Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1903-03-12
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; By RALPH Common
By RALPH Common
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Billy's final triumph and Of Craig's
| part in it they sat long silent till the
minister, clearing his throat hard and
blowing his nose more like trumpet
than ever, said, with great emphasis:
THANK God for such man in such
a place! l wish there We're more of us
like him.
81 should like to see you out there,
sir" said Giaeme admiringly. you'd
get them, but you wouldn't have time
for election"
Eyes, yes said his father warmly;
81 should love to have chance just
to preach election TO those poor lads.
Would | were twenty years younger."
cit is worth mans life" said
Graeme earnestly.
His younger brother turned his face
eagerly toward the mother. For an
swer she slipped her hand into his and
said softly, While her eyes shone like
stars:
"Some day, Jack. perhaps. God
knows"
But Jack only looked steadily at her,
smiling little and patting her hand.
you'd shine there. mother" said
Graeme, smiling upon her. you'd bet
ter come with me-"
She started and said family:
with you?" 1t was the first hint he
had given of his purpose. you are
going back?"
"What-as a missiopary?" said Jack
mot to preach, Jack-I'm not ortho-
doy enough looking at his father and
shaking his head-"but 20 build rail
roads and lend hand to some poor
chap il l can"
Gould you not find work nearer
home, my hoy?" asked the father
There is plenty of both kinds near us
here surely"
Lots Of work, but not mine, fear"
answered Graeme, keeping his eyes
away from his mothers face. ga man
must do his own work.
His voice was quiet and rasolute,
and, glancing at the beautiful face at
the end of the table, saw in the pale
lips and yearnng eyes that the mother
was offering up her iirstborn, that an
cient sacrifice. But not all the agony
treaty or complaint in the hearing Of
her sons. That was for other ears and
for the silent hours of the night. And
next morning, when she came down to
meet US, her face was wan and weary,
but it Wore the peace Of victory and
glory not of earth. Her greeting was
full of dignity, sweet and gentle, but
to G 10 lin
over him and kissed him twice, and
that was all that any of us ever saw
of that sore fight
At the end of the week l took leave
of them and last of all Of the mother.
She hesitated just moment, then
suddenly put her hands upon my Shout
ders and kissed me, saying softly:
'You are his friend. You will some
times come to me?"
swer, for the sweet, brave face was
too much to bear, and till she left us
for that world of which she was a
part kept my word, to my own great
and lasting good.
When Graeme met me in the city at
the end Of the summer, he brought me
her love and then burst forth:
"Connor, do you know, l have just
discovered my mother. l have never
known her till this summer"
"More fool you," l answered, for of
ten had l, who had never known a
mother, envied him his
eyes; that is true" he answered
shortly, 'but you cannot see until you
have eyes"
Before he set out again for the west
1 gave him a supper asking the men
who had been with us in the old var
sity days. l was doubtful as to the
wisdom of this and was persuaded
only by Graeme's eager assent to my
proposal.
certainly; let's have Them" he said.
81 shall be awfully glad to see them.
Great stuff they were"
"But don't know, Graeme. You see
well, hang it-you know-you're diff
ferent, you know"
He looked at me curiously.
II hope l can still stand a good sup
per, and If the boys can't stand me,
why, 1 can't help it. I'll do anything
but roar, and don't you begin to work
off your menagerie act. Now, you hear
mev'
"Well it is rather hard lines that
when l have been talking up my lion
for year and then finally secure him
he will not roar"
SERVES you right" he replied quite
heartlessly. "But I'll tell you what
I'll do-I'll feed! Don't you worry
he added soothingly. "The supper will
CO."
And go it did. The supper was of the
best, the wines first class. had asked
Graeme about the wines.
"Do as you like, old man." was his
answer. cts your supper. But" hk
added, care the men all straight?"
ran them over in my mind.
eyes, think So.
''If not, don't you help them dowa
and anyway you can't be too careful
But don't mind me. I am quit of the
whole business from this out"
So l ventured wines, for the las