Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-06-01

the storage of coal required by the local factories.
 This development took place early in the new year. and the new company allowed Mrs. Anson to occupy her tiny abode until the last day of March. It was now March 5, and how the widow and her son had lived during the past two months the doctor could only guess from the gradual depletion of their It. tie store of furniture.
 It was odd that such an intelligent and well bred woman should be so completely shut off from the rest of the world, and his first question to Phil sought to determine this mystery.
 "Surely," he said, there Is some one to whom you can appeal for help. Your father and mother must have had some relatives, even distant cousins, and If they are written to friendly hand may be forthcoming"
 Philip shook his head. The mere taste of food had provoked ravenous appetite. He could not eat fast enough. The doctor stayed him.
 Better wait couple of hours, Phil, and then you can tackle a hearty meal. That's the thing. I like to see such prompt obedience, but you certainly have wonderful self control for one so young. may tell you, to relieve pres ent anxieties, that few employees of your fathers firm have guaranteed the expenses of your mothers funeral, and they also gave me sovereign to tide you over the next few days"
 Funeral! The word struck with sledge hammer force. Phil had not thought of that. He remembered the dismal pomp of such events in this squalid locality, the loud sobbing of women, the hard faced agony of men, tie frightened curiosity of children. His mother, so dear, so tender, so soft cheeked-the bright, beautiful, laughing woman of their life in D!eppe-to be taken away from him forever and per mitted to fade slowly Into nothingness in some dreadful place, hidden from the sunshine and the flowers she loved! For the first time he understood death. When his father was killed, his mother was left. Anxious tending on her dis pelled the horror of the greater trag- edy. Now all was lost. The tears that he hated were yelling forth again, and he savagely bit his lip.
 You have been-very good-to us, I doctor" he forced himself to say. "If i ever-I cap repay you"-
 There, there. not word! Bless my | soul, yours Is difficult case" Again the doctor tackled his glove. He glanced at his watch.
 -Four o'clock. I am an hour late on my rounds. No, Phil. Don't go up stairs. There are some women coming. Wait until they have tended your mother And--one last word. It will do you no good to keep vigil by her | side. Best think of her as living, not dead. You will be grateful for my ad- vice in after life"
 The women arrived, coarse but kind ly hearted creatures. One of them gave the boy packet of letters.
 q found lem under the dear lydy's pillow" she said. Neither poverty nor death robbed Mrs. Anson of the re- spect paid to her by all who came in contact with her.
 He sat down. united string which bound the letters together and looked at the address on the first envelope. It bore his mothers name and recent postmark. Wondering dolefully what l correspondence she could have had during these later months that de- manded such careful preservation, he took out the letter. Suddenly he hesi- tated. Perhaps these documents al- i luded to something which his mother | dld not wish him to know. For an in- stant his impulse was to consign the packet to the fire. No; that might be wrong. He would glance at their gen eral purport and then commit them to the flames if he thought fit. '
 The letter in his hand was headed, 'sThe Hall, Beltham. Devon," and dated about month earlier. It read:
 Dear Madam-I am requested by Sir ! Philip Morland to ask you not to trouble him with further correspondence. This | is the fourth time I have been desired note that your letters will fin future re- main unanswered. Yours truly. | LOUISA MoRLAND.
 The curt incivility of the note brought an angry flush to the boys face. Who was Sir Philip Morland that he should dare to offer this insult to ladyi Evidently a relative, and a near one. for Morland was his moth CTS nomo, and his own Christian name suggested family connection. Yet she had never spoken of any such person.
 Three other letters of preceding dates showed that Louisa Morlands kept ac- curate reckoning. There were half c dozen more. from Q firm of solicitors. Some of these were merely formal ac- knowledgments of letters received and forwarded. but one stated that they s.were instructed by Lady Morland to Inform Mrs. Anson that Sir Philip Nor land declined either to see or hear from her"
 That was all. Philip sprang up with face afame. He was alone in the house now. alone with his dead mother.
 He went upstairs, with the letters crushed In bis right hand as though he would choke c reptile which had stung the only being be loved. He bent over the shrunken form. so placid. SO re signed. SO angelic in the peace of death. and his hot tears fell unchecked.
 You poor darlingr he murmured. Fl believe you humbled yourself even to beg from these people for my sake.