The Southern herald., 1910-04-22

By ROSE AMELE KELLY


holiday the housekeeper said. You
must hurry. sir. OF you'll miss your
train"
Haste and excitement lent anima-
ton TO a face usually wooden In ex-
preston. Always a pleasure to visit
bis mother, DR.. Perry ioyfully antiei-
pated the present holiday because the
girl be was to marry was to be
guest. also. He was stepping into the
automobile when his housekeeper
called him:
-Dr Raymond wants you at the
telephone"
Reluctantly he turned back.
Can you come to ne at once, Jack?
I am in desperate trouble. Gordon is
dying"
The boyish excitement vanished as
Or Perry answered:
Il will be with you as quickly as
possible"
"Dying!" he pondered as he sped
onward. "Incrediblel He was doing
so well last night"
Gordon was a friend who had fallen
III at a hotel and had been moved to
the doctors house. Raymond was
Jacks best friend. He was greatly
beloved and skillful. with one weak
ness, recurring at long intervals.
Il am In an awful position. Jack"
were the doctors first words. Il know
you viii help me. dare not ask any
one else" With a gesture that told
everything. he pointed at two vials.
The wrong one-I fear I've done for
himl"
One glance showed Jack that the al
cohoic craving had returned. hence
the mistake. As they talked they
neared the sickroom.
"You may rely on me. certainly.
Raymond"
Thank you. Nurse may suspect.
but she's loyal"
Jack had a talent for rapid dag
nosis. The holiday face was gone;
the physician resumed mastery. The
patient. at first glance, seemed to be
past human aid Heroic treatment
would be necessary. Raymond and
Nurse Anna felt the relief of trusting
a strong will. In the absorption Of
science and the effort to save life.
mother and sweetheart we're complete
ly set aside. Now they despaired: !:
again they were rewarded by hope.
At critical moment DR.. Raymond col
lapsed.
Again the work went on. At mid.
night servant handed Jack a tele.
gram. Acute anguish convulsed his
countenance as he read:
Mother dangerously Ill. Wants you
DR.. Montgomery with her.
"ELINoR."
His precious mother dying, needing
him, and he pledged to help stranger!
II was terrible. If he could but wake
Raymond. Going to the bed he SHOOK
him, only to see him doze again under
the influence of the narcotic.
God help me! I've burned ny
ships" Jack groaned' "Oh! Mother
mother! gave my word! You woult
bid me keep It,"
He sent message:
Impossible to leave till morning
Critical case. Love to mother. Asl
Montgomery to stay. JACK"
An hour later came telegram from
his fancee:
Come at once. Mother worse.
! AGNES"
! Great beads stood on the sons fore
head as he ministered to the stranger
Suddenly he responded to the treat
ment
In the library Of the homestead
Agnes Armitage paced, paused at tn
French window to peer into the night
longing for the rumble Of wheels bring
e ing her fiance.
"Elinor!" she raved. This is cruel
l will never forgive him-never! T
n refuse to come to his dying mother!
! critical case indeed! Any one coul
attend to a stranger. There is absC
lutely no excuse for him."
, The girls went again to the mother
room. No one needed Agnes. She r,
! turned to the library woefully disaI
:, pointed In the man she loved. Crue
= she deemed him. In their brief Ell
gagement there had been one flaw
jealousy-not personal but of his worl
of the absorption, the power of col
G centration that excluded her. FOOLS
I little woman! Had she but known III
s better she would have rejoiced that
. great ambition possessed him.
Above, the stricken mother la,
sinking. Always her eyes watched th
door.
The last train will bring him, mot
y err" Elinor said, softly.
take this" DR.. Montgomery coaxe,
lt 1T will give you strength to sc
& Jack"
ss With an effort she took the medicir
n she had refused before. It stimulate
- the failing heart
!. If we can carry her over the hot
when vitality is lowest | will hay
hope," the old doctor whispered
Elinor. The chill. gray dawn ere,
~ through the easement. Birds twittere