Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1912-07-04
Jefferson County, West Virginia Thursday July a, 1912

MdII SduSul Hcl idlHcI HunllHR- hHllC
from the nail where il dangled, and slash
ed the heavy linen cover of the pillow.
Then upon the ashes OF the dying fire she
emptied the contents of the case. The
cleaning white goose feathers fell like
snow upon the smoldering embers. In
an instant cloud OF smoke was ascend
ing the chimney, and with il the indescrib-
able smell of burning feathers.
Overhead a great cough walked the
echoes. The big cat, his head hanging
over the top Of the chimney, as he medita-
ted downward leap, received the as
cending fumes full in the face. The cough
was repeated. There was a scurry, a
rattle Of claws. and then tawny body
launched itself from the roof into the
dark, as if that breath of civilization had
aroused in If an overwhelming desire for
the unsullied atmosphere of the forest.
And Mary Murray, with trembling hands
and shaking knees, proceeded without
delay TO oulld roaring flre.
When Mistress Murray came to her
self, her stepdaughter was bending over
her, moistening her forehead and rubbing
her hands. The composure of the girls
manner was in itself an answer to the
question that sprang to the young moth
er's lips. Nevertheless, she asked it.
"HaS it gone, Mary? Are we safe ?"
at has gone" said Mary, quietly, land
we are quite safe" Then she noticed
that her stepmother, now that her mind
was partly at ease, was shifting uncer-
tainly.
"'TIs a most unpleasant odor, dear
Mary" she murmured.
Burnt feathers are the best OF all rem-
edies for faintnesS, or so have been told, !"
Mary replied, demurely. Andi was long
before the other woman knew the more
weighty reason for the sacrifice OF one OF
the best pillows. AS Mary's hands
smoothed the damp hair back from her
forehead, Jonathan Murray'S wife was
comparing herself with his daughter, to
her own great disadvantage.
"You are brave, like your father. dear
Mary" she said, at last. "And ] am a
coward. Yet your father loves me des-
pite my weakness. wish you were like
him in that, too"
Something stirred in Mary'S breast as
il had stirred when she had taken the
baby in her arms. She could have re-
sisted kindness, affection, even, but the
service that she had done chained her ir-
resistibly. With no help but her own
keen wits, she had defended her fathers
wife and her fathers son. Their very
lives, perhaps, they owed TO her, and
that debt made bond between them that
never could be broken. Something hard
and unyielding melted within her, and
swept away in its current the feeling OF
scornful superiority with which she had
sat in judgment on her fathers wife. Pi-
oneer life did not encourage demonstra-
tiveneSs. In many household any man
hesitation OF tenderness was as Sternly re-
pressed as if it was an act OF weakness.
But Mary Murray, carried out OF herself
by a sudden rush OF emotion, fell on her
knees, and kissed the trembling lips that
had pleaded for her love.
Jonathan Murray. came home the next
day at nightfall. Mary stood in the door
to greet him. A big fire blazed cheerily
on the hearth, and in the room beyond,
the voice of the newcomer in the house
made itself heard in wailing welcome.
Outwardly nothing was changed; but
Jonathan Murray had come home to a
united household, bound together by the
love that can overlook where it cannot
understand.