Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1910-11-04
CHAPTER XII.

IN ulSSTdCCu OuC, HoWS VI IllO |
disaster at Beersheba being as yet only
on the way. Thomas Jefferson was
rather glad of 1t; especially glad thut
there was no one from Woodlawn-this
was the name Of the new home-to
recognize him and ask discomforting
questions. But Ardea was expected,
n the Dabney carriage, with old
Soipio on the box, was drawn up be-
side the platform. Tom put Ardea into
the carriage and was giving her hand
luggage to Scipio when she called TO
him.
isn't there any one here 10 meet
you, TomT"
They don't know I'm coming" he
explained. Whereupon she quickly
made room for him, holding the door
open. But he hung back.
II reckon I'd better ride on the box
with Unc' Scipio," he suggested.
Il am sure l don't know why you
should" she objected.
He told her straight; or at least gavs
her his W view of it.
"By tomorrow morning everybody
In Gordonia and Paradise Valley Will
know that I'm home in disgrace. II
won't hurt Unc' Scipio any If I'm seen
riding with him."
1t was the first time that he a
been given to see the Dabney imperl-
BUSINESS shining star-like in Miss Ar
deals slate-blue eyes.
81 wish you to get your hang-bag
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 boy!"
When he reached tine house there
was an ominous air of quiet about 1t,
and a horse and buggy, with a black
bow holding the reins, stood before the
door. Toms heart came into MS
mouth The turnout was Doctor VIII
Jams.
"yyho's sick?" he asked of the boy
who was holding the doctors horse
and his tongue was thick with a name
less fear.
The black boy did not know; and
Tom crept up the steps and let himsel'
In as one enters a house OF mourning
breaking down completely when NJ
saw his father sitting bowed on I'M
hall seat.
"You. Buddy?-Im mighty glad
said the man; and when he held ou
his arms the boy flung himself on MI
knees beside the seat and buried hi
face in the cushions.
rs she-is she going to die?' n
asked, when the dreadful words coui
be found and spoken.
Were hoping for the best, Buddy
son. It's some sort Of a stroke TN
doctor saws; it took her yesterda!
morning. and she hasn't been hersel
since. Did somebody telegraph I
you"
Tom rocked his head on the cush
ION How could he add to the black
ness of darkness by telling his miser
able story of disgrace? Yet it had
no done. and surely no hapless peni
tent in the confessional ever emptie
his soul with more heartfelt contrltlo
or more bitter remorse.
Caleb Gordon listened, with what m
ward condemnings one could only CUES
from his silence. 1t was terrlpie!
his father would strike him, curse mn
drive him out of the house, 1t woul
he easier to bear than the stifilng 81
Ience. But when the words came INA
iv they were as balm poured into a
angry wound.
"There, there, Buddy; don't take {
no You're might nigh a man, nov
and the suns still risln' and settil
lust the same as it did before you triI
ned ND and fell down. And it'll go Q
risin' and settin', too, long after yo
and me and all Of us have quit gol
m he'd and gettin' up by it. If 1t WASH
for your poor nanny"
"That's it-that's just it," groane
Tom. ut would kill her, even II 81
was we'll"
"Nev' mind; you're here now, and
reckon that's the main thing. Ii 81
gets up again, Of course she'll ma
to know; but we won't cross TN
bridge till we come to It, And Budu
son. whatever happens, your old papl
amt goin' to believe that you'll be Il
first Gordon to die in the gutter. YOU
got better blood in you than what tn
calls for"
Tom felt the tightening of his bu
den TO some extent; but beyond w
the alternative Of suffering, or causii
suffering. He had never realized u
iii now how much he loved his mot
err. how large a place she had filled
his life, and what a vast void the
would be when she was gone. He w
vet too young and too self-centered
know that this is the mother cross:
live for love and to be crowned and e
throned ~oftenest in memory.
The fifth day after his home-comi
was Christmas Eve. Late in the afte
noon, when the doctor had made
second visit and had gone away, lea
ing no word of encouragement for I
watchers, Tom left the house and to
the path tina led up through the you
orchard to the foot Of Lebanon.
He was deep within the winter-str
ned forest on the mountain side. plur
!