The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-09-06
CHAPTER 1.
~ s there no hope, doctGr|
Absolutely none-now.
IF she had gone to the
,,.i,a,,co infit1uaTv-WOu!t


A worihouse iadrmary-wou'd
laVe livedY
The doctor paused. The gulp be.e
that hateful word was not lost on hin.
lie tried professional severity and be-
slowed some care on the buttoning or
a glove.
Il am surprised" he said, "tnat al
excellent woman like your mo,her
should encourage your feelings of--er-
repugnance toward-er-e Confodnd It,
boy, have you no relatives or friend3F
mo. sir. We are alone in the world
"An1 hard up, ehy
The boy dug a hand into packer
with the stolid Indifference of despair
lie produced = shllings and some pen
Mes. He piri:ed out the silver, and the
man redeemed i'll protest.
Don't be stupid, Philip. That is
your name, is it not? When | want my
fee | will ask for 1t. Your mother
needs a nurse, wine, chicken broth
You are old enough to realize that a
doctor practicing in nelghDQrhoou
like this might want such things him
self and whistle for them. But In the
--er-infirmary they are provided Dy
the state"
"Would my mother have lived had
she consented to be taken there q
month ago?''
Again the man wondered at the ston!
persistence of the questioner, rear
less looking. active boy OF fifteen az
tired in worn clothes too small for mn
and wearing an old pair of boots seYeF
ri sizes too large. The strong. yoAh
face. pinchel with vigils and privatioh-'
the large. earnest eyes. heavy with "
shed tears; the lips, quivering in thei
resolute compression over chm ina
indicated great strength Of character
appealed far more to the doctor thai
the whimpering terror with wnicn TN
children of the poor usually meet TIT
grim vision of death.
The wrestle with the glove ceased
and kindly hand rested on Philip
shoulder.
.sNo." came the quiet answer. Ma.
God help you, she would not hav
lived"
"God does not help anybody wa
! the amazing retort.
The doctor was shocked, vlsiDly so.
"That is foolish and wicked state
mentv he said sternly. do not le
YOUR mother hear such awful WORDS
She has lived and will die true Chris
tfan. I have never met woman 0
greater natural charm and real piet'
she has suffered 30 much that SD
merits the life eternal. 1t is rewart
not a punishment. Cast away the
terrible thoughts. Go, rather, and kneS
by her side in prayer"
For an instant the great brown eye
blazed fiercely at him.
cam I to pray that my mother sha
be taken from meT a
"E3yen that IL II be Gods Will"
The CLEAN of passion yielded to ute
helplessness. The boy again brougl
forth his tiny store Of money.
"surely," he said, II can buy so1
small amount of wine. In the shol
they sell things in tins that make chicI
en- broth, don't theyf l have hre al
a kettle. Would you mind telling me
"There, therel You go to your mo''
or and endeavor to cheer her up
win see what can do. What! Won
Won argue with me2 Go at once u
slst. Listen. she is calling for you.
In that poor tenement there were
secrets. A rlckety staircase, crude
built against the retaining wall OF u
only living room on the ground noe
led steeply to an apartment above al
eliminated in an opening that sugges
cd trapdoor. The walls, rough
paneled. were well provided WI
snelves ana pegs. rne back door w
fastened with latch, contriYah
rarely seen In the London OF toda
The front window looked out Into
bndly paved court grit by tumbledoV
stables. A smaller window at the pa
revealed dismal yard darkened
lofty walls. Although little more TN
} atore's throw removed from the on
: Y'ie End .ond. the place was singul'
+. r.;ie' n WINS already dead a
,.al, waited the coming Of men wi