The Van Buren press., 1903-03-07

ner, or with them in some mischist
He tried TO keep up his interes,
the sounds on deck, and to thinL
the fun ahead of him instead ~ :,
past. But he could not; it all ~
surging over him, again and again az
when he would thrust it away il :
turned only more strongly and perSi,,
emily. Yet he was not leaving nm,
after all, he told himself grimIv.
had not had home for three wear,
he had no position, no home, no nro,
poets; even the boon companio,
would scarcely inquire after or reo,.,
him. In all the world there was orl'
lust one who believed in and trus,.s
him; and he had not seen her for tbr..
wears. There had been months VIII
he had not even thought of her or /.
the rocky little farm which he had Len
because it was too slow.
She had never doubted him for m,
ment. or ceased TO think of the tim.
when he was to provide lovingly n,
her old age. When some of his wo,,,
escapades had been reported she had
smiled wistfully, but hopefully SAN.
my's Young" she had said, IAN doesn,
realize. He's good boy, an will a,
better when he's older. Him and ms.
goin' to live together ag'in some TIM.
he'll be layin by for it pretty soon.n
Something swelled in the your,
mans throat as ne remembered how
many times he had heard her say tina, {
and how many times he had declared
in moments of boyish repentance, thai \
he was going to take care of her whe,
he was "a man. Even after he left hi
| had once written home that he wa,
''goin' to git some money laid by pref
! ty soon" All through these thrs
years she had written regularly and
lovingly, and though he had answered
only briefly and at long intervals, he'll
| faith in him had not for an instant war
! cred. Even now he had letter in hb|
I pocket received three days before, and
not yet opened.
Down here in the depth Of the hold
alone, with everything he had knowl
about to be left behind, his heart had
suddenly grown tender and sore. ID
might be years before he would ses
the gentle old face again, and at tn,
thought his fingers reached for tbs
letter and drew it out softly and ten
DERBY. But it was already dark in tn,
/ hold, and he could rot see.
For a moment he strokcd it re
morsefully, then he pushed The
case aside and CROPPED his way out
among the boxes and bales. H,
would seek the hatchway or somt
place where there was light enougl
to read the letter. He must find GU
what the old mother had to say.
For an hour there had been tn
final sounds of departure overhead
but he had not noticed As he wen
forward, however, he was consciou
of a peculiar sensation Of rising an
falling, which told him that the shi
was pnder way.
The hatchway was not closed bu
even then it would have been to
dark but for light somewher
above, which sent a dull shaft int
the hold. In this he opened the LEI
ter and read:
Dear Sammy; I'm down With the rhtu
| MATES, and the doctor says twill be
long time fore I'm out The nabors an
good, but they can't leave their own won
an do mine. I'm feared Sammy, II yoV
don't come, the farm will have to be sod
'11!n't worth much, but | can't look owl
for 1t any more. But don't feel bad, dea
boy, If you can't come. It's only rheg
MATES l'Yegot. Ever your lovin' mother"
The young man choked; there wa
an unmistakablc sob. In a mumen
he had clambcred up the hatchway
A few passengers were standing nea
the rail or lounging about, but NJ
officers were in sight. 1t was nearly
dark.
Slipping back to the stern of tn,
vessel, which was almost deserted
the young man glanced about warily
The wharyes were mile away and
were shadowy outlines, but he dit
not mind that, for he was n stronG
swimmer and bold one. What h
feared was Illustration of the plan
which had suddenly formed in hi
mind
No one was watching him, however
and presently grasping rope b,
swung himself over the side, AM
from the end Of the rope he dropped
into the water.
Two hours later he drew himself
up on one Of the whnrvcs, nearly ex
hnustcd, but with look on his fac,
that had not been there for years,
Nov for home he said. aloud
straight for home" Then he disap
peared in the shadow OF the great
warehouses.-N. Y. Times.