The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-01-28
AReWard Withheld


feeling Of dissatisfaction, James Hous-
ton looked upon the small unhappy
group by his fireside His three chill.
dren. Mary, aged ~; Alice, 10, and
little Donald, only Z, we're sulkily
withstanding the gracious advances
OF his wife Gertrude, their new nam.
ma. Since her homecoming, q year
back, she was untiring in her efforts
to win these childish hearts, but they
steadily withheld the love which they
felt belonged only to their pretty
mother, who had left them for hap
pier world.
Gertrude Houston's lovely eyes
filled with pain and disappointment
and she left the little group and went
to her husbands side. Nurse Spencer
took the children out, and she looked
wistfully after them, then, turning to
her husband with sigh:
''lt seems like a hopeless task. |
never wanted anything so much as
the affection of these little ones, and
yet | can't seem to touch the right
chord at all. If they only knew how
much | have given up for them. how
many years of lonely wearines l en-.
dured, do you think they would ever
understand"
He answered with sigh and a look
of tenderest devotion. Gertrude, no
one can withstand you long. Don't
give up, dear!"
A year had passed and sadness
filled the Houston home. Mr.. Hous-
toms health had been rapidly failing,
and the last hope was a serious opera.
ton, and the result of this was feared.
They were in the library; the same
old constraint existed between Ger
trude and her little charges, and the
same sweet patience in the woman's
face. She left the room to give some
orders, and the father called the chill
dren to him, and in kind, earnest
voice, pleaded for their hearts for his
wife.
my dear children, this may be the
last time we will be together. During
the past year / have watched with
pain the earnest efforts of your moth
er to gain your love and your stead
fast repulse. Why is it you cannot
give her even little affection? Is
she not kind to you? Does she not
do everything to please you? Dress
your dolls? Help you with your les
sons? Fix your kites and your train
of cars? What is it? Do you dislike
her? If | should not come back to
you she would care for you with the
same loving attention yet you will not
even give her a smile or call her man.
ma"
"Oh, father, how can We call her
mamma! Our mamma has passed
away and Spencer says we must never
forget her! Every night we talk about
her and wish her back again-and
sometimes pray that we may be tax
| en- to her." and tears filed the big
serious eyes of Mary, and the others
remained silent
Many years ago, before you were
born, Mary, ! came to Philadelphia.
My father had Just died, and | came
to live with your Aunt Marjory. Your
| mother was there, a sunny faced girl
of IS. Her hair was light like yours,
Alice, and her eyes big and blue. Her
winning smile soon captivated my
boyish heart, and thought / was In
love with Helen. The summer flew
by, and in the fall your mothers
cousin Gertrude came to stay with US.
She was entirely different from Hell.
en-; she was tall and dark, with eyes
like the night. She was older than
your mother and more serious, and
they were fast friends. Soon | began
to feel indifferent towards Helen and
yearn for Gertrude's society. did not
know what to do; l knew where my
| honor was, and | knew where my
heart was, and worst of ALL knew
where their hearts were-with me!
"One bright afternoon | told Ger.
trude of this love for her, and instead
of hearing a like response, she treat.
ed me with cold displeasure, and with
withering scorn, told me what she
thought of me for speaking thus to
her, when l had already won Helen's
heart
I'VE had been walking in the woods
and were returning to the city; as we
were passing an unfinished house
was struck by a falling brace. was
unconscious for a time, and when
opened my eyes, | gazed into the
white face of Gertrude-and there
read her secret. For one brief mo-
ment ! was wild with joy-but only
for a moment. When she saw that
was regaining my senses, her attitude
became totally Indifferent. | was i'll
for a long time, and when at last
was able to leave my room, she had
gone and with her all the sunshine OF
my life! She left a note telling me
not to seek her until my debt OF hon
or had been paid.
And so married Helen, your moth
er. God knows tried to be a faithful
and affectionate husband to her, and
she now knew Gertrude had left with
out word, and never wrote or came TO
see her after We were married. And
l co cha diad in the hp1ipf that sha