The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1912-03-30

palace While we are asleep. Surely
at first, 1t is before us-we can see it
glistening in the distance, like the
peaks yonder. We shall reach it to-
morrow, next month, next year. And
then one morning we wake up and
and it is behind us. We've passed it,
and we can't turn back. We must go
on" Her voice ended in a little half
sob.
The sight of tear trembling on her
lashes cost Burton Temple hundred
conflicts with himself. He felt a sud.
den warmth behind his eyes and in
his throat All he did. however, was
to look big, hold his tongue and envy
the dead their enforced responsibility.
1-1'm not often agitated," said
Anna. rising, With an odd, starry
smile, "and you must pardon me that
display of oversentiment" But be-
fore he could have spoken: II must
really go in now. I've promised Mrs.
Mason to play a game, Of pachisi, or
cribbage, or something" she faltered.
So Temple, deliberately commiserating,
escorted her up the red gravel path
Anna was growing excessively I'M
easy. For quite two hours now she'd
been anxiously expecting Mrs. Mason's
return from Westfeld. What could be
the matter? At the very least it must
be the measles. Finally, however, her
elder friend came in smilingly, disarm-
ing all fears.
And hOw's the new nurse getting
on with them? Does she make Robbie
wear his rubbers on wet days? Is his
cold quite gone? Is Harold's finger
we'll again? Have they hid that hor-
rid penknife?' Anna was untying
Mrs. Mason's veil and pouring out her
questions in a torrent.
Mrs. Mason assured her that the boys
were both well and happy, that the
new nurse was doing beautifully and
that, except for few hours when the
rascals had her locked in the chicken
house, she was having a fine time.
"Oh, she won't mind an tnconse-
quential thing like the chicken house,"
laughed Anna, handing Mrs. Mason her
veil pins, when once she's used to
those boys. They locked their mother
in one day, and had to spank them,
poor little dears. Oh, but I'm sick with
longing for them-sickr'
II know, dearie," soothed Mrs. Ma.
son, patting her on the back. 'Rut
I've something else to tell you. You
couldn't guess why was SO late COM
ing back? No? Well, I've been up to
see Robert"
"You have" Anna started never so
slightly. Isis he well? Is he keep
ing up? What did he think about my
being here?"
"Oh, he's we'll, and he's keeping up.
They're all very good to him. They
feel he is up there through miscar-
rage of justice. They treat him kind
". They've made him what they call
q "trusty.'"
Anna was listening with strained at
tention. = :"
'You explained to him, didn't you,
Mrs. Mason? You made it clear just
why left home? You made him I'M
derstand that am in a position here
to find out the truth that will convict
the man who has done this th1ngT'
Mrs. Mason plucked several imagi-
nary threads off her skirts to hide her
confusion.
AT first, you know" went on Anna,
II thought it best not to let him know
about my having left home. I knew
he would worry about the boys. But
a few days ago managed to get him
word. felt the time had come. And
now, what does he sayy'
Mrs. Mason still faltered. Her con-
science would not permit her to tell
less than the whole truth; neverthe-
less, she longed for some fashion in
which to put it gently.
''Well, he said, dear-he turned
white and said he didn't want you to
remain in this house. Said it didn't
look quite right; that he'd rather have
you home with the children than here
In. Temples house."
Anna smiled 1ndulgently. "Poor
b0yl He's afraid the work will prove
wv AoAu LUZ LIZ. ~ "Ou l. Iii lASIcu
the crime yet, though it may break my
heart" The final words were almost
choked. She walked across to the win
dow and stood staring out at the grim
prison there. It was little trick she
had learned whenever she wished to
steel herself in the fight she had I'M
dertaken. Presently she turned back
a dumb, pathetic perplexity In each
gray eye.
"Oh, If could get back to the con-
dltion in which I entered this house.
the clear air where there are no OBJ
scur1ties, no mysteries''-
She spoke half to herself, but the
words fell like little whips ON Mrs.
Mason's ears.
"What obscuriues, what mysteries
are you talking OFF, she said sternly.
II don't understand
mo more do I-no more do r. Anna
twisted and UNFINISHED her hands in
silence for a moment ''Only this
know" she said at last. "When I