The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-05-18

the cot and put the wasted fingers to
her lips, then drew away with arsud-
den sob.
This time it was a clergyman that
Jose brought, and in the little tent he
married the weeping girl to the sorely
stricken stranger.
""Just a sick mans whim, reverend
sir" George murmured with a brave
smile, land yet one of the worthiest
acts he has ever done. Your, hand
and my thanks, good sir. And your
hand, Uncle Jim. And now yours,
Anna" - t.tt.%Et, $50 =.
He looked up in her face with a
bright smile and then the heavy EYE
lids dropped and he fell asleep--5hfs
hand held>fast in TIE girls. x, %
He was sleeping quietly. the. next
morning and did not awaken until:af-
ternoon. Il%..
what" he murmured. "still
here?"., sET;f -.
And he lay there a longtime with
hir eyes half closed.
IT believe I'm much better" he
suddenly said. >t''
And from that moment he began to
mend.
The doctor, being duly sent for,
was amazed, but did what he could
to conceal the fact. H..
Science doesn't recognize mira
cles," he said, after he had examined
George very carefully, "but I'll admit
this is a pretty close imitation Of the
old fashioned brand. I'm ready to
predict now that you are good for a
bunch of years. You'll eve be
strong, but with reasonable care you
should outliye many stronger men,"
So George Werner continued to
mend, but not a word said he Of that
strange marriage. But one day he
showed Uncle Jim a carefully pre-
pared paper. 81,
-"That's a sett. ement for Anna" he
said. "It's half I've got"
The old man shook bis head.
"She won't touch It," he said. .,,
So the weeks passed! away, and
George slowly improved, and Anna
was still the helpful Anna Of old, but
no word was uttered by either con-
cernins that strange rite within the
tes3. 49,. IT,
And then one bright afternoon a
surprising thing happened: A lady
came down the trail from the high
way on the ridge, the sound Of a mo-
tor preceding her coming.
She was quite a grand lady, and
carried herself with a, stately air.
George Werner looked up and rec
ognized her and hurried forward. ~
"My son!." she, cried and held him
fast. "Why, you look almost yourself
again, dear. Just think-I've come
all the way across the continent to
find you. I left your stepfather in
New York-he's not at all well. Can
you go back with me at once,
George?"
George drew back.
"Wait, mother" He turned and
looked toward the cabin. Anna" he
cried. Her voice answered him.
Eyes, George"
She came to him quickly, but
stopped short at sight Of the lady.
my mother, Anna. Mother, my
wife"
"Your wife!"
Listen, mother. Wait, Anna.
Mother, there was a time, not very
long ago, when I believed my mo-
ments were numbered. And then the
desire to do a good act Influenced me
to ask Anna here to marry me-to
marry your son, mother, who was no
better than a dead man. Anna had
been good to me in a way that moth
ing could repay-and she could not
resist my last request. So we were
married and I fell asleep with her
hand in mine, and when my feet
splashed in the dark waters she drew
me back-and held me to the shore
and defed the black shadow-and
that is why I am here to-day, moth
er." He paused a moment. Anna
married me through a misapprehen-
sion, mother. 1 took what now seems
an unwarranted advantage of her
goodness. I am willing to make the
best. amends I can. But just now,
mother, I cannot go with you without
Annals consent. If she wants me, il
she will bid me stay, I will know
that all is well for me-"
He paused again. The mother
looked from the girl to her son.
"This can be easily arranged, dear
son." she said. Come. I am your
mother"
And then Anna looked up her
eyes blazing.
"And I am your wife," she cried
and flung her loving arms about
George and held him fast and would
not let him go.
George looked at his mother with 4
sudden smile.