The San Francisco call., 1904-03-13


in a low voice, as if speaking to her
self:
''Oh, that beautiful winter. There is
a God. to be so good to women who
have suffered as had"
Mariposa sat dumbly regarding her.
1t was like a frightful nightmare.
Everything was strange. the sickroom,
the bed with the screen around it, her
mothers face with its hollow eyes and
pinched nose Only the two old dirty
papers on the white counterpane
seemed to say that this was real.
Lucy's eyes, which had been looking
back into that glorified past of love and
youth, returned to her daughters face.
But Jake is your father" she said.
That's what l had to tell you. He'll
be good to you. That was why he
wanted to find you and help you"
Yes said Mariposa, DULY, Il un-
derstand that now; that was why he
wanted TO help me"
He'll be good to you,' went on the
low, weak voice, interrupted by quick
breaths Il know Jake. He'll be
proud of you. You're handsome and
talented, not weak and poor spirited,
as 1 was You're his only legitimate
child; the others are not; they were
born in California They're Bessies
children, and 1 was his only real wife.
You'll let him take care of you? Oh,
Mariposa, my darling, I've told you all
this that you might understand and let
him take care of you"
She made a last call on her strength
and leaned forward. Her dying body
was revivified; all her mothers agony
Of love appeared on her face. In de-
termining to destroy the illusions of
her child to secure her future, she had
made the one heroic effort of her life.
It was done, and for a last moment of
relief and triumph she was thrillingly
alive.
Maripsoa, in a spasm of despair,
threw herself forward on the bed.
"Oh, why did you tell me? Why did
you tell me?" she cried. why didn't
you let me think it was the way it used
to be? Why did you tell me?"
Lucy laid her hand on the bowed
head
Because I wanted you to understand
and let him be your father"
My father. That man! Oh, no, no."
You must promise me. Oh, my be-
loved child, couldn't leave you alone
1t seemed as If God had said to me,
Die in peace. Her father will care for
her I couldn't go and leave you this
way, without a friend. Now 1 can rest
in peace. Promise to let him take care
of you. Promise"
"Oh, mother, don't ask me. What
have you just told me? That he sold
you TO a stranger for a pair Of horses,
left you to die in a cabin in the noun
tains That's not my father. My father
was Dan Moreau. 1 can do nothing
but hate that other man now
Don't blame him, dear; the past is
over. Forgive him. Forgive me. If
sinned there were excuses for me.
had suffered too much. 1 loved too
we'll"
Her voice suddenly hesitated and
broke A gray pallor ran over her face
and a look of terror transfixed her eyes.
She Strengthened her arms out toward
her daughter.
Promise" she gasped, promise.
With a spring Mariposa snatched the
dropping body in her arms and cried
into the face, settling into cold rigidity:
"Yes-yes-I promise. All-anything.
oh, mother, darling, look at me.
promise"
She gently shook the limp form, but
it was nerveless, only the head oscil-
lated slightly from side to side.
Mother, look at me-" she cried fran
tically. Look at me, not past me.
Come back TO me. Speak to me, ]
promise everything"
But there was no response. Lucy
lay, limp and white-lipped, her head
IolIing back from the support of her
daughters arm. Her strength was ez-
hausted to the last drop. She was un-
conscious.
The wild figure of Mariposa at the
kitchen door summoned Mrs. Brown.
Lucy was not dead, but dying. A few
moments later Mariposa found herself
rushing hatless through the rain for the
doctor, and then again, in what seemed
a few more minutes, standing soaked
and breathless, by her mothers side.
She sat there throughout the night,
holding the limp hand and watching
for a glimmer of consciousness in the
half-shut eyes.
1t never came. There was no rally
from the collapse which followed the
mothers confession. She had lived till
this was done. Then, having accom-
plished the great action of her life, she
had loosed her hold and let go. Once
Mrs. Brown being absent, Mariposa had
leaned down on the pillow and pas
sionately reiterated the assurance that
she would give the promise Lucy he'd
asked. There was slight quiver OF
animation in the dying woman's face
and she opened her eyes as if startled
but made no other sign of having heard
or understood. But Mariposa knew
that she had promised.
On the evening Of the day after her
confession Lucy died, slipping away
quietly as If in sleep. The death of the
simple and unknown lady made no rip
pie on the surface of the citys life
Mrs. Willers and a neighbor or two
were Mariposa's sole visitors, and the
only flowers contributed to Lucy's
coffin were those sent by the news
paper woman and Barry Essex. The
afternoon of the day on which heI
mothers death was announced, Mari
posa received a package from Jake