Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-26

timel"
me, or bother in any way Oh, can't stand anything
more Go, go away and leave me-alone-to rest"
%oh, very we'll very welll He shrugged his shoul-
AS she lay the day dimmed before spreading shadow
How cold she was And now she could no longer
fuse to hear the labor of her heart Each pulse
long slow effort Below the supper-bell rang Through
her open door the ghand sound came up to her Eddie
was already in his place Roger took his at % once Well
feet and skirts the stair" came just as
could" Howard came when he ready; in a silence
that oppressed the watcher above as much as the noise
Her minds eye travelling around took in each mem
Der of the group-in actual vision-foowing, suddenly
finger of light searchght that pointed to each and
moved pointed, and in its momentary glare she
each naked sou-saw with horror repudiaton stunned
recognition Eddie null, haccid not child but in
vertebrate Isobel the child undeveoped unawakened,
offering few signs either good or bad for prophecy
Roger, dried and shrveled kernel within ossihed
shell of self Howard, indeed not pauperzed like
the Others but strong, through what warpng and en-
bittering antagonsm
She thought curiousy of the tiny Crucifxion by Durer
within the compass of which Christ hung up
lifted, alone in the chill gray of desolation.
But the finger of light 1t was pointing answering,
at her empty chair pointing yet the chair was in
shadow. She made a movement to brush the shadow
aside and discovered that she herself cast it. Wheeling
she caught the light full in the eyes, and, blinded para
yzed with scenes, expressions phrases flashing before
was looking down at herself below as she had looked at
the Others at her naked soul; her soula single
virtue monstrous it had become a detormity,
unconscious hypocrte of remuneration actuaed by its
energy and vanity, greedy of unselhshness
She the sacrifce2 Why, this SOFT clnging, palid soul
of hers was celestial vampire sucking the lifeblood of
those she claimed to love and serve sappng their virtue
in its deep original sense.
In that instant of illumination she all
Then it went out like magic lantern slide. The
dual identity telescoped She was lying on the bed and
she realized everything even the cold shadow She felt
her blood, like recedng tide, each wave of reaction
smaller and feebler than the last.
But it not of herself that she thought; not that
she had brought herself to death; not that it
DEATH not that in saving her own soul she had
trated into point of agony Yes, she had helped
to make them what they were She had ruined them
That in doing she had ruined herself did not concern
her, either, extenuating circumstance. She-had
ruined-ttem
And she saw it now, too late.
Howard glanced at the empty chair as he sat down.
Presently he asked Where's mother7"
mot coming down to supper"
Mother? Not coming down to supper1"
4" Said she tired"
Howard picked up his glass and set it down.
Sent anything up to her?
She wanted nothing I tell you, but to be let alone"
Howard put his fork in his salad. Mayonnaise, to-
day. Couldn't she understand? And too tired to
down to supperl But-mother too tired to be at her
post? He started up.
Howard let your mother alone, I say. You know it's
no use arguing with her She will have her own way
She'll let do anything for her Howard" "
But Howard was gone.
coming back down the stairs. There was something
ominous in his silence and speed, o...,.,.
"Why-why Howard, WHAT"
Fill some hot-water bags, qn'ek!
He was making for the sideboard.
The liquor cupboard locked. Howard wren yrenchsd he;
and gOUgsd it T1h p0hgg gE GAP G5aSrns Do"t dis
Roger turned and ran up the stairs Agnes AsnesIl
Agnssl" From the bed faint muscular response 20
my God, Agnes!"
Two hands fell on his shoulders Howard had not
followed, he was there He wheeled his father and
pushed him out &C. gG go out Of the house lou he
Isobel remembered the hot-water bags She scalded
her hand She filled one so full it burst Her teeth
chartered. Her knees quivered She could hardly get
TOO hot, Well, wrap. them in bath towels then
And egac them h He osr got to the e eI 6vsca
burst and scattered like bubble Her mind was blank
she could think Of nothing but quiet and steady she
could do, now, whatever Howard directed 1890
Out Of nothing Agnes was aware o. presences' why
doctorl"
All right, Mrs. Twyman. Go to sleep"
Eons afterward Towards voice" Mother, will l1ou
%%oh, Howard you're not sitting up for mea"
1t was morning gray. "Mothera"
arranged SHs or you &nd va
Never mind, mother everything is all right with all
of US. We're taking care of you now"
How kind his voice sounded not fretted, now, nor
satiric; passion of sympathy and tenderness Love
her? He adored her. He ached with pity over her, and
with rage for her and at her.
It was full daylight when her eyes flew wide open.
Isobel low chair by the bed was looking at her
There tears in lsobes eyes Agness glance roved
Howard stood at the foot haggard stern with the
sernness of just such compassion and just
such burning evangelism as had carried Knox before
Queen Mary Agnes herself through her lifelong,
infexble self-maryrdom In that moment Mrs Ivy WY
red, searched "Roger1" she breathed. :" Eddie7"
Isobe1 shifted. Her eyes fell. "They. She
moistened her lips; her face flushed and strained
Howard took step toward his mother. put on tne
instant her look understood Again, for breath, she
felt the abyss. 49,
But Howard had her hand against his heart lso6el
was on her knees by the bed She saw these two; she
realized what she saw what it meant that she saw Her
last sa1r6ce had been wholly in vain She had mis-
taken the method not the aim that she had been
mistaken did prove the of her oracle Graft
tude and resolve in her face 80 -.
Too late? No it was never too late while life lasted
and there was any faculty left that could perceive and
learn