The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1908-11-19

agony. "
i've fallen. Ruth, and I'm afraid
I'm badly hurt. l think my ankle
is broken"
Ruth looked. and saw the poor foot
hanging limp and twisted In its we'll
worn slipper.
1t is broken, Helen" she said. ct
VIII call Hazel. and send her for the
doctor at once"
But even in her extremity Mrs.
LoveJoy stretched out a OBTAINING
hand.
Please, Ruth. don't frighten her."
she said. Couldn't you go your
selIF I'll stay quietly here till you
come back"
MY dear, think Hazel will want
20 go, and, anyway. I'm sure it is best
to tell her,
Then, as Ruth started toward the
parlor door. something which she al
ways says was an inspiration flashed
into her mind. The boldness of II
terrlhed her for a moment and made
her pause, but only for a moment.
Ihen, with calm face but a little
SICK feeling at her heart, she walked
through the hall and into the parlor.
she paused only long enough to bow
to the caller, and then said, quietly:
Hazel, our poor servant has fallen
on the stairs and hurt herself badly.
Can you go for the doctor?"
For Just a second after she had
uttered the terrible words, Ruth felt
AFRAID OF the ISSUE If Hazel should
fail-if the canker of thoughtIessness
had eaten too deep-she knew that
she should never forgive either her
self or her niece.
But the girl, as the meaning of her
aunt's words made itself plain to her.
rose to her feet, and over her face. IN
the very roots of her hair, poured a
nood OF crimson which quickly gave
place to a deadly pallor.
1t is my mother" she said, with
dignity which no one had ever no.
ticed In her before. LIE me go at
once"
Then she turned to her visitor.
wholly Indifferent as to the impress
sion she might make, anxious only to
atone for her previous cowardice.
Il know you will excuse me. Mr..
Bennett, she said. "It is my mother
who has fallen. My aunt is punish
ing me very Justly for not having told
you, as 1 should, that the lady who
opened the door for you this after
noon was not our servant, but my
mother. We have no servant"
People had often said that Mr.. Ben
nett was fastidious. He may have
been, but he was also a gentleman.
The scorn which Hazel's confession
could hardly help arousing had no
chance TO show itself in his face.
Pity for the girls embarrassment and
suffering, and a6 6niration for her
final courage and loyalty and frank
ness, blotted out every other feeling.
1t was my mistake, Miss Love
JOY" he said, gravely, "and l am
afraid an objectionable one. 1 am
more sorry than I can tell YOU"
Then, before any one could object
he had seized his hat and started for
the DOCTOR"
He found him and brought him
back, and remained to help him lift
and move the sufferer; and by and
by, when there was no excuse for
staying longer, he said to HazePs
aunt, with an almost boyish difidence
and hesitancy:
Miss Lovejoy, please do not think
me presumfhg, but my father and
mother are both away, and our ser
wants have almost nothing to do.
VIII you not let me send one of them
TO help you-a woman who has been
with us great many years? She
would be most willing to come, and
I'm sure you would find her of as
sistance."
With all her independence, Aunt
Ruth was almost tempted to accept
the offer, but it was Hazel who de-
cided the matter.
1t is very kind of you, Mr.. Ben
nett" she said, "and please don't
think us unappreciative; but lust
now, at any rate, we shall get on very
we'll. l have a vacation now, and
can give all my time to my mother
and the house. 1 want to do it. She
mas waited on me all my life"
She was equally determined when
her father came home and somewhat
excitedly urged the necessity both of
nurse and a kitchen girl. She con-
vsnced him-although he knew it
only too we'll before-that they could
not anord 1t, and she had her way.
Like all young pilgrims, Hazel
found the road long and sometimes
rough, and she Travelled it often with
aching feet. But she never turned
back, and in the long days which fol-
lowed, filled as they were from early
morn till late at night with petty
household duties, she learned as she
could never have learned in any other
way the cost of that mother-love
which had so long and iealously shell