New-York tribune., 1903-02-23


head TO his breast "AlI! an. 7 have none save
10 without you-aIone2 You've always been brave.
Ga She e smiled Wistfuy and ID kissed his wrrnked
forehead. ''TH try. husband she said; but I'm
Her pride helped her to keep infrmities at bay:
the days work This Hezebah deprecated. but
she would have her way. Such tasks as she un-
she gave herself no moment for idle thought Her
siscoSrsed often Of the laughter and play that
she, even then woman approaching middle age.
mention the thing that her heart craved for-the
old mothers passion to gaze. before she died, into
So the year went on, from spring to summer.
grew more fragile and transparent She allowed
sigh to escape; her husband was iain to believe
~ Sst never in their life together had he
seen more placidty there If she wept at al 1t
in the dead of night. when. Worn with OUTDOOR
toll. he lay fast asleep by her side.
But one afternoon in harvest time having had
occasion leave the field where the servants were
reaping. and return to the house for another
sickle. hurried to the paror. where she usually
two centuries Old. and found her favOrite chair
empty and her linen darnfng thrown GarsIeesslS on
but as she was there he descended again 70
the parlor and tugsed the hare's foot at the end
The housekeeper came briskIy along the hall in
short thickset dame. with face 5rown and
creased as walnut shell She nsd & I[eI og az srviee
had given her the position almost Of humble re-
where's the mistress LizOeth2' said Hezekiah;
She was here a while ago." replied the house
keeper. for I to ask her about the pacK-
a. t.oa+ bSr ebe bad donned her
pattens again and cattered OF TO the kitchen gar
den The old swore family, and TeneweS als
garden He could find her nowhere and with g%e9 f1
moment his anxiety grew less enuufstols 81 @
at last ne compelled TO go back TO the mousse
when the woman saw him approach, his face full
of trouble. she raised her apron to her eyes Sne
stole in Hezekiah's absence and her instinct toId
her that the place was sacred aeF ant 5ave
there with RaIph-the mother happily as tne
and talking quite freely to Farmer George Listis
Ralph would tell the story OF the travelled cat ''
wished for and gained sight OF royalty, o = tho
NANNY said the curious I % Boy o in w4S bs1 II the the
mouse frightened under? thought kings anu
queens sat on thrones - .. bo ~rosss1.
even Lzbeth. after the lifetime of service dared aS
not not venture tbf b beTeab Of the mistress
she gave evasive answer, but 1eil a-"eepine /"
oh master she faItered. i never & thought B651 to
tell you. but the mistress IS IN t1e co eIo oF an
She always goes there when she's 4elt alone VI q"
Hezekiah st.ode through the stable yard ys,o9 on
whose west side small window of green ouoole6 ouo6
glass lighted the coach house He peered 6droIs lfb
the corner of a pane that was not cloaked VIII
10 bi Ewes AfferWard he unfastened
6oaie 70 eat ms tSsf led 10 court which opened
the garden Here the great doors Gnloc3eo Scc
Very loud I'd strenuous reached him as he, he lad
his han IN he
listened. His wife was praying and her prayer
fI Ies 0s ST Gld Whose Holy Mother Thee
in her have pity on an Old old WoiIlan mai ~ -
Saviour Of the world help me-et me no Io1ger @ oe
keep house with my sons chldren aoouI III NJ
and love as powerfully mine own tssue-nrean
down the walls of his firmness.et the WISE 20 S
Her husbands hands rose to his face ne gToaneGr r
aloud. From the closed chariot came the sound Oh
HO Thou % WRG wort the one Son of Thy mother
rrriaf rDff n
burden in patience. feeble not TO cry out Sndi
the agony OF my Ia labor Ine ssa55 for na1gff?
lad fs5bs1:sh again. Let me but lay MS 'ana i" u"
After long interval of silence Fiezekiah crept
bowed head. On the faded cusnlons oeloTe htI iaS
cloak of yelIowed silk embroidered with olGe
heartseases. knitted socks no bigger [hah v Ts heIs
And on the opposite seat were spread toys-Wooden
sodieS and taitered copybooks between whose
ruled lines ancient maxir1s WIFI IN a sii=
This had been the lads playhouse and these were
the things that he had loved II was the old
womAn's playhouse nova playhouse OIL tears anu
Jezeka5 leaned silently over shoulder and
put his eheek against her own +a ..r.,t send for
tba iad T can't hide without him any longer.
The mother moaned again. this time with perfect
I'm tired, husband she whispered; you must
nT But 'n Hezekiah took her in his arms-they we're
strong even yet oaken saPlings-and carried
aTfi II send him word this very day said
hak kissed Now rest quiet dear so tn4L you
may strong when he comes 4 nave OILY FL FL
other hour of work and then III be with you
again r-..-b4o,
He went away with Harriet's tender laughter
following him. the hdllOWed laughter OF tne woman
whose lover has found his true self AND Nnen nc
reachpd the fields old Stephen pointed out to him a
travelling carriage and Il hOTSemdn deocenG1ns tn6
narrow road Of the ClOugh. Hezekah. Without I
word left the reaperS and went to the gate ana
watched with hungry eyes. - -
headed before him. a stalwart brown man with
nieadinr face
s'Eat5sr he cried. 'I have come back 20 you
vtGh TO say with you: I wish my sons 20 grow
nm IN thn old home 1t has called to me Tor years
and years all heTe-ny vile, ana my oVSS
~vnIr bOvs- do net turn them away.
u have been a proud fool Ralph" he SaSpedi
",1t to-day I was going to bid you come. four
mother has cried out for you -,
Ralph sprang again to the Saddiej we 6r1iluE,.
eroned his Wav to the carriage which was St9ndlnS
soD5e Yards away And Harriet unconsctously relJ
herself drawn to the threshold OF the great haII.
There i'm the rich glow of autumn sunset; Sne saw
her man child coming to clasp her 70 hls breast
-(The Illustrated London News.