Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1909-12-17
[AReMard Withheld

WIN WHuble1 eyes eno strange
Are1IR9 - dissAtiafAetion. James Hous-
Ion lookad upon the small unhappy
GrUuRl lby his arsaide. Hts three chill
aFun, NhFy, agsd n; Alice, 10. and
Mtsla Donafds only Z. were sulkily
vitAstauatng the gracious advances
of hls wife astirude. their new nam
ma Since her Homecoming, a year
baeh. shs Vas untsring In her efforts
- Wis these childish hearts. but they
slsadiiy withheld the love which they
tSlt hsloagsd only to their pretty
aesAsR. Who had left them for hap
ptog world.
0eEeFuds Houston's lovely eyes
ensA .gith pain and disappointment
sd sAs left TIE little group and went
- hss hasband's eide, Nurse Spencer
SOok he children out. and she looked
vistfniiy After them. then. turning to
hsg hufsbaA6 Win sigh:
n sooms ike q hopeless task. l
nssf hGntsd anything 90 much as
cAs aGsssien Of these little ones. and
~ I can't seom 70 touch the right
shord 1t All II they only knew how
Rnch I-hAvs given up for them, how
nAag years OF lonely wearines I en-
eursa. 60 yOu think they would ever
uadsFslAndf"
He answered with sigh and a look
e tsa6ersst devotion. Gertrude, no
eaa san Withstand you long. Don't
siSe ~. dsaxi"
A rear had passed and sadness
alled the Houston home. Mr.. Hous-
TOMS health had been rapidly failing.
and ne last hope was a serious opera
ton, and the result Of this was feared.
They were In the library; the same
old eonatrnint existed between Ger
trude and her little charges, and the
same sweet patience in the woman's
face. She left the room to give some
orders, and the father called the chill
dren TO him, and in a kind. earnest
voice. pleaded for their hearts for his
vile.
my dear children, this may be the
last tine We win be together. During
the pAqt year I have watched with
raia ~ earnest efforts Of your moth
- 10 gaia your love and your stead
fss4 tetsisA Why is 1t you cannot
edva her svaa q little ahectionG Is
eha ~ flnl 70 youf Does she not
- sVslytAing to please your Dress
ysuF ee1sf Help you with your les
eoaaf ln Eeur hites and your train
e spsat What is itf Do yeu dislike
kegf Nj shOah not come back to
FOa GAe Woall care for you with the
ea1e llsl4g aetsation. Jet you will not
essN ~ tss . srnils or call her nam
E -oA. hAtAsr, ASv can We call her
nGtamai Our mamma has passed
avay eaa RDoncer says We must never
nsrEet hsri EvsTy night we talk about
Asf and Viah hbr. back again-and
sometimes pray that We may be tax
IN ~ her. And tears filed the big,
saEtsas eyes Of Mary. and the others
BOneARS1 ailsat
Many; ysaFu ago. before you were
esrn. MAsy. came 70 Philadelphia.
Ny flthsr had Just died. and came
70 live Wl1h yoar Aunt MAr1cry. Your
mother Wai there, = sunny faced girl
- Ia. Her hair visa light like yours,
Alice. and EsE aEas big and blue. Her
WinalnS lnFaAia soonl eaptiyRted my
boyisA keaF4. An1 thought | was In
love With Helen. The summer few
by. and IN the fAli your mothers
eeusfa osRtruda came to stay with us,
eAe Was 6ntirely different from Hell
-: she was tall and DARK, with eyes
IKE he night. Bha Waa older than
y0tF nolhtr anA more serious. and
thsy Wtso lAss fS4Gnda. soon I began
q fsed fnaiRsFsak towards Helen, and
pears fsr osTtr,aAs's society. did not
know What 70 10: knew where my
hSnOs waa. ana I knew where my
heart vna, and worst Of ALL knew
where tAslf heArts vore-Sith mel
one hs4aht efesrnoon I told Ger
trs4s q his love for her. and instead
sf hearing a tks response, she treat
- me witA cold aisDleasure. and with
VitAsEiAg seorn, told me what shs
tAa&gAt e ne fer speaking THUS tc
her. WAAn,I had already won Helen'l
AsarS!
I'VE AAA been Walking in the woods
NaA were retnrnlAg TO the city; as We
we're passing an unfinished house
VS. struck ~ . falling brace. I wal
1neonpsaoua for q time, and when
upeaof my eyes, gaEed into the
white face Of 0ertrude-and ther,
rad her secret. For one brief mo
pent ] was Wild with Ioy-but onll
Cor q moment When she saw that
vas regainlng my senses, her attitude
became Totally Indifferent l was Il
Cor 4 long time. and when at last
was able 70 leave my room, she has
some and with her all the sunshine o
my hfsl She LEFT q note telling mt
Aot to seek her until my debt OF hon
0r bad been paid.
~And 80 I married Helen. your moth
=. oo1 knows tried to be a faithful
- RRS0ti0aAts husband TO her, ani
eAe 50 hAeW Gertrude had left with
fsaaWosA. ana hsvoT wrote or came 4
~ - a4at Ws were married An
- - Aiq1 - TIE belief that sh
rel a eAly ohs n my life. AM
- tAoI1 IpaFs your mother Gertrude
saha hre4hfns orAfter thre
oAss rIaA hsF1 and brought he
sra. as bseHuas she loved you
.SsAa veil ,fhak AAs, sacrificed
~ aaa, aad row, my children
Aal Fs Asg 4 littis Of that loy
- - patopshea for you.
fieaep "a the darkene
ao1Es Hhen Gertrud
Der apiE was dom
"a lattis faces. an
~ 70 greet her. An
a,s.Feat grief befell then