
nett was fastidious. He nay have been,
but he was also a gentleman. The scorn
which Hazel's confession could hardly
help arousing had no c%hance.to show
itself in his face. Pity for the girls
embarrassment n suffering and adj
miration for her final courage and 10y
atty n frankness, blotted out every
other feeling.
ut was my mistake, Miss Lovejoy,"
he said, gravely, and I am afraid an
objectionable one. I am more sorry
than I can tell YOU" Then, before any
one could object, he had seized his hat
and started for the doctor.
He found him and brought him back,
and remained to help lift and move the
sufferer; and by and by, when there
was no excuse for staying longer, he
said to Hazel's aunt, with an almost
boyish diffidence and h~esitancy:
Miss Lovejoy, please do not think
me presuming, but my father and moth
er are both away, and our servants
have almost nothing to do. Will you
not let me send one Of them to help you
= q woman who has been with US a
great many years? She would be most
willing to come. n I'm sure you
would find her of assistance"
With all her independence, Aunt
Ruth was almost tempted to accept the
offer, but it was Hazel who decided the
matter.
1T is very kind of you, Mr.. Ben
nett" she said, land please don't think
us unappreciative; but just now, at
any rate, we shall get on very well. ]
have a vacation now, and I can give
all my time to my mother n the
house. I want to do it. She has waited
on me all my life"
She was equally determined when her
father came home and somewhat excit-
eddy urged the necessity both of a nurse
and a kitchen girl. She convinced him
although he knew it only too web be
fore-that they could not afford it, and
She had her way.
Like all young pilgrims, Hazel found
the road long and sometimes rough, and
she Travelled it often with aching feet
But she never turned back. and in the
long days which followed. filed as they
were from early morn till late at night
with petty household duties, she learned
as she could never have learned in any
other way the cost of that mother love
which had SO long and SO jealousy
sheltered her.