Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-07-24
returned. Size cfFed and SCI sseFeamed be-
cause spoke so wildly. 1t is all my


returned. Size effed and SCI ssdFeamed be-
cause spoke SO wildly. 1t is all my
fault. T'@ n
Hush! Your mother is not dead, but
dying. Not I'LL the skill of man can
save her. Let her die in peace"
No other words could have checked
the wild torrent of lament that surged
from that wounded heart. So she still
lived. There remained faint flicker
of life. Not yet had she passed the
dreadful barrier of eternity. Through
Lis binding tears he thought lie could
discern II smile Oh the Worn face. The
doctor watched Phil more narrowly
than the sunken frame on the bed It
was best that the paroXysm of grief
should go untrammeled. The nurse, Il
young woman unused as yet to the ill.,
eviiableness of death, moved timidly
toward the windows and adjusted the
curtains to admit more light.
AT last when Phil's strength yielded
to the strain of his sorrow and the
very force of his agony had spent it.
self the doctor leaned over the mani
mate form and looked into the eyes.
at has ended, PHIL he whispered.
Your mother IS in heavenw
In heaven! What tocsin of woe in
message of faith! The boy suddenly
stood up. Hope was murdered within
him. His tears ceased, and his labored
breathing came under control With Il
mighty effort. He stopped and kissed
the pale cheeks twice.
"Goodby. mother" he said, and the
dull pain III his voice was so heart
lending that the nurses sympathies
mastered her. She burst out crying.
Professional instinct came to the doc
tors aid. He sharply reprimanded the
half hysterical woman and sent her off
on an GRAND to bring those whose duty
1t is to render the last services to frail
mortality. The boy he led downstairs.
lIe was busy man, with many claims
on his time, but this strange youngster
interested him, and he resolved to turn
the boys thoughts forcibly away from
the all absorbing horror of his moth.
er's death.
said sharply.
Phil handed him tumbler The
doctor poured out some wine taken
from the nurses basket, soaked piece
of bread in the liquor and gave 1t to
the boy with an imperative command
TO eat it instantly.
Somewhat to his surprise, he was
obeyed. While Phil was devouring the
food of which he stood so greatly III
| need the doctor reviewed the circum-
stances of this poverty stricken house
hold so far as they were known to him.
| Mr.. and Mrs. Arson had occupied Il
fairly good position in Dieppe, where
Philips father was the agent of an old
established London firm of coal ship.
pers. About two years earlier both
husband and wife were seriously in.
jured in motor car accident. Mr.. An.
son sustained conclusion of the brain
and practically never regained his
senses, though he fingered for some
weeks and was subjected to two op.
erations. Mrs. Anson's spine was dam
aged. With the result that she changed
from bright and vigorous woman in
to decrepit invalid doomed to early
death from slow paralysis.
When the great expenses attendant
on these inishaps were paid she found
herself hot only absolutely poor, but
rendered Incapable of the slightest eff.
| fort to turn her many and varied tai.
ents to account In order to earn live.
| lihood. She came to London, where
her late husbands employers gener-
ously gave her rent free possession of
the tenement in which she was lying
dead, helped her with funds to furnish
1t modestly and found clerlship for
Philip With n promise of early promo.
lstion. .,,,.
But the cup of sorrow is seldom lefl
half filed. Barely had the widow set
tied down to n hpeful struggle on be-
half. of her beloved son tam quarrel
between partners led to the sale of the
FIRMS business to limited liability
company. Economies We're effected to
make way for salaried directors. Phil
| ip was dismissed, with several other
Junior employees, and the stable yard
was marked out MS q suitable site fol
the storage of coal required by thu
locnl factories.