The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-01-06

we'll as our care. ] set about maxi
ing some ginger tea and Cruel, while
Mlndy, who loves to coddle folks,
talked to him comforting like. and
smoothed back hig hair from his
temples.
"He was very III, and Mlndy stole
down many times during the night
to bathe his hot face and try to ease
his hacking cough. We kept him with
us only a month. lie got better. and
at times seemed cheerful and light
hearted and tried so hard to amuse
us by telling about big cities and
| great men and lovely women and
concerts and theaters
"He did not once mention his folks,
and we asked him no questions, and
/ when the end came so sudden he
| placed his ring in my hand" and taxi
! ing off a well-darned glove, Jane dis
played a magnificent solitaire i'm an
| tique setting, upon the inside of
which was inscribed a date.
/ 1t is all / have to give you,' he
said My mother and sister gave
me this ring on my 21st birthday.
| They were so proud OF me, but |
| proved myself unworthy Of their love.
! Throughout all these years | have
treasured It. because it was the only
| thing | possessed that had been
| touched by those I have never ceased
to love-
His last thoughts were of his
mother and sister and as we closed
/ his eyes he breathed their names.
"Sister and | sat all night beside
/ his body making plans for the burial.
| We had grown to love him so much
/ that we could not bear to lay him
] uVr HNrf.F LIT l.
| rest in our own family burying
ground.
when the time came for paying,
we could not bear to part with the
ring which he held so dear, and, be-
Sides we hoped that sometime his
people might trace him to us and It
would make us so happy to return TO
his mother this proof Of her sons af-
lection. We did not grieve for him,
just missed him, and the only tears
we shed were for his mother and sis
ter"
When Jane ceased speaking the
mother and daughter, strangely tense
and pale stared at each other, but
the lowering of the lights concealed
their agit9 dion. again the aged pair
were livsag in the days OF knights
and fair ladies, and their transfigured
faces beamed with delight at the hap
py denoument.
Take care, mother" cautioned
her daughter as the final curtain was
falling, mo act nor word OF ours
must cast the least shadow over their
happiness"
My dears," said the stately lady
smiling softly IL must not let you
go until | have told you of the hap
piness you have brought me today. for
you have eased n mothers heart OF
the uncertainty regarding the fate Of
her only SON"
WINE lanes slnw sarsos were trV-
Ing 90 grasp the meaning az the
words. Mindys more receptive mind
comprehended the situation at once.
20, janet" she burst out. don't you,
can't you see? We have found our
Toms mother and sister,"
You mean that you are, that you
are-why, of course-how could /
be so stupid?" and without another
word Jane took the ring from her
finger and placed IL in the mothers
hand
The aged sister felt that their cup
OF happiness was now OVERLOOKING.
20, Jane what a beautiful day THIS
has been" and Miudy's beaming faca
as she spoke radiated the happiness
within.
Yes, Mindy." Jane replied, and
there was an unwonted thaukfumess
In the quiet tones "and we viii have
1t TO think of and talk over as .ong
as we live"
The Nandemere carriage took tho
party to the station, where the ga0d
bys were said
Give yourselves no concern for th,
future" Toms mother said at part
ing for the old home Is yours ant
so 1t shall always remain. We shal
visit you soon to thank you for YOU
kindness TO my dear son. Until then
'good-by.
r Aroused from sleep by the friendly
J hand OF the conductor, the traveller.
soon found themselves on the road
, that led home.
? Did you ever see this road so dus-
2 ty berore?" said Mindy, lifting heI
skirts
, Never" Jane replied. "a
, shouldn't think they'd had a drop OF
J rain since we went away"
Upon reaching the well-worn stoop,
Mindy folded her hands and bowed
: reverently as James earnest tones
, broke the silence: blessed be God,
, which hath not turnd away my pray
J er, nor His mercy from me-"