The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-05-06

1 16A5 5DV4x1 SASSa
RaWn was hardly sEFe that he still
lived, that he still was the Same John
Rawn he cCce had known. It seemed
impossible that all these things could
have fallen upon him, who had not de-
served them! He pitied himself with
vast pity, revolving at the many In
justices of fortune now crowding upon
him, wholly blameless man. Why.
a day before, he had held in his hand
power such as few men could equal;
had had. presently before him, power
none other ever could hope to equal.
That opportunity still existed. But
how now could he avail himself of that
opportunity, how could he go on to be
the great John Rawn, if this figure on
the couch could not rise, could not
speak to him, could not perform the
obvious duty of rendering needful as
sistance to him, John Rawn? The
cruelty of it all ranked in the great
and justice-loving soul of Mr.. RaWn.
Why, he was penniless-he-John
RawnI He was not even sure about
his wife, yonder She had said things
to him he could not understand, could
not believe.
He left the room, and walked still
farther down the hall, his head sag
ging, his lower lip pendulous, his face
warped into a pucker of self-plty-so
absorbed, that first he did not heed
an approaching football. He paused
almost in touch of some one who ap-
preached him in the half-lighted hall;
some one who was coming down the
stair and along the hall with steady
tread.
There stood before him now the
same tall, gray-hafred, unfashionably
dressed woman whom so recently he
vaguely had noted at distance in the
hall above; some woman apparently
busy with duties connected with the
death chamber, as he had reflected
when he saw her; some neighbor, he
presumed, and certainly useful! It
was kind of her to come at this time.
He could not, at the time, recollect
that he had seen her before. Yes, he
would reward her-he would express
his thanks.
He looked up at her now sharply,
and gasped.
Laura" he exclaimed. 'Ts it your
'Why, yes, john" answered the tall.
gaunt woman gently Didn't you see
me, up there? suppose you were too
much troubled to notice me, John.
Yes, I'm here. I thought maybe l
ought to come.
"But you see-this-" she held out
to him the letter she had picked up
from the hall table. "This didn't get
to her-Grace-not in time. She died
this morning, before noon, they tell
me. She never knew her mother was
coming to her when she was In
trouble. She hadn't seen my letter to
her, telling l was coming. knew
she was in trouble-and ! saw all the
stories in the papers. thought I'd
tell her was coming to her-and you,
John. She was my girl, after all! /
knew she was in trouble"
"How did you know?"
"Why, she wrote to me, Of course.
A girl always writes to her mother
when she's in trouble. She wrote to
me right often. She wasn't-well, she
wasn't happy, John, and she often told
me that. Something wrong was going
on between her and Charley, I don't
know what"
He stood looking at her, stupefed,
as she went on, simply.
John, married folks oughtn't to be
apart too much. They sort Of get
weaned from each other. Grace was
too ambitious. She'd got, here, what
she thought her husband couldn't get,
what she'd come to think she had to
have. 1 might have told her better,
but I wasn't here. Not that I'm re-
proving you, John, not at all. Besides,
we have all got to go, some day. But
I loved her. And the baby"
$50 did I love her, and the baby,
he began. Tears were in his eyes.
Laura, I have had nothing but
trouble. And now you have come
here"
"Yes, 1 know; it must seem little
queer to you, John; so I'm going right
away again, to-night-before morning,
if there's any way I can get down
town."
"Yes, yes!"
Because, know if was seen
around her, and people found out who
I am, who I-was-there might be
some sort of talk which would be hard
for you, John. I reckon you have
trouble enough without that. I didn't
want to bother you. came mostly be-
cause Of Grace. But-John, I always
did like to tell the truth, and I have
to tell it now-I came little, TOO,
because OF you!"
"Of me? Why Laura!"