The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1910-07-28

know that I'm home in disgrace. III
won't hurt Unc' Scipio any If I'm seen
riding with him."
1t was the first time that he had
been given to see the Dabney imperi-
BUSINESS shining star-like in MISS AT
IDEAS slate-bl eyes.
Il wish you to get your hang-oas
and ride in here with me-" she said,
with the air of one whose wish was
law. But when he was sitting opposite
and the carriage door was shut, she
smiled companionably across at him
and added: You foolish boyl"
When he reached the house there
was an ominous air of quiet about 1t,
and a horse and buggy, with a black
boy holding the reins. stood before the
Goor. Toms heart came into his
mouth. The turnout was Doctor Will
lams'.
Who's sick?" he asked of the boy
who was holding the doctors horse,
and his tongue was thick with name
less fear.
The black boy did not know: and
Tom crept up the steps and let himself
in as one enters a house OF mourning,
breaking down completely when he
saw his father sitting bowed on the
hall seat.
You, Buddy?-rm mighty glad.
said the man; and when he held out
his arms the boy flung himself on his
knees beside the seat and buried his
face in the cushions.
rs she-is she going 10 dief" he
asked when the dreadful words could
be found and spoken.
Were hoping for the best. Buddy,
son. It's some sort of a stroke. the
doctor says; it took her yesterday
morning. and she hasn't been herself
since. Did somebody telegraph TO
your"
lon. How could he add to the black
ness of darkness by telling his miser-
able story of disgrace? Yet 1t had 70
be done. and surely no hapless peni-
tent in the confessional ever emptied
his soul with more heartfelt contrition
or more bitter remorse.
Caleb Gordon listened. with what IN
ward condemnings one could only guess
from his silence. It was terrible, II
as father would strike him, curse him,
drive him out of the house, it would
be easier to bear than the sitting ST.
lence. But when the words came final
ly they were as balm poured into an
angry wound.
There, there, Buddy: don't take On
So You're might nigh a man, now
and the suns still risln' and settin'
just the same as 1t did before you trip
ped up and fell down. And it'll go on
risin' and settin', too, long after you
and me and all of us have quit goin'
to bed and gettin' up by it. If it wasn't
for your poor NANNY"
That's it-that's just it." groaned
Tom. TT would kill her. even If she
was we'll"
New mind: you're here now, and ]
reckon that's the main thing If she
gets up again. of course she'll have
to know; but we won't cross that
bridge till we come to II. And Buddy
son. whatever happens. your old pappy
amt goin' 10 believe that you'll be the
FIRST Gordon to die in the gutter. You've
got better blood in you than what that
calls for"
Tom felt the tightening OF his bur
den to some extent; but beyond was
the alternative of suffering, or causins
suffering. He had never realized un-
til now how much he loved his moth
er; how large a place she had filled in
his life. and what a vast void there
would be when she was gone. He was
yet too young and too elf-centered 10
know that this is the mother cross: 70
live for love and to be crowned and en-
throned oftenest in memory.
The fifth day after his home coming
was Christmas Eve. Late I'm the after
noon, when the doctor had made his
second visit and had gone away, leav-
ing no word of encourag cement for the
watchers, Tom left the house and took
the path that led up through the young
orchard. to the foot of Lebanon
He was deep within the winter strip
ped forest on the mountain side. plung-
Ing upward through the beds of dry
leaves In the little hollows, when ne
met Ardea. She was coming down
with her arms full of holly, and for the
moment he forgot his troubles in the
keen pleasure of looking at her. None
the less. his greeting was a brotherly
reproof.
I'D like to know what you're think
Ing of. tramping around on the noun
tain alone" he said. frowning at her.
Il have been thinking of you. most
OF the time, and wishing you could be
with me-" she answered, so artlessly
as to mollify him instantly rs your
mother any better this afternoon?"
She Is just the same; lying there sc
still that you have to look close to sec
whether she is breathing. The Doctor
says that If there isn't change pretty
soon. she'll die"
20 Toni"
He looked up at her with the old
boyish frown pulling his eyebrows to-
gether.
She's been good to God all her life;
what do you reckon He's letting her die
this way for?''
It was terrible question. made more
terrible by the savage hardihood thai
lay behind 1t. Ardea could not reason
with him; and she felt intuitively thai
at this crisis only reason would appea
to him. Yet she could not turn hin
away empty handed in his hour OF
need
How can we tell?" she said, and
there were tears in her voice. I'VE only
know that He does everything for the
best"
Il wish you'd ask Him to let my
mother nve!" he said, brokenly. I've
tried and tried. and the words just die
In my mouth"
There Is Mother of Sorrows in ev-
cry womanly heart, to whom the APP
peal of the stricken Is never made II
vain. Ardea saw only a boy brother
crying out in his pain, and she dropped
on her knees and put her arms around
his neck and wept over him in a pure
transport of sisterly sympathy.