The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-09-06

rather IMAM SpOkeH AhC SCUM" -
yanized him into consciousness.
Doctor" he said earnestly. you WIZ
come baekT'
"Yes. yes; within half an hour. Tell
your mother to expect me-"
Philip ran up the stairs. Long prac-
tice had enabled him to move with
minimum Of noise. 1t was pitltul 70
see the manner in which he emerged
with stealthy activity, into the creak-
ing loft above Here at first glance
there was an astonishing degree OF
comfort. Odd pieces of worn carpet
neatly Joined covered the hoor' Fne
two windows, facing only to the front
Of the dwelling. were curtained. The
whitewashed walls were almost MD
den by cuttings from the colored perl
odicals published during the previous
Christmas season. A screen divided
the room into two compartments, each
containing a tiny bed, On one OF THESE
nronned up with pillows, lay the vast
=, sruro of n woman. over whose race
the shadows were falling fast. me on,
IRENE thinness, the waxen pallor, the
delicate texture of debilltated skin and
unnatural brilllaney Of the eyes gave
her a remarkably youthful appearance.
This fantastic trick of death, In NE
pacentuated the resemblance between
mother and son, The boy, too; was
sharply outlined by hunger, and III The
fading light Of a March day the diff.
ference between the dread tokens Of
approaching collapse and Vie transient
effects Of scanty regimen on Wig
orous youth was not readily distin'
guishabe.
sDo you want anything, mother
dear?' said the boy, laying his hand
tenderly on the clammy forehead.
"Only to ask you, Phil what IL was
that the doctor told you."
The voice was low and sweet, the die
lion that of an education woman. Inc
boy. too, though his tones were strong
and harsh. spoke with the accent OF
good breeding His manner ana words
goined some distinction from slight
touch of French elegance and preci-
sion. This was only noticeable IN re-
pose. When excited or moved to deep
feeling. the continental veneer acquired
at the Lycee in Dieppe instantly van
ished, and he became the strenuous
emphatic Briton he undoubtedly was
by birth and breeding.
"He said, dearest that what you
wanted was some good wine-nice
things to eat. He is~an awfully nne
chap. and / am afraid / was rude 10
him. but heNdidn't seem to mind II
bit and he Is coming back soon WIN
chicken broth and port wine, ana
don't know what"
His brave words were well meant
hit the mothers heart understood him
too well to be deceived A thin hand
caught his wrist and feebly drew MIN
nearer
"You say you were rude to him. PM!
How can that be possible! What dld
Won saw or do to warrant such de-
scriptionY
He hesitated for a moment. With
rare self control in one so young ne
| tiercely determined not to comnuni-
| cate his own despair to his mother so
he laughed gently
1--WE are SO jolly hard up, you know
and it sounded strange In my ears 10
| talk about expensive Injuries when !
eould not buy. He has often told US,
dear. that you would be better cared
| for In the inflrmary. | am AFRAID no"
he was right, only we couldn't pear
| to be parted. Could we, mOtherF
Not all his yalor could control MS
tremulous lips. A beautiful smile liiu-
mined the face of the invalid.
80 you are trying to hoodwinK me.
Phil. for the first time. l know what
the doctor said. He told you that !
could not recover and that l had nor
long to live; in, a word. that | am ny
ing" ,a
Then the boy gave way utterly We
flung himself down by the side OF az
bed and buried his face In the cover
let
ooh, mother. motherv he waiien'
and his passionate sobs burst torth
with alarming vehemence. The poor
woman vainly strove to soothe him.
She could not move, being paralyzed'
but her fingers twined gently IN his
hair, and she gasped brokenly:
"Phil. darling. don't make It harder
for me. ON, calm yourself, my uear
one, IL only for my sake. l have 50
much to say to you and perhaps so 1T
tie time! Be strong, Philip. Be stronE
and brave, and all will be well with
YOU. know you will miss me. We
have been all In all to each other since
your fathers death. But my memory
must be sweet. not bitter TO you
When you think Of me | want the rec,
objection to inspire you to do tha'
which is right regardless of conse'
ouences. to staye always for honor
and for the appreciation Of your own
conscience. My own dear boy, we
must bow to the will Of God. We have
indeed been sorcly tried. you far more
than l. for | can look back on years OF
perfect happiness with loving hus
band and o DELIGHTFUL child, whereas
Won have been plunged into poverty
and misery ut an are when life should
be opening before you with every