The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-04-10
eyes," replied Railsford. "1 wa,

faces, in the lamplight, were gray
and pallid. Something in their ex-
preston knocked at his heart, and
in the stiffness he could hear the
ticking of the clock.
"My son was on that boat" said
the man after a pause.
Railsford could make no answer;
he was looking at the woman. Tears
had gathered in her eyes, and one
trickled down her left cheek.
HE is dead" the man continued
in the same level tone. 1--WE have
read the lists of the survivirs, but his
name was not among them. And yet,
we hope; we know that he is dead,
yet we cannot help hoping. When
your knock came-but no matter.
You could not know it, but you gave
that he used to do"
The poor woman broke out into
lamentations and buried her face in
her hands.
my boy!" she sobbed. my beau
tiful brave boy! He is dead. He is
lying out in the cold sea tonight,
and l shall never see him any more
never any more!"
The man stood up fiercely.
"And to think" he cried, that so
many lives were lost that could have
been saved. / read the accounts in
the papers, and it made my blood
boil. To think that l should have
lived to be ashamed of my profession.
Yes, sir, have followed the sea, but
never have l known such a thing.
Cowards! Cowards all! The brave
are dead" He turned upon Rails
ford with quick suspicion. You have
eaten my bread" he cried. "Swear
that you did what lay in your power.
This house is seaman's house, and
that food was earned upon the sea.
If you have played the coward think
it would have choked you"
Railsford stood up and looked his
host in the eyes.
81 was picked out of the sea-" he
said, simply. 81 die what / could.
Would to God that others had done
the same"
His host returned his gaze, and
read truth in it. He held out his
hand.
II knew it," he said. 81 could not
think that l was harboring one of
those towards. God would not have
permitted it. You are welcome"
Eyes, you are welcome" cried the
woman, "for the sake of my brave
boy who is dead. He, too, did his
duty. He has come to me since in
dreams, and he has told me so. l
have seen him-almost every night
and always the same. There was a
boat near him and he would not en-
ter it. He would not enter it be-
cause of the women and children.
My boy! My brave boy! He thought
always of Others. Oh, why did he
not think of me? Why did he not
save himself-if only for my sake?"
"Hush!" said the man sternly, "if
he had done as you have said and
have come here starving l would
have spat upon him and turned him
from the door"
what matter?" retorted the moth.
er with fierceness strangely at var
lance with her usual gentleness.
What matter-when l could have
gone with him?"
Her husband went over to her and
patted her hand with little move
ment of affection that was very
touching.
'The boy has died as he should
have DONE" he said. Let us take
our comfort in that"
"He was such a handsome lad"
she said, sobbing. Did you know
him, sir? His name was Foster
Cyril Foster Perhaps you met him
on the ship"
NO." said Railsford slowly. "I
do not know the name"
Perhaps you knew him by sight?"
she persisted. There is a photo.
graph there on the mantelpiece. Will
you look at it,"
RdliolOlu IulHSu III IuS ulTSCJiOu
indicated and took the photograph
in his hands. He bent over it in or
der to permit the lamplight to illumi-
nate its surface.
For moment his heart stood still.
He knew the face. He recognized
the sharp features and the long dark
hair that hung across the forehead.
His fingers tightened on the frame
and he kept his face obstinately low
cred, lest the black hatred which
boiled within his heart should show
itself on his face.
1t was all coming back to him; the
scene around the boat, the agonized
girl, the cruel blow which had de.
prived her of her chance of life-and
yes, the sound of the pistol shot and
the thought, nay The certainty that
the scoundrel was dead.
With that conviction a part of his
life seemed torn away. Vengeance
was gone from him, and existence
seemed utterly empty.
After all, what did it matter? Lii.