The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-08-16

mighty effort. He stopped and kissed
the pale cheeks twice.
Good-by, mother" he said and the
uuii PAIN IN his voice was so heart
Ienuihg mat the nurses sympathies
mastered her. She burst out CRYING
professional instinct came to the doc
tor AID He sharply reprimanded the
half-hysterical woman and sent her off
on an errand TO bring those whose duty
II is TO render the last services to frail
mortality. The boy he led downstairs.
de was busy man, with many claims
on his time, but this strange youngster
interested him. and he resolved to turn
the boys thoughts forcibly away from
the all-absorbing horror of his mothers
death
Have you a tumbier or a cup?" he
said sharply.
Phil handed him tumbler. The doc
tor poured out some wine taken from
the nurses basket. soaked a piece OF
bread in the liquor. and gave il to the
boy with an imperative command to
eat il instantly
Somewhat to his surprise he was
obeyed. While Phil was devouring the
food OF which he stood so greatly In
need. the doctor reviewed the circum-
stances of this poverty-stricken house
hold so far as they were known to
him. Mr. and Mrs. Arson had occu-
pied fairly good position I'm Dieppe.
where pills father was the agent of
an oldesta blished London firm of coal
shippers. About two years earlier,
Doth husband and wife were seriously
injured in a motor car accident Mr.
Arson sustained conclusion of the
brain. and practically never regained
his senses, though he fingered for some
weeks and was subjected to two opera
tions. Mrs Anson's spine was dam
aged, with the result that she changed
from bright and vigorous woman
into decrepit invalid doomed to early
death from slow paralysis.
When the great expenses attendant
on these mishaps were paid, she found
herself not only absolutely poor but
rendered incapable of the slightest eff
fort TO turn her many and varied
talents TO account in order to earn a
livelihood. She came to London where
her late husbands employers generous
ly gave her rent-free possession of the
tenement in which she was lying dead
helped her with funds to furnish -
modestly. and found a clerkship for
Philip with a promise of early promo
ton
But the cup of sorrow is seldom left
half filed. Barely had the widow set
tied down to hopeful struggle on be-
between partners led to the sale of
the firms business to limited liabili-
ty company. Economics were effected
To make way for salaried directors.
Philip was dismissed, with several
other junior employees. and the stable
yard was marked out as suitable site
for the storage OF coal required by the
local factories.
This development took place early in
the new year. and the new company
allowed Mrs. Arson 10 occupy her tiny
abode until the last day of March. 1t
was now March 3. 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 little store of furniture.
II 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. a friendly
hand may be forthcoming.
Philip shook his head. The mere
taste of food had provoked a revenous
appetite. He could not eat fast enough.
The doctor stayed him.
Better wait a couple of hours Phil
and then you can tackle a hearty meal.
That's the thing | like TO see such
prompt obedience, but you certainly
have wonderful self-control for one SO
young l may tell you. to relieve pres
ent anxieties. that a 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 group of such events in this
sQudiid locality the loud sobbing OF
the frightened curiosity of children.
His mother, so dear, so tender. so soft
cheeked-the bright, beautiful laugh
ing woman of their life in Dieppe-to
be taken away from him forever. and
permitted to fade slowly into nothing
ness in some dreadful place, hidden
from the sunshine and the flowers she
loved, For the first time he under
stood death. When his father was
killed his mother was left Anxious
tending on her dspeIIed the horror of
the greater tragedy. 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,
doctor" he forced himself TO say. IF
ever-I can repay you
There, there, not A word, Bless
my soul. yours is difficult case
Again the doctor tackled his glove.
He glared at his watch.
-Four o'clock, 1 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. 1t wiz
do you no good 10 keep vigil by her
side. Best think Of her as living. no.
dead You Will be grateful for my adj
vice in after life"
The women arrived. coarse but kind
ly-hearted creatures. One of them
gave the boy a packet OF letters.
II found 'em under the dear lydy's
pillow" she said. Neither poverty nor
death robbed Mrs. Arson of the
respect paid to her by all who came in
contact with her.
He sat down, united a string which
bound the letters together, and looked
at the address on the first envelope. 1t
bore his mothers name and a recent
postmark Wondering dolefully what
she could have had dur
ing these later months that demanded
such careful preservation, he took out