Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1910-07-01
CHAPTER XII

oAsasLeT AZ 6eerSneDa DelnB as yet Ont|
on the way. Thomas Jefferson was
rather glad Of it.; especially glad that
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,
and the Dabney carriage, with old
Gcipio on the box, was drawn up be :.
side the platform. Tom put Artea in :!
the carriage and was giving her hand
luggage to Scipio when she called to
him.
isn't there any one here to meet
you. TOMB"
| They don't know I'm coming" he
explained. Whereupon she quickly
made room for him, holding the doc"
open. But he hung back.
I II reckon I'd better ride on the box
with Unc' Scipio," he suggested.
| II am sure I don't know why you
should" she objected.
i He told her straight; or at least gave
her his own view of it.
| by tomorrow morning everybody
in Gordonia and Paradise Valley viii
know that I'm home in disgrace 1t
; won't hurt Unc' Scipio any if I'm seen
riding with him.
It was the first time that he had
been given to see the Dabney imperi-
BUSINESS shining star-like in Miss Ar
dea's slate-blue eyes.
1T 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 IT,
and a horse and buggy, with black
boy holding the reins, stood before the
! door. Toms heart came into his
! mouth. The turnout was Doctor VIII
Jams.
| who'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 himself
in as one enters house Of mourning
| breaking down completely when ne
saw his father Sizing BOWED on the
! hall seat.
| "You, Buddy?-Tm mighty glad
| said the man; and when he held ou1
his arms the boy flung himself on MS
knees beside the seat and buried his
face in the cushions.
us she-is she going to die: ne
I asked when the dreadful words coaid
| be found and spoken.
| Were hoping for the best BUDDY.
son. It's some sort of Il stroke. tn"
doctor says; it took her !esteToaE
morning, and she hasn't been herse't
tp1pur9n1
you?"
Tom rocked his head on the eush-
ion. How could he add 10 the b!ack-
ness of darkness by telling his miser-
able story OF disgra ce? Yet 1t had 20
| be done, and surely no hapiess peAl-
tent in the confessional eve: eh2it 90
his soul with more heartfelt contrllon
or more bitter rernnrse.
| Caleb Gordon listened, with WHAT N
ward condemnings one could only guess
from his silence. 1t was terrible! Il
his father would strike him. curse him,
drive him out of the house, it would
he easier to bear than the sitting 81
lence. But when the words came final
lv they were as balm poured into an
angry wound.
There. there, Buddy; cont take on
so You're might nigh a man, now,
and the suns still risIn and settl1
lust the same as it did before you trip
ped up and fell down. And it'll so On
risin' and settin', too, long after yoH
and me and all Of us have quit go!n
to bed and gettin' up by it. If it wasn't
for YOUR poor NANNY
"Thats it-that's just it." groaned
Tom TT would Kill her, even if she
was we'll.
"Nev' mind; you're here now, and
reckon that's the main thing. IF sh"
gets up again, Of course she'll have
to know: but we won't cross that
bridge till we come 20 it. And Buddy
son. whatever happens. your old papDy
amt goin' to 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 causing
suffering. He had never realized un-
til now how much he loved his moth
err: how large a place she had filed in
his life, and what a vast void there
would be when she was gone. He was
vet too young and too self centered to
know that this is the mother cross: 20
live for love and to be crowned and en-
throned oftenest in memory.
The fifth day after his home coming
was Christmas Eve. Late in the after
noon. when the doctor had made his
second visit and had gone away. leav-
ing no word of encouragement 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-str,p-
ped forest on the mountain side. pluns-
ing upward through the beds OF dry
leaves in the little hollows. when he
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 brotherlF
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