The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-08-16
a TALE OF MYSTERY
AND ADVENTURE

100 Wen TO be deceived. A thin hand
caught his wrist and feebly drew him
nearer.
You say You were rude to him
VII MI How can that be possiblep
what did you say or do to warrant
such q description
he hesitated for moment. With
rare sen-control in one so Young no
lerceIy determined not to communj-
cate his own despair TO his mother Co
ne laughed gently.
we are jolly hard up, you know
ana IL sounded strange in nv ears 10
,dlk ABOUT expensive Injuries which I
so nor ouy. He has often told us,
uedI' mat you would be better cared
Tor in the infirmary | am afraid now
ne was right, only we couldn't bear
10 Le parted. Could we. mother7"
Not al his Talor could control his
.remuious lips. A beautiful smile
iIumined the face of the invalid.
90 you are trying 10 hookwink me
Phli. for the first time | know what
the doctor said. He told You that
' IouIu nor recover and that l had not
lons 10 live; in a word, that | am
dying" am
Ihen the boy gave way utterly. He
nung himself down by the side of the
ped ana buried his face in the coverlet
On. mother. mother" he walled. and
ms passionate sobs burst forth with
alarming vehemence. The poor woman
valnly strove to sooth him. She could
not move, being paralyzed but her fin
gers twlned gently in his hair. and she
gasped. brokenly:
Fhli. darling, don't make il harder
Tor me- Oh, calm yourself. my dear
one II only for my sake. have so
Lnuch 10 say TO you. and perhaps so
little time. Be strong. Phil Be strong
ana brave, and all will be well with
you l know you will miss me-we
have been all in all to each other since
your fathers death. But my memory
must De sweet. not bitter, to you
When you think of me / want the re-
collection to inspire YOU to do that
which is right, regardless of conse-
quences, TO strive always for honor
and for the appreciation of your con-
science. Ny own dear boy we must
bow 10 the will of God We have in
deed been sorely tried. you far more
than |. for | can look back on years of
perfect happiness with a loving hus-
band and a delightful child. whereas
you have been plunged into poverty
and misery at an age when life should
be opening before you with every
promise of a successful career Per-
haps. Phil, your trials have come to
you early, as mine have found me
here. | trust | have borne reverses OF
health and fortune with patience and
resignation. My present sufferings
will be lasting Joy to me If. in the
life TO come, l can know that my ex-
ample has been a stimulus 10 you
amidst the chances and changes of
your career. Promise me. darling, that
you will resign yourself to the DEGREES
of providence even in the bitter hour
Of our parting"
Her voice failed. Tears stood I'm her
eyes. The knowledge came to her
anew that natural emotions can at
times conquer all restraints. The ma
ternity strong within her clamored for
the power to shield her offspring from
the dangers that would beset him.
There was a maddening, pain in the
thought that a few brief hours or
minutes might unclasp her arms from
him forever.
1t was Phil who first gave utterance
to the wild protest in their souls.
Mother" he mourned, bitterly. u
don't want to live without you. Let
US die together. If you cannot stay
with me. then ! swear
But scream of terror. so shrill and
vehement that it seemed to be almost
miraculous from so frail a form, froZe
the VOW on his lips.
Phil, What are you saying? OH
my son, my son, do not break my heart
before ! die. Kiss me. dearest. | am
cold. | can scarce see you. Come
nearer. Let me look once more into
your brave eyes. You will be great
man, Phil. | know il. Who should
know your character like your mother?
But you must have faith in God al
ways. | have prayed for you. and my
prayers Will surely be granted ! will
watch over you. If you are in danger
my spirit will come back to you across
the void. We cannot be parted. Oh
God it is impossible, You are the life
OF my life. / am not dead while you
still live
Even as she spoke her left hand and
arm. hitherto untouched by the cruel
blight which had made her a helpless
invalid during many weary months,
became numb and rigid. She was dy-
the king of terrors, but with a slow
UOrpidity more akin TO sleep.
Her brain was clear, but the stock
of nervous force had sunk so low that
her few remaining words were spoken
with difficulty They were mostly en-
dearing expressions. appeals to her
loved one 10 hope and pray 10 trust
steadfastly in the all-wise power that
would direct his destiny. With the
instinct became dominant again and
she asked him not to forget her.
The boy could only murmur agonized
appeals to the merciiess unseen not to
rob him of the only being he held dear
on earth. but even In that awful mo-
ment he had the strength 10 cease his
frantic protests when they seemed TO
cause her pain, and he forced him
self TO join her in prayer.
When the doctor brought a nurse
and some small store of the much
needed delicacies. Mrs. Arson was al
ready unconscious.
The boy aroused from frenzy by the
steps on the stairs. shrieked incoher-
emily:
II have killed my mother. See, She
is dead. ! killed her. | made her cry.
You told me to look after her until you
returned She cried and screamed be-
cause | spoke so wildly. II is all my
fault. Il
Hush, Your mother is not dead.
but dying Not all 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